What if a student takes an SAT or ACT and gets a lower score compared to a previous test?

This is a question I get frequently from parents, and I have contacted a number of colleges to find an answer. The answer they give is that the school will take the higher score. This is great news for kids taking the test multiple times.

However, usually a score doesn't go down on a later test. Typically there will be a slight increase in their score on the 2nd or 3rd test regardless of prep. In my experience, students who do an intensive prep program are likely to see a significant improvement in their scores.