How many times should I take the SAT?

I've heard that colleges might view multiple SAT sittings differently. How many times should I take the SAT to maximize my chances of getting into a good college without seeming like I'm overdoing it?

It's generally recommended to take the SAT two or three times to maximize your chances of achieving your highest possible score. Most colleges will consider your highest score from a single sitting or even superscore your results (combine your highest section scores from multiple tests) for admission purposes.

Taking the test two or three times allows you to have one "baseline" attempt, usually after completing your PSAT or after some initial studying. This first attempt can give you valuable insight into the testing environment and identify areas where you might need improvement. After your initial attempt, you can focus your studying on the areas where you struggled and aim for improvement on the next test. If you're satisfied with your second attempt, great! However, if you still think there's room for improvement, you can take the SAT a third time, but after that, it's generally not worth the effort as there are diminishing returns, and it may take time away from other aspects of your application, like extracurriculars and essays.

It's important to note that while retaking the SAT multiple times isn't frowned upon, taking the test more than four times may start to raise questions on your application, and it's unlikely that you'll see significant score improvements beyond that point.

When planning your testing schedule, make sure to give yourself enough time between sittings to adequately prepare and study for better performance on the next attempt. Don't forget that other parts of your application, such as your grades, extracurricular activities, essays, and letters of recommendation, also play important roles in the college admissions process, so strike a balance between SAT preparation and these other aspects.