<p>Like many others out there today, I got my SAT I from March 2005 back today. My results were surprising (to me):</p>
<p>Math: 760
CR: 790
Writing: 800 (77/80 and 12 on my essay score)</p>
<p>...which makes a total score of 2350. I am going for a computer science major, which makes this score rather "unfortunate" as I now wish my writing and math scores were switched around. I just have a few questions because I stumbled onto these boards just tonight and am wondering:</p>
<p>1) Should I retake the SAT I? I don't think I could get the 800/790 in Writing/CR the next time around - it was a bunch of luck, I think.</p>
<p>2) What is composite scoring? if I retake and do worse overall but get an 800 on my math, is that worth it? Or should I just do well on my SAT IIC Math and forget about it?</p>
<p>3) Last year in June 2004, I took the SAT II Writing on a whim just to see what it would be like - I had no idea that it would go on my collegeboard record forever. I got a 670. Does it have to show on my application for colleges? I was under the impression that for the 2006 class, the SAT II Writing Subject Test wouldn't count, so I just took it for kicks. Will it show up on my score report? How much will it affect my appearance as a student?</p>
<p>Thank you so much if you could kindly take the time to please answer my queries :) I appreciate it so much!</p>
<p>In regards to 1, if you definitely can not get as high on Writing and CR (more than 30 point difference), it might not be in your advantage to take it again.</p>
<p>In regards to 3, the SAT II writing score will show up with your SAT score report.</p>
<p>Hecaton: Thank you SO much for replying. Now I'm not so sure if I want to retake it anymore. I don't want to base my future around SAT scores, so I think I might just retake or do SAT II Math, depending on how I balance my other activities...?</p>
<p>I'm quite upset about the latter though - will the 670 really <em>have</em> to be considered by the colleges? Will that generally shadow the 800? I was under the impression that colleges looked at the two highest SAT scores and ignored the rest?</p>
<p>Wow. Obviously you're an extremely intelligent person. I'd suggest, first of all, that you spend some time on College Confidential, reading threads and getting to know the details of the testing process and of college admissions in general. This will help to clear up a lot of your confusion and steer you in the right direction.</p>
<p>As for your questions</p>
<p>1) That depends. If you think you can do substantially better than 760Math, you could go for it, but personally I think you should just leave your SATI alone. 2350 is exceptional for any university. See 2) for further comments</p>
<p>2) Composite scoring, to the best of my knowledge, is just taking the best score from each section after multiple testings and combining them to get your best total score. If you retest and get 800M, your best combined score will be 800+800+790 = 2390, no matter what you get on critical reading or writing the second time around. Certain schools will do this, while others only take your best score in one sitting - you'll have to check each respective school's website to find out.</p>
<p>Yes, definitely take the Math IIC, but it doesn't really "make up" for your SATI score...not that your SATI score needs to be "made up" for anyway. As a compsci major most colleges will want to see a high Math IIC regardless.</p>
<p>3) That SATII Writing will show up, and there's nothing you can do about it. No worries though, your 800 SATI Writing will cover for it. But seriously, who the heck takes an SAT II test just for fun...</p>
<p>Zogoto: Thanks for replying :) You made me feel much better and more confident. Thank you!</p>
<p>JimmyEatWorld711: Your comments are so helpful =D I will definitely keep this in mind when I make my decision. Thanks for explaining about composite scoring, I was so confused when I first heard it mentioned on these boards...I was "What???" ^_^ I guess I'll have to check out every single school. Where can you find that information on their websites? </p>
<p>Thanks so far to everyone who has commented :)</p>
<p>Look towards the Admissions page, then kind of wing it from there =P</p>
<p>Or, you could do what other people have been doing...gather up the phone numbers for the Offices of Admissions for the colleges you're interested in, and just call and ask.</p>
<p>TAWS: I guess it does. I just took JimmyEatWorld711's advice and checked out a few of the top Ivy colleges and apparently, composite scoring is exactly what they do.</p>
<p>Stanford and Harvard, specifically. They apparently take the highest sections of whatever test you have taken, even if they were taken multiple times. Interesting - I had no idea.</p>
<p>Well, I don't know - maybe they would. I've never taken the ACT and I don't think I plan to...</p>
<p><em>sighs</em> I'm still agonizing over whether or not I should retake the ENTIRE exam JUST to get a better composite score by raising up my math (which can only go up so far, and it's THAT much more difficult because the curve for math has and most likely always been or will be particularly high anyway) when perhaps there are other ways I can show the colleges that a 760 on the math SAT I doesn't show my potential for math (ie - I'm in AP Calculus BC now and I plan to take the SAT IIC Math test anyway) </p>
<p>I just am overworried, I think. The high bar the students on this board set here has humbled me and I am overwhelmed a bit.</p>
<p>So, how about a general consensus? Retake for the math, or no?</p>
<p>Anyone who already has a 2350 on the SAT should forget about ever taking it again. The 760 in math is very high. If you believe you have to retake, you are putting far more weight into your SAT I than any admissions officer does. At all your highly selective schools, having a high SAT I score simply gets you into the group of people who are seriously considered for admission, it is everything else (grades, SAT II's, essay, etc.) that determines whether you get in. You should look at the admitted/rejected posts on these boards for this year for individual colleges because you will see that having a difference in SAT scores of 60 to 80 points per section meant nothing to the rate of admittance or rejection; people with 1580's got rejected at top schools where people with 1480's got admitted.</p>
<p>Your prior SAT II writing test will also be ignored -- at some schools because they are not accepting it anymore, at others because they will instead rely on your higher score in the writing section of the new SAT I. </p>
<p>In other words, you have absolutely no reason to retake the new SAT. You are worrying over something because you incorrectly believe it has far more importance than it does. To give an example: University of Chicago -- when asked what it considers in order of importance for admission, its response was grades, courses taken and difficulty, essays, EC's/personality and then test scores which are given "some" importance.</p>
<p>As to the ACT questions above: when you have multiple SAT tests, many colleges will consider for admission your highest subscores from different tests to get your composite. However, that is not usually done with the ACT because the vast majority of colleges consider only that ACT test on which your composite is the highest and then ignore all other ACT tests.</p>
<p>Thank you drusba. Your post has helped me make my decision and after a good night's (lack of) sleep, I have decided not to retake it. Thanks for all your advice, you've really put it into perspective for me.</p>
<p>A 2350 does not merit a retake...period. It doesn't matter where you're applying. MIT (which ranks up there in terms of CS) officially says 680+ in each section.</p>
<p>remember you can always show off your math skills in the SAT II's if you are unhappy with your SAT I math score.... but a 760 is nothing to be ashamed of</p>
<p>I guess not; I was just slightly disappointed that it was my lowest score because while I like to see myself as being well-rounded, mathematics is more germane to my future goals.</p>
<p>Oh well, I shall now quest for a lofty SAT IIC Math score. Thanks again to everyone who has so kindly replied and answered a bumbling student's questions :) I appreciate it lots.</p>