Should you retake the SAT/ACT?

Hello everyone! In this week’s blog post, I’ll be answering a very common question: should I retake the SAT/ACT? Read on to learn more!

Let’s say that SAT/ACT score release day has come around, and your score is not what you personally wanted, but it’s also a pretty good score. What do you do now? Do you go on with life and applying to colleges because you receive an average score, even if it isn’t the score you wanted? Or do you re-take the test multiple more times until you achieve your desired score?

Many of us tend to be in this situation, and deciding whether or not we want to retake a standardized test is a difficult decision. On one hand, we are satisfied with our score, but on the other hand, we haven’t reached our desired score. For example, if a student received a 1430 on the SAT, but their desired score was a 1450+, they might not know if they wish to retake it. A 1430 is a really good score, and is really close to their desired score of a 1450. However, is it effective to retake the test?

A simple way to analyze your score is to research the ranges of SAT/ACT scores of admitted students in your top colleges. Look at the statistics and the range of SAT/ACT scores, and if your score is in at least the middle 50th percentile, then you should be good to go. After all, standardized test scores are not the main factor in college admissions, and only serve as a reference to your performance in high school.

If you really aren’t satisfied with your score, then it won’t hurt to retake the test and aim for a higher score. Many students retake the test 2-3 times, so it’s completely fine to re-test. Make sure you study effectively before your next test, and focus on the areas you struggled in. Check out my SAT/ACT test tips for more help!

I hope you all found this post useful! Feel free to contact me with any questions!

Until next time, bye!