<p>Well, I just got my score back and it is really dsissapointing... I got 720 on the USH exam... I was expecting 780+. I did a lot of practice tests and the lowest I've ever gotten was 750 when I first took the test on the prep book ever. So this is all really shocking to me. So I will retake it, but it's just a matter of when. </p>
<p>I am taking physics this saturday and I'm wondering if I should take the USH again although I would have to cram it in three days. I'm afraid of this because it might put me in a bad shape with physics...And the reason I can't take it on October is I "have to" take SAT then since I want to apply early.</p>
<p>So my concern is, is taking the II exam 3 time really bad? I mean, if I end up not doing so well this June and up having to take it agin sometime next fall... how bad is that?</p>
<p>I've heard from an admissions counselor that taking II exams multiple times aren't as bad ast taking SAT I multiple times.</p>
<p>He said that if you can manage a 800 on the test, it doesn't matter how many times you take it as long as it's not ridiculous (four+). The SAT II test is designed to demonstrate ACHIEVEMENT and thus it is very reasonable for a student's grade to improve through multiple testing because he might have accumulated new knowledge. Besides, as an achievement test, what really matters is you eventually get to the level of achievement required (800 or whatever you're aiming for).</p>
<p>Now, retaking the SAT I over and over again is bad because the SAT I is designed to measure APTITUDE. Aptitude is less likely to increase significantly, and taking the SAT I too many times show an unhealthy obsession over scores that you probably can't "improve" drastically anyways.</p>
<p>So I'd say, go for it!! But be sure you will score decent on your retakes (after all, if you're still scoring 700-750 after three times, the testing director will probably be like...hmm...how come his grade never improved?)...if you know ahead of time you'll either match your score or score lower, I'd say don't do it. But if you think you have a decent shot at it, take it!</p>
<p>As a side note, it was prove that the SAT doesn't measure aptitude. If it measured your inherent aptitude than Sparknotes, Kaplan, PR, and a lot of other companies wouldn't be able to sell their books and improve scores. The SAT used to stand for the Student Aptitude Test, but they changed it so that it no longer stands for anything at all. It is a meaningless acronym.</p>
<p>is there honestly an advantage to retaking?</p>
<p>if you do very poorly, retaking makes sense because you need to show adcoms that you aren't retarded. however, i know harvard (arguably the hardest school to get into) gives you an academic rating of 1 if you have 5 SAT tests above a 700 (there are of course other things that go into an AI of 1, but in terms of SAT, its just 700).</p>
<p>so is there a point to retaking if you get above a 700? colleges see every score anyway</p>
<p>I got a 660 on Bio. Should I retake that? I mean it was my second time. I was stupid enough to take it in my sophmore year and end up with a 610. I love bio..I really wanted to show that through good scores and stuff..but I guess I suck.</p>