4 Reasons Your SAT Score Is Going Down

Many students decide to take the SAT/ACT twice in the hopes of getting a higher score the second time around. Some students are successful, but others end up seeing a score decrease on their second take. How? Why?! It’s actually pretty common and there are a few reasons why it could be happening to you. 

Random Guesses

Each time you take a test, especially on a standardized test like the SAT or ACT, there are bound to be a few questions you just don’t know the answers to. You might eliminate the obviously wrong choices and pick one from the rest, not really certain if it’s correct. This doesn’t change the second time you take the test. In fact, you’ll be getting an entirely different version of the test, so there will be new questions you have to make guesses on. Maybe there were more of these uncertain answers on your second attempt at the test. This could be a contributing factor in a score decrease.

Quality of Study Time

Sure, you’re sitting down to study, but are you actually retaining the information? It can be difficult to remain focused for extended periods of time. Perhaps your study time isn’t quality study time and the information isn’t sticking. If you find yourself rereading the same page over and over and still have no idea what you just read, consider changing your study approach. Quality is more important than quantity. 

Quantity of Study Time

While quality is more important than quantity, your quantity of study time still has value. Spending one hour a month versus ten hours a month will make a difference when it comes to improving your test score. As long as you remain focused and study with intent, increasing the quantity of your study time certainly won’t do you any harm. 

Where Are You Growing? Where Aren’t You Growing?

When you look back at both of your test attempts, you might be able to identify patterns. If you put in the work, there should be areas of improvement, even with a lower test score. There may also be areas where you just aren’t growing. Perhaps your score improved in math, but remained stagnant in science and dropped in English. Look back at your study approach--did you spend all of your time studying math? Did you neglect science and English because you did well in them last time? Once you identify these patterns, you can redirect your focus for the next test.

There will be ebbs and flows in test taking just as there is in life. Don’t be discouraged by a one-time score decrease. Take a look at your study habits, your test-taking approach, and the patterns in your results, make the necessary adjustments, and you’ll be good to go!

If you would like more help in refining your study habits and test-taking strategies, contact us for a free consultation.