USEFUL INFORMATION ABOUT THE SAT REASONING TEST

You can take the SAT as often as you like. However, taking it more than 4 or 5 times might give admissions offices the impression that you are a little compulsive or unsure of yourself.

Most colleges count the highest individual Critical Reading, Math and Writing scores from all of the tests taken. Just recently, some colleges have started counting just the highest individual Critical Reading and Math scores. EXCEPTION: The University of California and a few other schools take into consideration the highest three SAT (or combined ACT) scores from the same test date.

Usually, the October test date of your senior year is the last time you can take an SAT test (or Subject Tests) and have the scores arrive in time for early application deadlines.

The earlier you sign up for a test, the better the chance you have of getting the test location you prefer. Signing up late often results in your having to drive miles and miles to a location that is unfamiliar to you. One student I know who lived in Menlo Park, California, signed up so late for an SAT that he had to drive to Monterey, California, 85 miles and 2 hours away from his home.

The larger the university, the greater emphasis college admissions officers will place on SAT scores. This makes sense because these admissions people have to go through thousands of applications and weed out less desirable candidates as quickly as they can. SAT scores are a convenient way to pre-select. Smaller, liberal arts colleges are much more likely to pay attention to factors in addition to test scores, including who you are as a person as evidenced by your activities list, essays and recommendations.

If after taking an SAT, you feel uncomfortable with your performance, you can cancel your test score at the test center by asking the test supervisor for a Request to Cancel Test Scores form. Complete the form and return it to the test supervisor before leaving the room. You can also cancel a score after you leave a test center by writing (but not emailing since they require a signature) a request to cancel your scores that is received by the College Board by 11:59 (Easter time) on the Wednesday after the test date. Directions for doing this can be found at: http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/sat/scores/cancel.html