Testing in February: Is It Too Late to Retake the ISEE or SSAT for a Better Score?
In This Guide
February feels like the final stretch of the competitive boarding school admissions process. If your child hasn’t scored as high as you hoped on the ISEE or SSAT, you might be wondering whether a retake this late will make a difference. Knowing how top boarding schools view late test updates and what really matters in admissions can help you decide whether a retake is worth it.
Quick Answer for Busy Parents
If you only have a minute, here’s the bottomline.
No, it’s not too late to retake the SSAT or ISEE. However, a February retake can help only if your child has a realistic chance of significantly improving their test scores and if the schools will accept their updated scores. Strategic planning and expert guidance can make this move worthwhile.
What Parents Need to Know About ISEE and SSAT Retakes in February
Retaking in February comes with important considerations, including timing, boarding school policies, and test preparation. And parents should weigh the potential benefits against the added strengths and schedule demands.
Understanding how retaking the ISEE and SSAT affects elite boarding school applications, and how they view February retake scores vs. original scores, can help families make an informed decision that supports both academic and admission goals.
How Does Retaking in February Affect Your Child’s Boarding School Application?
Retaking the ISEE or SSAT in February can still have a meaningful impact on your child’s boarding school application, but it still depends on each school’s application timeline. Some schools may accept late test score updates and consider them when deliberating on final admission decisions, while others may have already completed most of their review.
A retake can be valuable if your child’s original score is borderline for the competitive boarding schools in the country or if improvements can strengthen placements for specific programs. Even if the score arrives later, a significantly improved score demonstrates your child’s academic growth and dedication.
If you want to truly prepare your child and make the most out of this second shot, targeted test preparation is crucial to help maximize the positive effect of a February retake, helping your child present their strongest possible application.
How Do Boarding Schools View February Retake Scores vs. Original Scores?
Retaking a standardized test does not automatically hurt or help an application.
Elite boarding schools consider the highest score submitted, but they also look at the student’s consistency across the different test sections. A February retake that shows a clear improvement can demonstrate effort, discipline, and academic resilience. If the newer score is lower, the admissions team will typically rely on the stronger original scores.
However, it is important to understand that schools evaluate score trends alongside grades, teacher recommendations, and the readiness for the boarding school environment.
Top Benefits of Retaking the ISEE or SSAT in February
- It helps show academic growth and resilience.
- It can improve placement in the competitive boarding school applicant pool.
- It reinforces commitment to achieving personal best.
Best Practices for Deciding Whether to Retake Standardized Tests in February
- Verify whether the target boarding schools accept February retake test scores.
- Keep the preparation positive and encouraging to avoid overwhelming your child.
- Communicate with the admissions committee to confirm score deadlines.
Common Questions Parents Ask About Late-Game ISEE or SSAT Retakes
Q: Can a February retake hurt my child’s boarding school application?
A: Generally, no, unless your child’s score drops significantly. The admissions committee values consistency and an upward academic trend.
Q: How many times can my child retake the ISEE and SSAT?
A: The test limit varies. The ISEE can be taken once per season, while there are multiple test dates for the SSAT. Parents and students alike are strongly encouraged to confirm testing agency rules and school policies.
Q: Should we prioritize grades over test prep in February?
A: Ideally, yes. Strong mid-year grades often carry more weight in holistic admissions compared to a marginal test score increase.
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Is It Worth Retaking the ISEE or SSAT This Late in the Admissions Cycle?
Retaking the ISEE or SSAT can still be worth it, but only if the potential score can strengthen the overall application. At this stage in the admissions process, competitive boarding schools may already be finalizing decisions, so timing matters. And for students whose previous scores were slightly below the boarding school’s average, a focused retake can signal resilience and dedication to growth.
In this section, we will explore situations that may or may not impact acceptance chances to your child’s desired school and how holistic boarding school evaluations happen.
Situations Where a February Retake May Not Impact Acceptance Chances
February ISEE or SSAT retakes can sometimes strengthen an application; however, there are also scenarios where they are unlikely to change the outcome.
If the admissions decisions are already finalized and just waiting to be released, updated test scores may not be reviewed in time to influence the results. A retake may also have little to no impact if the original score already falls within or above the school’s middle range.
If your child also has weaker grades compared to other applicants, a small increase in the test score will rarely compensate. However, high-impact tutoring and academic coaching can help your child develop strong study habits that will ultimately help them perform best academically.
How Do Boarding Schools Weigh Test Scores Alongside Grades, Essays, and Recommendations?
The best boarding schools in the country evaluate an applicant’s profile beyond just their transcripts and test scores. The admissions committee also looks closely at a student’s extracurricular engagements, student essays, interviews, teacher recommendations, and their readiness for the boarding school community. A February retake should complement, not replace, these crucial elements.
Excellent grades coupled with compelling recommendations from teachers and a well-written student essay that captures their authentic voice carry more long-term weight than a student’s test scores that only offer a snapshot of how they perform academically.
Top Tips for Preparing for a February ISEE or SSAT Retake
- Identify the specific sections where your child struggled and reinforce them with focused, targeted practice.
- Ensure that there is a balance between the test preparation and your child’s ongoing academic performance.
- Foster a calm and supportive atmosphere that builds confidence and reduces stress during retake preparation.
Best Practices for Strategically Preparing for a Late Admissions Test Retake
- Use office practice problems to match actual exam difficulty and format.
- Regularly practice under timed conditions to improve pacing and test endurance.
- Review the previous score to identify weak sections and question patterns.
Common Questions Families Ask About a Late ISEE or SSAT Test
Q: Is it better to retake the ISEE or SSAT, or focus more on essays, interviews, and recommendation letters?
A: February retakes should complement the rest of the application, including the essays, interviews, and recommendation letters, not replace them.
Q: Should my child focus only on the weaker sections when preparing for a retake?
A: Prioritizing preparations on weaker sections can help improve the score on the retake. However, maintaining or improving scores in sections where you previously performed better is important.
Q: Is tutoring worth it for a last-minute admission retake?
A: Yes. Targeted tutoring can be highly effective if it focuses on weaknesses and test-taking strategies.
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Kickstart Your Child’s Boarding School Journey with Cardinal Education
Deciding on retaking a test or planning how to approach a competitive boarding school admissions process can feel like a lot in your plate—and it is a lot!
But with Cardinal Education, you don’t have to navigate this selective process alone. Our elite boarding school admissions consultants help distinguished families like you by providing personalized admission guidance tailored to your child’s strengths. As a premier admissions consulting firm, we offer comprehensive support ranging from tutoring and essay writing assistance to interview preparations, ensuring that your child is positioned competitively in the highly selective admissions process.
Start your boarding school journey with confidence. Contact us today!
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can late test scores actually influence admissions?
Yes, especially if there is a significant improvement in the scores compared to the initial test scores. February retake scores can tip the decision to be in your favor, even for top boarding schools. However, it is important to understand that timing and school policies can also affect the influence of your updated scores. If the admissions commitee are already finalizing decisions, an updated score may not be as helpful as one would hope for.
Do all boarding schools accept February test scores?
No. Policies concerning test score submission vary by school. Some schools may still be in the process of reviewing applications and will accept late test score updates, especially if the update shows improved scores, while other boarding schools are already finalizing their decisions. In this case, a February retake will offer little to no influence on the admissions.
Can tutoring help improve scores in a short time?
Absolutely. Aside from helping your child address the sections where they performed below their potential, expert guidance from specialized tutors also helps boost their confidence. Additionally, targeted tutoring can also help equip your child with the best test-taking strategies, helping them to perform better as they retake any standardized tests.
How do we know if my child can realistically improve their ISEE or SSAT score before February?
Start by doing practice tests and then evaluating results. If the results show an upward trend of scores and only a few fixable weaknesses, such as a longer test-taking time and poor elimination skills are observed, improvement in the actual retake is realistic. However, if the scores remain stagnant or, worse, decline, despite multiple practices, a retake may not produce a dramatic change in a short span of time.
