Many students do not reach a score goal after their first attempt at taking the national tests. Fortunately, you can take both the SAT® and ACT® tests more than once. But how many times should you take the tests? Now, the answer to that question is complicated, and it will depend on your unique circumstances, such as your availability, score goals, and college list.
While you should base your testing plans off your circumstances, there are some general guidelines to consider. In this post, we provide advice on how many times a student should attempt the tests, as well as an overview that explains why many students see score increases when they take the tests more than once.
A Guide to Retaking the SAT or ACT Tests
How Many Times Can You Take the SAT and ACT Test?
Can you retake the SAT and ACT tests? Absolutely! In fact, we recommend that students plan on taking both tests at least twice, particularly if their first attempt does not meet their score goals. Officially, there is no limit on the number of times you can retake the SAT test, and ACT’s website says that students can take the ACT test up to 12 times. The organizations themselves do not impose an official limit on retakes.
This doesn’t mean you should plan on taking the tests an unreasonable number of times. Technically, your number of retakes is only limited by simple logistics—there are only so many test dates in a year and only so many years before you head off to college. That said, there is such a thing as testing fatigue, and over-testing can be discouraging and stressful for students. Taking the test too many times may also raise a red flag to the schools on their college list.
While test scores never expire, it’s important to note that some colleges won’t look at score reports that are older than five years. So, if you are one of the rare students who first took the test early on in middle school, there’s a chance that your initial score report is too old. However, each college is different, so it’s best to check with the admissions office to confirm whether your score report is out of date.
In addition, you may need to have a conversation with your parents or guardians about the number of times you can pay the test fees. (Do note that fee waivers are available for both tests for qualifying families. If you qualify for a fee waiver for the ACT test, you can retake the ACT test up to three times—four total takes. College Board offers two free SAT tests to qualifying students.)
How Many Times Is Too Many?
Although you could retake the SAT and ACT tests an unlimited (or almost unlimited) number of times, how many times should you retake them? At KD College Prep, we usually recommend that students plan to retake the national SAT or ACT test one or two times to maximize their college acceptance odds. In addition, students should take practice tests on a consistent basis. We’ll explain that more in a moment.
Retaking a national test, or choosing not to, should be based on a student’s individual goals and desired scores. In other words, every student is different, and it can be helpful to discuss which plan is best for your student’s goals with a test prep advisor.
It’s important to be realistic about your performance on the tests. For example, a student who scores a 900 on their first SAT test date will rarely see a 1500+ score, no matter how many times they retake the tests. Sometimes, a student has to accept his or her best work and move on to other aspects of the admissions process.
5 Reasons to Take the National SAT or ACT Test More Than Once
A national test administration can take a lot of energy out of you, and it’s only natural to want to be done with the tests after dealing with them once. Yet, there are some compelling reasons to retake the SAT or ACT tests. Consider the following:
1. Familiarity
Practice tests help simulate the testing experience, but nothing is as close as the real thing. If you’re like most students, you’ll probably experience a little anxiety when you arrive at the testing center for the first time. After all, your performance can influence your future, and your college options. You might not perform your best when you have butterflies in your stomach.
When you retake the ACT or SAT test, you’ll have already gone through the experience once, so you’ll know exactly what to expect. You may be less anxious the second or third time around. In addition, you’ll feel better prepared since you’ve had more time to focus on test prep. These factors can contribute to better scores.
2. Benchmarks
After taking the test the first time, you’ll have a clear picture of your overall performance. Score reports provide a lot of good information that help you identify your strengths and weaknesses with the test. Your initial test score can also serve as a benchmark when measuring your improvement when comparing to later test dates.
3. More time for prep
Another common reason why students often choose to retake the SAT or ACT test is simply to have more time to prepare. After taking the tests for the first time and receiving your score reports, you can look ahead to the next test dates available. Consider how much time you’ll need to prepare for your retake and schedule your next test accordingly.
When it comes to preparing for college, timing is everything. Students often benefit from having a learning partner to guide them through the test prep process. Learn more about our test prep programs for students in grades 7-12.
4. Maximize scores
Of course, the most compelling reason to retake the SAT or ACT test is to try to boost your scores. Most students raise their scores on the second take, and one reason for this is the extra time to study, attend prep activities, and take practice tests.
5. Superscoring
Another way that retaking the tests can help you boost your scores is through a technique called superscoring. Both the ACT and SAT tests are divided into sections. You’ll receive section scores that tell you how you performed on a particular part of the test. If you retake the test, it’s possible that you’ll score higher in one section but lower in another.
Over the years, many colleges have adopted superscoring, which considers only your highest section scores across all attempts. Before depending on a super score, be sure to check with the school’s admissions department to find out if they accept superscores.
Planning Your Next Test Dates
The national tests take place seven times each year across all four seasons. You have some flexibility when it comes to picking your test dates. Many students test in the fall and then again in the spring of their junior year. However, if you think there’s a possibility you’ll take the test a total of three times, you might want to pick the December date for your first test, followed by the possibility of another test in the spring. (KD recommends that students be finished with their testing by the end of junior year, if possible.)
For many students, the time of year is an important factor. Consider whether your parents or guardians are planning any family vacations or whether you have anything else significant, such as a school play, debate tournament, or seasonal sports. You won’t want to schedule your retake during a time when you have hefty time commitments to worry about.
Quick Tips for Increasing Your Test Score
Choose a test prep program
If you took the tests the first time around after having prepared by yourself or perhaps with help from family, it may be time to consider signing up for a structured test prep program before retaking the tests. KD College Prep offers an assortment of test prep programs, ranging from our most comprehensive test prep program to self-paced instruction.
Create a study schedule
Consider how much time you set aside to study for the tests before taking them for the first time. If your initial scores were close to your goal, then you may do fine with the same study schedule. If you want to raise your scores significantly, you’ll need to plan on setting aside more time to study. It’s generally more effective to study in more frequent, shorter bursts on most days of the week rather than in hours-long marathons one or two days per week.
Take practice tests
Taking practice tests on a consistent basis is a necessary aspect of any test prep plan. The number of practice tests you should take in between national test dates depends on the amount of time you have to prepare. If you take practice tests through a KD test prep program, you’ll have the benefit of attending a test review to see which questions you missed and how to solve them. With advisor support, you’ll also receive recommendations for when to take both practice tests and the national tests.
Be careful not to over-test. It can be counterproductive to take a test every weekend, for example. Over-testing can lead to testing fatigue, which may actually hurt your performance on the official test or make you feel too discouraged to continue with your preparation. After each practice test, you should plan on thoroughly reviewing your results with an instructor-led test review. Most students benefit from taking advantage of other practice activities, such as workshops, to avoid the mental drain that results from over-testing.
Lastly, don’t forget to take the PSAT/NMSQT® test. Even if you’ve already taken a different PSAT test before, we strongly recommend that all students take the test in 11th grade because this is the only test that can qualify you for the National Merit Scholarship Program. You’ll take this test in October of your junior year.
Evaluate your performance
After taking additional practice tests, spend some time evaluating how you did. Of course, you should also review your score report from the national test as well. You may find that you need to adjust your study schedule and the focus of your study sessions. For instance, you might need to spend more time on math or more time on language.
Do colleges care if you retake SAT or ACT tests?
No, retaking the tests one or two times will not harm your chances of college acceptance. In fact, retakes may improve your chances if it allows you to submit higher scores to your chosen colleges. Furthermore, retaking the tests may demonstrate your persistence and dedication to academic achievement—two attributes that college admissions officers often value.
Can I retake the tests as a senior in high school?
Yes, you definitely can retake the ACT or SAT test during your senior year of high school. While we recommend finishing testing by the end of your junior year, there are some situations in which you might consider taking the test again. If you experienced a rather tumultuous junior year (for example, if you had a prolonged illness, your family moved across the country, or there was a death in the family) then retaking the test as a senior may allow you to reach your test score goal.
When scheduling your test date, you should remember to check the application deadlines for the colleges on your list. You’ll want to ensure there is plenty of time for the schools to receive your scores.
Can I retake the test after high school?
It’s unusual to take the official SAT or ACT tests after high school graduation. When doing so under unusual circumstances, it may not be for reasons tied to freshman college admissions. In some cases, a student may take the test after graduation because they have specific goals, such as scholarships, rolling admissions, or a gap year. Check with the college’s admissions office for more detailed information.
When should I plan to be finished with SAT/ACT testing?
During your senior year, you’ll be busy sending out college applications, and you might plan on doing a few more college visits as you work toward finalizing your decision. This is one of the reasons why we recommend students finish testing by the end of 11th grade. Another reason is that it will take time for colleges to receive your scores, so you’ll want your score reports sent to the schools on your list ahead of the application deadlines.
When should I start taking the SAT or ACT test?
In most cases, students begin testing in 10th or 11th grade. Often, students are not ready to being testing in 8th or 9th grade (although practice tests are an exception because they haven’t learned enough material through their high school classes yet.
However, every student is unique, and your ideal testing timeline largely depends on you. Gifted or advanced students may be ready to start testing as early as 7th grade. Read more about when to take the SAT or ACT tests.
Need help preparing for college?
Preparing for tests is time consuming and stressful, and students often benefit from having a learning partner to guide them through the process. At KD, we offer a suite of flexible test prep options, each designed to fit a student’s unique needs. To learn more about our programs, schedule a free consultation.
