I took the SAT Math II freshman year and got a 750, but on the regular SAT I got a score breakdown of 800 on math. I know they obviously cover different topics, I was just wondering if I should retake that subject test or focus on other ones such as Physics and Bio. Thanks!
750 is a strong score. I would move on to other tests.
It might be a smidge on the low side for, say, MIT, but not so low as to be the sole reason they’d reject you.
Depends on what schools you are applying to. If you are applying to MIT, I would retake. Cal Tech is subject test blind now, so no reason to retake for them.
What year are you?
MODERATOR’S NOTE:
I edited the clickbait title, since it’s disingenuous to call a 750 “low.”
Thanks for the advice! @Mwfan1921 I am a Junior
Oopsies, thank you for fixing that @skieurope
You can definitely give it another try next year since you are still a freshman. However, do work on your bio and physics, etc. ALso, don’t let your extracurricular activities behind…Freshman year is the golden year for you to relax and explore your extracurriculars
Good luck
@asksimon22 Thanks! Sorry for the confusion but I am currently a Junior. I haven’t rlly revisited the thought of subject tests until now, which may have been a mistake since I’ve had plenty of time between then and now to retake
Are you looking at schools that require/recommend Subject Tests? And what type of a major?
As noted, for a STEM major at MIT, that would be well below most applicants. There are a couple of other schools/majors that are similar. For most schools/majors, it would be fine.
Oh I see. If you are a junior now, then, yes I would suggest you to retakw it. Actually, it is also depends on what kind of school you want to go to. If you want to apply to TOP 20 and major in STEM, they you really have to get a 800. But if you are not going to major in these major, I think you should be fine.
I hope this helps. Good luck! Let us know how things go.
There is no school where you “have to get a(n) 800” for admissions. Higher scores always help, but this is not a hard admissions criteria anywhere, afaik
I agree with everyone else. Especially on Math II where 800 is in the 78th-ish (? correct me if I’m wrong) percentile - as opposed to something like Lit where 800 is 99th percentile - if you’re aiming for STEM, you should try for 800.
I was in a similar boat to OP - got 750 and then retook once to get an 800 before college apps. Seemed like it helped. Would definitely recommend if it’s not too much trouble / you think you can get it without too much extra effort
Thanks everyone! But now with MIT new policy, subject tests are not counted in admissions. So should I still retake it?
No. At least not for MIT, which has said that it will not consider the score even if submitted.
Nevertheless, if it is not too much effort to improve, I think I would retake to shoot for an 800. Other schools will still wind up accepting subject tests. How much weight they will accord them is anyone’s guess.
Are you applying to any other colleges that recommend the math subject test?
What schools still recommend or require subject tests?
@vhsdad As far as I can tell, the only school that requires the SAT subject test for all applicants is McGill university in Quebec, but you can get around that by submitting the ACT. I think there’s a few that requires applicant in certain majors to submit them. There’s still a pretty good number of elite colleges recommending them though.
I think there’s going to be a pretty big decline in the number of people taking the subject tests (and a lower average on the Math 2 test) now that MIT, Caltech and Harvey Mudd have removed there requirements. Especially for Science and Math 2, most of the test takers seem to be doing it only because MIT and Caltech required them, and now that that’s gone, why go through the trouble to take it?
@dancer128 I would definitely recommend retaking your Math 2 subject test and I would aim for a 780 to an 800. I also want to point out that there is no reason to take three subject tests unless if you are considering applying to Georgetown. Admissions officers might view an applicant with three subject tests as being to focused on achieving high test score than using time in a more productive manner.
If you had just taken it and got a 750, I wouldn’t recommend retaking. But since it was freshman year, I don’t think it would be a bad idea.