Thinking carefully and proactively about how often to take the SAT or ACT makes a lot of sense; after all, very, very few of us actually enjoy taking these tests (my secret shame!) This common question has two answers, one easy and one a little more complicated. Consider both to craft your testing game plan.
How many practice SATs or ACTs should I take?
When wondering how many practice tests to take, simply commit to as many as needed to prove to yourself before test day that you can consistently meet or exceed your target score. Many tests lie between where a student begins and where she wants to arrive. You’ll minimize that number by making sure you take the highest quality practice tests possible, meaning official exams under strictly timed test conditions. Follow each practice test with targeted review of every aspect of your exam to really supercharge its value.
How many official SATs or ACTs should I take?
Ideally, you will only take one. After all, if you’ve practiced properly, you’ll know going into the test what you’re capable of. Once you hit your target, you may want to, as they say, take the money and run. In this case, you’ll be running as far from the SAT and ACT as possible!
Of course, many of us have a tendency to move the goalposts once we’ve reached our prior goal. Luckily, current college admissions policies support taking multiple official exams. Only a handful of schools want to see every official test score. Most of the others fall into one of two camps: score choice or superscore. This means an applicant will either be able to submit their single best test administration or as many full administrations as are needed to build their very best score section by section.
If the schools of your choice have score choice or superscore policies, you have much to gain and little to lose by testing more than once, especially if you underperformed on only one or two sections of an official exam. Still, once you’ve taken three or more official exams (3 SATs or 3 ACTs), you’re probably well into the territory of diminishing returns. There’s more to life than tests, you know! 😉
So the short answer to this question is as follows:
1. Take as many practice tests as you need to earn your target score: there’s a reason both College Board and ACT release so many official practice tests. That said, don’t waste all the official practice tests before seeking test prep–we’re going to need those tests to help you build the skills and strategies needed to earn your best scores. Plus, if you take a number of tests in a row without coaching, you’re likely to solidify bad habits.
2. Take as few official tests as you need to earn your target score. Consider the score policies of your target schools. If you can meet or exceed your goals on your first test, more power to you. Otherwise, take the next available test–do not let too much time pass between official administrations or your skills will atrophy.
Mike Bergin