I scored a 750 in Math level 2, and a 740 in Chemistry. Last time I took the test, my math actually dropped by 20 points while my chem went up by 10. Is it worth taking again?
From what I hear, MIT just expects that your test scores lie in their range, and the 25th percentile is a 760 for math, while the 75th is 800. The science range is 740-800.
Your scores are good enough that they will not rule out your chances at MIT. However your scores are not good enough to make up for any other deficiency. MIT is a lot shot even for students with perfect scores.
And yes, there are plenty of students at MIT who had one or more 800’s on various SAT tests.
“From what I hear, MIT just expects that your test scores lie in their range”-This has never been said by anyone reputable.
MITChris has said on multiple occasions that they prefer scores to start with the number 7. That tells them that if they want to admit the student they can feel comfortable that the student will be able to handle the rigorous course load. However,
there have even been exceptions with students getting in with slightly lower scores.
As I had referenced, I meant “their range” being 760-800, so yes, of course beginning with 700.
What is confusing is that MIT is rare that it asks for SAT Math level 1 or level 2. Most other highly competitive schools require level 2. This tells me that the tests are more validators than disqualifiers.
Here’s my question: if someone has a 700 on level 2, but an 800 on level 1, what should be submitted?
@84stag I would say the 800 on Level 1 because it shows mastery. Besides, although the math is easier on Level 1, it has a harder curve.
“if someone has a 700 on level 2, but an 800 on level 1, what should be submitted?”
“I would say the 800 on Level 1 because it shows mastery.”
I agree. To me, sending a 700 on level 2 math makes it look like you are solidly in the bottom 1/4 of incoming students at MIT. However, MIT and probably Caltech are perhaps the 2 schools in the US where it would be particularly a very bad idea to go there if you are going to be in the bottom 1/4 unless you want to work insanely hard and be under a lot of stress for four years.
However, sending in an 800 on level 1 math makes it looks like you are solidly in the middle or top of MIT students in ability, and are just a bit behind in learning a few details. MIT pretty clearly can teach you a few details. If all that you are missing is calculus then MIT can teach this to you. Personally I found freshman calculus at MIT to be a very good and relatively enjoyable class partly because it was one of the smaller freshmen classes since so many MIT freshmen had AP’d out of calculus. However, this just means that a mathematically talented freshman who didn’t come in with enough calculus lost one single elective freshman year, which is not a big deal at all.
@84stag As far as I recall only Caltech and Harvey Mudd qualify that the math subject test needs to be level 2. Are there others?
@UglyMom Carnegie Mellon requires Math 2 as well.