AS Levels vs. Standardised Tests to Harvard Admissions.

[FutureFreshmen]

My AS Levels are as it turn out are very average and weak, but my ACT scores and my 3 SAT II scores are outstanding. What conclusion would Harvard reach on this basis? Do they judge someone more on their Standardised Test scores or their AS Levels?

[gibby]

Colleges use test scores to gauge how you well you would do if admitted to their school. The HIGHER your score, the LESS an Admissions Committee will question if you can handle the work load on their campus. That said, having average and or weak AS levels is not going to help your case. Yale is a bit more forthcoming on this issue: http://admissions.yale.edu/what-yale-looks-for

The single most important document in your application is your high school transcript, which tells us a great deal about your academic drive and performance over time. We look for students who have consistently taken a broad range of challenging courses in high school and done well.

While there is no hard and fast rule, **it is safe to say that performance in school is more important than testing. **A very strong performance in a demanding college preparatory program may compensate for modest standardized test scores, but it is unlikely that high standardized test scores will persuade the admissions committee to disregard an undistinguished secondary-school record.

It’s a safe bet that Harvard Admissions probably feels the exact same way.

[londondad]

How bad are your AS levels and what A2 courses are you taking?