Who Should Still Take the SAT Test?

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Test dates for the SAT are being cancelled left and right. Yet, you still may be wondering: Should I still take the SAT? It turns out some students should, while others should not. We will be reviewing which students would benefit from taking the SAT and which should spend their time and money elsewhere.

Who Should?

11th graders looking to qualify for the National Merit Scholarship need to take the SAT. Approximately half of all Finalists for this award win a scholarship worth $2500 or more. Qualifying as a Finalist or Semifinalist, though, also looks good for college admissions since it is technically an award.

The next set of students we recommend should take the SAT are 11th graders looking to offset low grades. For example, students who have earned B’s or even C’s in Math can compensate through the SAT Math portion. Students with a relatively low GPA or inconsistent grades in any particular time can use the SAT as an additional data point to demonstrate their aptitude.

Who Shouldn’t?

11th graders who already have strong grades – mostly A’s – AND have taken the PSAT, do not need to take the test. Taking additional SAT exams provides virtually no value since colleges can already see the student’s demonstrated aptitude.

High schoolers who haven’t yet completed Algebra II should consider holding off on taking the test. The SAT covers Algebra II, so the lack of fundamental knowledge will undoubtedly limit a student’s maximum test score. Once the student has taken Algebra II, they can consider taking the test based on other factors we have discussed.

Practice tests are always recommended to do in preparation for the SAT. However, if a high schooler is projecting practice test scores below their GPA equivalent, they should not attempt the SAT. To determine your GPA equivalent, simply take your unweighted GPA, divide it by 4.0, and multiply the result by 1600. For example, a student’s GPA equivalent of an SAT score who has a 3.5 would be ((3.5 / 4.0) * 1600), or 1400. So if you are a 3.5 student and your practice tests are coming in at the low to mid 1300’s, there’s no benefit of taking or reporting the SAT because you’re effectively showing a lower aptitude than your grades show.

Recap and Conclusion

Take the SAT if you’re in 11th grade and looking to qualify for the National Merit Scholarship. Take it if you have something to prove due to low grades from the past. Otherwise, save your time for other admissions boosting activities. There are plenty!

We hope that this provides some valuable insight into how to release some of the stress you may have while making your college application profile even stronger. We specialize in youth mentorship and college counseling. From 8th grade to 12th, we have you covered for any stage in your high school career. Schedule a free consultation with us here.

We are always posting more helpful tips and tricks to help reduce the stress of college application season. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube.

See you soon!

Sarah Gooch

Essay Editor

Q:How many total years of experience do you have in your current role, including but not limited to ReadyEdgeGo?

A: I have five years' experience in coaching student writing, but this is my first year with ReadyEdgeGo.

Q: What about working with students do you most enjoy?

A: I love helping students find depth and meaning in their own stories—but I also just love it when they make me laugh!

Q: What do you like to do in your free time?

A: In theory, I enjoy painting and writing poetry, but these days I actually spend most of my free time socializing or watching movies with my husband.

Q: What is your one piece of advice for high schoolers?

A: Don't just focus on achieving top grades and credentials because they look good on applications, or your education will be meaningless. The numbers and awards have their place, but stay connected to your sense of curiosity, discovery, excitement, and wonder so that the content you're learning is constantly transforming you—it's something you care about, something you remember after the final exam. Work on the aspects of yourself no one can measure, like integrity, wisdom, kindness, and compassion, so that you're not only developing your academic and career potential but also investing in the type of adult you're going to be, the person you'll have to live with after you clock out every day for the rest of your life. Doing the hard inner work of building your character and learning deeply instead of just earning grades will set you up for a satisfying, well-rounded life. Strange as it sounds, it will also put you ahead in your academic and career goals, because colleges and hiring managers aren't looking for an empty set of data on a spreadsheet; they want a fully fleshed-out person marked by passion, creativity, and a story no one else has lived. So go on studying hard for tests, but also spend some time asking yourself what matters in life and who your role models are. Read up on topics that amaze you, and build something incredible just for fun. Cultivate that spark of joy you feel when you're immersed in a subject that fascinates you. If you can hit that balancing act of doing your homework and meeting deadlines but also investing in the kind of person you want to be, then trust that all the rest will follow: schools will recognize you as a dynamic, all-star person, and you will also build a life of happiness, close relationships, and peace.

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