<p>In freshman year, I didn't realize the importance of subject tests and took the Bio M one, only to end up with a score of 630. I realize this is a bad score, but I am not going to retake it because the last time I had a bio class was freshman year. How bad will this look to colleges? I'm applying to UCLA, UCB, UCSB, UCI, UCSD, SDSU, and SLO for Mechanical Engineering. Will this score of 630 hurt my chances significantly? Or will they give a little bit of slack since it was freshman year? I'm freaking out that this slip up will massively hurt my chances at these schools.</p>
<p>They will look at the date for sure… I think that you also have the choice of not reporting that score. If you do significantly better on the other two, I’m sure this one would be overlooked.</p>
<p>@sparkl3 oh thank god, so they’ll probably give a little slack given the date right? But I do want to submit this score though, because my top choice highly recommends taking a science and math 2 subject test.</p>
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@potatoman1010: 630 on Bio M isn’t good at all. It’s at or below the 50th percentile. It certainly won’t impress the admissions committees at UCB, UCLA, UCSD, and Cal Poly SLO. In fact, it may even hurt your admissions chances at those schools. Consider not sending that score to those schools.</p>
<p>On the topic of retaking the Bio Subject test…
I’ve worked with several students who took a regular Bio class as freshmen and then later decided to take the Bio Subject test as seniors. (It happens more often than you think.) They study a prep book…and everything works out. With a modest amount of effort, they are able to post scores in the 700s. A few scored in the 750-800 range. Not sure why you are so reluctant to retake the test. What’s the harm in rolling up your sleeves and doing a little studying?</p>
<p>Make sure that you have already posted a strong Math 2 Subject score (solidly in the 700s, preferably 750+). If you don’t currently have a strong Math 2 score, you might want to consider taking/retaking the test along with the Bio Subject test. You can take as many as 3 Subject tests on the same day.</p>