Can a Student Retake the SAT After Taking It?

Students who have taken the SAT often wonder if they can retake the test to improve their scores. Understanding the rules and benefits of retaking the SAT is crucial for making an informed decision.

Eligibility and Requirements

Students must meet certain requirements to retake the SAT. These include having an appropriate ID, such as a driver's license, and paying the necessary fees. The testing organization, ETS (Educational Testing Service), ensures the integrity of the test by preventing cheating and unauthorized assistance. This measure is particularly important to avoid fraud and ensure fairness.

Relevance to College Applications

Unless you plan to transfer to a different university, retaking the SAT for the same institution might not be necessary. However, different universities have varied policies regarding the use of SAT scores, and some may require them, while others do not.

Benefits of Retaking the SAT

Students have the flexibility to retake the SAT as many times as they can manage, both in terms of time and cost. Each test administration allows students to select which scores they want to send to specific colleges and universities. However, simply retaking the test without effective preparation is unlikely to significantly boost your scores. It is important to factor in the cost of retaking the test and the time needed for preparation.

Historical Context and Strategies

Historically, some schools offered the PSAT (Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test) in various grades to help students prepare for the SAT. This was particularly common in high schools where the PSAT was administered in 9th and 10th grades, with classes to prepare for it. By 11th grade, students took the PSAT to prepare for college applications, and some even took it in their 12th grade to improve their scores for college selection. This multi-test strategy helped students refine their skills and achieve higher scores.

Strategies for Repetition

Retaking the SAT after an initial score has been submitted is feasible. Students need to register for a new test on a different date and consider studying between tests to maximize the chance of improving their scores. ETS observes that sometimes a student's score may decrease upon retaking the test, or one section may improve while another may decline. If a student feels they could perform better or wants to present their best possible scores to colleges, it is advisable to retake the test. Many schools accept the highest scores from separate math and verbal sections.

Conclusion

Whether a student should retake the SAT depends on several factors, including their current scores, their college goals, and their willingness to invest additional time and money in preparation. Understanding the system and potential outcomes can help students make an informed decision that benefits their chances of college admission.