My son has a pretty high SAT score. Close to, but not perfect. School is testing in October for free (tests all juniors in spring and all seniors in fall). He is wondering if he should skip this extra test. He doesn�t need it. What are the chances he will be perfect vs regress to the mean? Would his time be better spent working on college applications? Does he need the stress of trying to be perfect? Score is definitely good enough for all the colleges on his radar.

Welcome, Fauna!


Personally I would follow his lead. If he craves the challenge and does not fear doing less well than previously, then that may be a great way to spend his time. On the other hand, if he feels an uncomfortable level of stress when he thinks about sitting for the exam again, then I suggest he skip it and do something else which may provide a benefit.

Life is simply too short to welcome unnecessary stress into any day.

Ditto indigo. If it's more stress to take it, then don't bother. If it's more stress to not take it, there's not much at stake in taking it. Most schools superscore anyway.

Plenty of other things for him to spend his attention and energy on senior year!

He was perfectly happy with 1580 and stayed home. I gave my opinion in the matter but let him decide.

There is a make up day. I told him to tell the testing coordinator not to order him a make up test.

And now he has one more thing checked off of his senior year list!