Should I Retake the Exam?
Data-driven decision making. Analyze if a retake is statistically likely to improve your college admission chances.
Your Situation
Recommendation
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Data-driven decision making. Analyze if a retake is statistically likely to improve your college admission chances.
Taking the SAT/ACT again is not free. It costs money, but more importantly, it costs time. Spending 40 hours studying for a 20-point gain is a bad investment. Spending 40 hours for a 100-point gain is a life-changing investment. Our Retake Worth It Calculator analyzes your current score, your target score, and your available study time to determine if a retake is statistically "Worth It."
Scores do not go up forever. They plateau.
Are you retaking the whole test, or just one section?
If it is November of your Senior year and you are burnt out, do not retake. A tired brain scores lower. A lower score (even if colleges don't see it) destroys your confidence. Use that time to write better essays instead.
If you took the SAT and felt confused by the tricky wording, don't retake the SAT. Switch to the ACT. The ACT is more straightforward (speed-based, not logic-based). A change of scenery often yields better results than a retake.
Taking the test "cold" a second time rarely works. Statistics show that scores often drop on a second attempt without intervention. Unless you have 20+ hours to prep, save your Saturday morning.
Unlimited, but colleges see "attempt counts." Retaking 2-3 times shows grit. Retaking 6 times shows obsession (and lack of improvement). Stop after 3 attempts.
Most allow "Score Choice" (you pick what to send). However, some elite schools (Georgetown, etc.) require "All Scores." Check the policy of your dream school before sitting for a 4th attempt.
On the SAT, 10 points is statistical noise. It doesn't matter. You want to aim for a +50 point jump to move to a new "tier" of admissions competitiveness.
Yes. Tests in August and October are popular because you have summer to prep. Tests in May are hard because they conflict with AP Exams. Choose a date when your school schedule is light.
Almost never. Even if you think you did poorly, you might be surprised. And with Score Choice, you can just hide it later. Only cancel if you fell asleep or threw up during the test.