Okay, So im kinda of in a dilemma and I need advice FAST
Basically I’m deciding on which route I want to take. I took the SAT twice, first time 1300 ( no prep as you can see) and that’s a pretty embarrassing score. I took it a 2nd time in OCT and got a 1400 (little to no prep too), still pretty embarassing. The same month, I took the ACT. I honestly truly favor the ACT and I am VERY confident that my ACT score is MUCH better than my SAT score in translation.
Just a little bit of academic background, I’m ranked 3 (out of 227) in my class, straight A student with a UW GPA of 3.93. and a Weighted of 4.6, involved in various EC’s such as Job and varsity sports along with balancing time to ACE my classes (for the most part). Just became a QB finalist as well. Favorite subject is math, and last year I doubled up, taking pre-calculus and AP Statistics at the same time (considered psychotic in my school). Aced both, and passed the Stats exam (also uncommon in my school). I’ve taken honors/AP courses most of my high school career. I taken 4 AP/Honors course my junior year, and Im taking 4 my senior year (6 AP’s total by graduation). I’ve passed all three of my AP test thus far (which is a collegeboard oriented test). I don’t necessarily understand why I scored so poorly on the SATs. You would think I’d at least score above average with natural ability. But I’m guessing the SAT is just NOT my test. Anyhow, given all of this…
I want to go to a great college regardless of my horrible SAT scores, that being said, should I study and retake my SAT a 3rd time in dec? or retake the ACT a 2nd time in DEC? I feel like I REALLY want to improve SAT scores (since they sucked), but since I personally favor the ACT’s, maybe that would be the smarter move. ANY ADVICE … I NEED replies ASAP because tonight is the last night before late fees, and I need some opinions.
I love this website, and all of you are awesome! Thank you.
Can’t give you a good answer without an ACT score. In any case, I would recommend test prep asap. You can sign up again for both tests - there’s no penalty for not showing up, except for the loss of the fee.
There is something about your story that doesn’t make sense. You do so well in school in hard classes but really not well on the SAT. Are the two scores you mentioned without writing? If so, that makes more sense and if you got 700s without any prep, you might be able to get those scores up with some prep. As the other poster said, it is difficult to make a recommendation without knowing your ACT score. I do think that you should take the test that you feel more comfortable with and if that is the ACT, then go for it. There are test optional schools to consider too.
Not every smart person does well on a timed test. There is really not that strong of a correlation between test scores and actual ability. It is more of a correlation between effort and increasing scores. People who pay for tutors may do much better on the test than those without. It also matters.
To put this in perspective, I am an oddball at my school. I took calc 1 and 2 at a local community college. I had to put in a lot of effort, but I 4 pointed both. I scored a 25 and then a 27 in the act math.
My friend scored a 34 on the ACT. Including a 34 on the math portion. He is not doing that well in that same class as mine with the same professor, same curriculum, and same work. He is also very intelligent. Good test scores do not equal great students. Great tests scores are from mostly average students who study for the tests, or from smart students who study. Some have a natural ability on the tests, but not all do.
You should study for any test you take, and learn the way to do well on the tests. Even though they are not really directly correlated to college success. Are those scores with or without writing?