Why aspiring test-takers should consider taking the SAT or ACT more than once

Hear me out—it could really help your scores

A big change happened a number of years back: both the SAT and the ACT switched from a mandatory score reporting regime, wherein (at least in the case of the SAT) the last *six* official test scores were reported to every college that one sent scores to, over to a voluntary score reporting regime, where the test taker themselves decides which scores get sent to which colleges.

Now, understand that neither test is going to let you pick & choose your favorite sub-scores: you have to choose ALL of the scores obtained on a certain day for reporting (or non-reporting). But this small limitation notwithstanding, this change in score reporting policy means that it’s usually a good plan to take your college admissions tests multiple times each.

After all, there is the tendency that most test-takers have to improve as they gain more experience taking tests: in the same way that it’s easier to act in the school play during its fourth performance than it is on opening night, it’s easier to fully engage one’s brain and test-taking skills after one has gotten an SAT/ACT or two under their belt and the accompanying test-taking nervousness has receded a bit. On top of that, test-takers considering both the SAT & the ACT have, potentially, a lot to gain when switching from one test to the other—not least of all from the additional test dates. It also happens to generally be the case that studying for one makes you better at the other—although this route is usually reserved for students scoring at the higher end of the range.

Practicing for one test also makes you better at the other because one’s underlying test-taking skills—such as budgeting time, finding careless mistakes, maintaining grace under pressure, etc.—are being engaged and developed, as one practices for each of these tests. Also there is a great deal in common between them—after all, both claim to be testing the same skills.

In short: 1) SAT/ACT score reporting is up to the student, 2) one is unlikely to hit a home run one’s first time up at bat, 3) practicing for one test makes you better at the other and, finally, 4) taking standardized tests multiple times is a great way to get over one’s “stage fright” and learn to perform at a higher level. In other words, a number of excellent reasons for those aiming for maximum score improvement to consider taking the SAT or ACT, or both, more than once each.

Note: a small number of schools request *all* of one’s standardized test scores. The College Board compiles a PDF listing each college that requires all SAT scores to be submitted, along with others that only ask for one’s highest scores (or one’s single highest score) here.