Competitive SAT Subject Test Scores?

<p>Some schools that don't usually require Subject Tests, do so for homeschooled applicants (Case Western, Northeastern, etc...). Im just wondering what you guys think a competitive Subject Test score would be for these sort of schools? I know usually people are talking about 700+ as being a good score, would that be lower for these institutions?</p>

<p>The curve is a lot different for the subject tests than it is for SAT I. You can miss 10-15 problems on Math II and still get 800, which is why it will reflect badly on you if you get less than 700 on that test. For the “harder” subject tests like literature, the college will probably be more forgiving of scores as low as 600. Try to shoot for at least 650 in all tests, regardless.</p>

<p>Really? That’s like a fifth of the test missed, is it really that hard?</p>

<p>Scroll down a bit for the scoring chart.
[SparkNotes:</a> SAT Subject Test: Math Level 2: Math IIC Scoring](<a href=“SparkNotes: Today's Most Popular Study Guides”>SparkNotes: Today's Most Popular Study Guides)</p>

<p>10529231 has greatly exaggerated the generosity of the Math II curve. </p>

<p>You can have a raw score of 44/50 and still get a 800 in the Math II subject test, whereas even making one mistake on the SAT math section can sometimes stop you from getting a 800. </p>

<p>However, the curve for the Math II subject test is only “generous” because it is much harder than the SAT math section.</p>

<p>An 800 on Math II really is a standard that you should be achieving. My score report says it’s only 88th percentile.</p>

<p>Most people in my school retake 770s or even 780s on the SATII. The only competitive SAT II IMO is either a 790 or 800.</p>

<p>^ Yes, but the difference between a 790 and 800 is negligible in holistic admissions. I’m not extremely familiar with Case Western and Northeastern, but I think a 750 would be more than enough for them? For Math II.</p>

<p><a href=“http://professionals.collegeboard.com/profdownload/2010-sat-subject-test-percentile-ranks.pdf[/url]”>http://professionals.collegeboard.com/profdownload/2010-sat-subject-test-percentile-ranks.pdf&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>These show the subject test scores and corresponding percentiles. Can anyone else who’s more familiar with OP’s scores set a target score or percentile?</p>

<p>Perhaps I was confusing Physics with Math II, but I know I have seen a test that gives 800’s for missing 12 problems. Regardless, I know you can miss at least 5 on most Math II exams and still get 800.</p>

<p>The SAT II tests are given more generous curves because of the students that take them. Students that take Math II tend to be very good at math. If the Math II test were scored the same way the regular SAT Math section is, many well qualified students would get scores lower than they deserve. Math I, in contrast, has a much less generous curve than Math II. This is because Math I tends to be taken by students who are not as good at math. Collegeboard adjusts the curve accordingly. A student who could get an 800 on Math II should also be able to get 800 on Math I because of how the curves work.</p>

<p>It would be very hard to guess what the exact range of scores these schools accept if they don’t report it. The middle 50% for SAT I Math at Case Western is 650 - 750, so I would recommend getting as close to 800 on Math II as you can. 650+ should be your target for most other tests.</p>

<p>This is one D’s experience, so I don’t claim its validity but I think some of you are over stating. My D got 750 on SAT II last year. She was admitted it to schools on the USNWR’s top 10 list and all of the schools outside that list that she applied to. She’s an unhooked applicant.</p>

<p>650+ or so will be good.</p>

<p>Thanks for all te replies guys. Just to give you some idea I’ve been scoring mid/low 700s on Math and CR. So scoring an 800 on Math II doesn’t seem like a reasonable goal ;)</p>

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<p>Is there anything like this for Physics or Lit? I’ve tried googling it but couldn’t find anything…They’re my two best subjects and I’m trying to decide which would be easier.</p>