The September Testing Question: Should You Retake the SAT or ACT? 

September 15, 2024

Early September is a familiar season in college admissions counseling. Applications are underway, essay drafts are circulating, and seniors are beginning to realize the calendar moves faster than they’d like.

And then the testing questions start.

Sally has a 31 on the ACT — a strong score by any measure — but she’s aiming at highly selective colleges where the middle range skews higher.

John scored a 750 in Evidence-Based Reading and Writing but a 680 in Math, and he plans to apply as a STEM major.

Mary has a 4.5 weighted GPA and a rigorous transcript but hasn’t been able to push her SAT above 1300.

Their question is the same:

“Should I take it again?”

For many seniors, this becomes a late-summer dilemma: finishing college applications while trying to navigate a testing landscape that feels increasingly complicated — and trying to make the “right” decision.

The good news is that there is a strategy. Standardized testing isn’t about squeezing out every possible point. It’s about understanding when a score strengthens your application, when it doesn’t, and how it fits into your overall admissions plan.

When Retesting Can Make Sense

There are situations where another test administration could meaningfully improve your application.

You’re close to a higher tier.
If you’re sitting on a 32 or 33 ACT and your practice tests suggest you could reach a 34 or 35, a retake may be worthwhile — particularly for highly selective schools or for students applying to competitive majors like engineering or business.

You’ve only tested once.
Very few students hit their best score on their first attempt. A second sitting often brings familiarity with the format and a natural score increase, especially if you’re building a superscore.

Merit scholarships are tied to scores.
Even at many test-optional colleges, merit aid can still depend heavily on test results. In those cases, improving your score could have real financial benefits.

The key is intentional retesting. Pursue another attempt if the potential benefit is clear — not simply to chase a marginal improvement.

When Test-Optional Is the Better Strategy

Many colleges now offer test-optional policies, and many truly mean it. That said, it’s important to understand how testing fits into each institution’s admissions data.

For example, a college may be officially test optional, but if its Common Data Set shows that 70–80% of enrolled students still submit scores, testing may still play a meaningful role.

Still, going test optional can be a smart strategy in several situations.

Your academic record is stronger than your testing.
If you have a 4.5 GPA, strong course rigor, and solid AP scores but an SAT around 1300, your transcript may tell a stronger story than your test results.

Your score falls below the mid-50% range.
If a college reports a middle SAT range of 1450–1550 and your score is 1340, submitting it may not help your candidacy.

Testing is taking time away from more important work.
If additional test prep means sacrificing time spent on essays, extracurricular commitments, or — most importantly — your grades, it may not be worth the tradeoff.

Test-optional is not a shortcut. It’s a strategy that allows students to lead with their strengths.

Strategic Score Submission

One important point students often miss: submitting scores is not an all-or-nothing decision.

Students can — and should — make school-by-school decisions.

Submit when you’re within or above the middle range.
Review each college’s reported score ranges and consider submitting when your scores fall comfortably within them. (And always check whether the school superscores.)

Consider withholding when you’re below the range.
If your score falls significantly below the middle 50%, omitting it may be the stronger choice.

Mix and match strategically.
Many applicants submit scores to some schools and apply test-optional to others. This approach allows you to tailor your strategy based on each college’s expectations.

The Bottom Line

Standardized tests used to feel like admissions gatekeepers. Today, they’re better understood as tools — helpful when they strengthen your application, unnecessary when they don’t.

And admissions outcomes still surprise us every year.

One student who never moved beyond a 1430 applied test-optional to the University of Pennsylvania and was admitted through Early Decision. Another applicant confidently submitted a 35 ACT to Dartmouth College — and was deferred.

Admissions decisions are rarely determined by a single number.

In fact, if test scores alone decided college admissions, admissions offices could replace entire application reviews with a spreadsheet — which would certainly save time, but would make for a very boring admissions process.

Instead, colleges evaluate the full picture: academic rigor, grades, activities, essays, recommendations, and personal character.

So make your testing decision thoughtfully, choose the strategy that supports your application, and then move on.

Focus on writing compelling essays, preparing for interviews, and presenting the strongest version of your story.

Because the real goal isn’t perfection.

At Eagle College Advising, our goal is simple: help students navigate the admissions process with clarity, confidence, and a smart strategy.