How many times should you retake the SAT?

There are so many different times to take the SAT, that it is important to know how many times to take the SAT. The answer is rather conditional, as it relies on the colleges you want to attend, and the score you get on the first time you take the SAT.

If you wish to go to an Ivy League college, where the average SAT score is around 2200 to 2250, then if you score below the average, you should highly consider retaking the SAT. If of course you score above, there isn't much point in retaking the SAT (unless of course you believe you can increase your SAT score even more, for example getting 2400).

For the elite UC colleges, like UCLA, UCSD, and UCB, you should aim to have an SAT score higher than 2100. If your SAT score is below 2100, you should retake the SAT whenever you are ready. For example if your SAT score is around 1800, there is a low chance you will get into UCLA, UCSD, or UCB, so you should DEFINITELY retake the SAT. To see the next available test dates, read this.

For other colleges, you should look at your current SAT score, and the average SAT score of the college you want to attend. If your score is lower than the college's average SAT score, then you definitely want to retake the SAT after you do some preparation.