Click here to go to the NEW College Discussion Forum

I was once told as advice to take the SAT at least twice but no more than 3 times. but that on the first try i should cram in all the Verbal studying and score really well on it. Then the next try i should really concentrate on the Math section. Is this any good of a technique, and what will colleges think at scores like

(for example)
1st time : m 600 v 770
2nd time : m 750 v 680

just wondering if it could work out.

thanks

By Nutmag345 (Nutmag345) on Friday, November 28, 2003 - 05:43 pm: Edit

Colleges are not ignorant. They have seen all the tricks and know how to spot them. Besides, why would you take an SAT unpreparred for half the test? It's not like you can spend all your time on just one section, so you might as well try your best on math AND verbal.
So, you can keep scheming, but the only route to success on the SATs is hard work. Keep checking this the SAT discussions on this site, as they offer some valuable techniques.

By Clayton18nc (Clayton18nc) on Friday, November 28, 2003 - 06:42 pm: Edit

i had a similar experience with my SAT scores...

1st time 570V 700M 1270
2nd time 670V 640M 1310

Luckily, UNC Chapel Hill just takes the highest off each section...but for other colleges I am looking at, it is unclear about how they will look at those scores. I would discourage you from approaching just one part on one particular test date, and instead try your best on the whole thing. However, scores can range so drastically that I don't think colleges will think I was "scheming" to maximize my SAT scores.

By Lively (Lively) on Saturday, January 31, 2004 - 11:57 pm: Edit

The colleges don't care about your combined scores from both times you took the tests. In other words, just take your best verbal and best math score and put it on the application (M750 + V770 = 1520.) That is what they want you to do. That is a common worry, too. P.S.- Really amazing scores!