Do colleges care if you retake the SAT or ACT?

Short answer: not really. Long answer: only if you’re retaking with a purpose. Colleges expect most students to take the SAT or ACT more than once—it shows you’re committed and trying to improve, not just hoping lightning strikes. Many schools use your highest score or even superscore, combining your best sections across test dates. So yes, retaking can help your application if you actually improve. But if you keep retaking without boosting your score, it won’t hurt you; it just might not help. Think of retakes like sequels—great when they add something new (hello, Toy Story 3), unnecessary when they don’t (*looking at you, Sharknado 5).