<p>just a few questions:</p>
<p>do all colleges look at the best sections from each test you have done? if they do this, do they know how many times you have taken the test, and does this factor into their decisions?
Because, surely if would be advantageous to take the test multiple times, simply to improve the score of a single section?</p>
<p>I was wondering the same thing (about superscores)!</p>
<p>I read somewhere that colleges used to be able to see all the scores of every test you took. But recently, they changed their policy, so you’re allowed to select which one you want them to see. I think it was from “A for Admission”.</p>
<p>Every school is different so it’s important to check with each. Some require you to disclose every test you’ve taken, some look at your single highest sitting, some superscore (score choice).</p>
<p>Before you make a strategy to test multiple times it’s important to be aware of the policy of all universities you may possibly apply.</p>
<p>To determine if the college of your choice superscores, check out this link:</p>
<p>[College</a> Search - Emory University - SAT®, AP®, CLEP®](<a href=“College Search - BigFuture | College Board”>College Search - BigFuture | College Board)</p>
<p>For example, this one is the SAT policy of Emory University… it says “Highest Section Scores Across Test Dates” under the SAT/ACT policy tab meaning they superscore. You can search other colleges using the search bar on the top left.</p>
<p>Schools don’t like seeing people taking the SAT multiple times (over 3) just to improve one section at a time.</p>
<p>Different schools have different practices. Here’s the list. <a href=“http://professionals.collegeboard.com/profdownload/sat-score-use-practices-list.pdf[/url]”>Higher Education Professionals | College Board;
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<p>Sure, you can do that for colleges that allow Score Choice if you don’t mind spending the hours on SAT practice. But what’s the point? (Do you actually want your admission officer to see something like you’ve taken the SAT ten times :o?)</p>
<p>I’ve taken the SAT twice at this point. First take I scored 770 math, 740 CR, 700 W (10 essay) for 2210 and most recently I scored 780 math, 770 CR, 800 W (12 essay) for 2350. If I’m looking at schools that have the “Highest Section” policy, then in theory trying for those two other 800’s would be low risk, right? Math should be an easy 800, I have just made a single dumb mistake on each take. CR is also feasible, as I was one vocab question away from an 800 on this most recent take. Although I don’t think I can replicate my 800 in writing, that is irrelevant for schools with the “Highest Section” policy, right?</p>
<p>So if I retake and get something like 800 M, 800 CR, 750 W then all those schools will see is a 2400, if I’m reading this correctly. Admittedly, that will hurt me at “All Score” schools because they will be privy to the fact that the 800 W was a fluke.</p>
<p>Essentially, do schools with the “Highest Section” policy differentiate between a single sitting 2400 and a super-scored 2400?</p>
<p>There is absolutely no difference between a 780 and a 800 on the SAT math in terms of your admission chances, and neither is there enough difference between 770 and 800 in CR. Do you think someone who got a 98 on a math test is any less intelligent or capable than someone who had a 100? That 2400 is not so impressive as you think—by retaking, you don’t come off as being smarter, but rather as test score obsessed. Your scores get you through the door and into the next round; the other aspects of app are what seal the deal.</p>
<p>Do schools differentiate between single sitting 2400 and super-scored? I don’t even think they’ll spend enough time dissecting your SAT score to notice the difference.</p>
<p>That wasn’t my question. Not to be rude, but you have NO way of knowing that for certain. Whose to say that those last 50 points won’t push me over the edge?</p>
<p>*who’s, my mistake</p>
<p>I know nothing for certain, so you’ll just have to take my words on faith. Process it with your own judgment, do the research :)</p>
<p>I’m going to agree. There is no difference between your 2350 and a 2400 due to the breakdown. If you had a possible jump of 50pts in a single section then it would possibly be worth your effort. The 20 and 30 pt difference is so negligible. If you are rejected it will not be because of scores. If you can’t get past that and feel if you are rejected you will obsess over the 20 and 30 pts, by all means retest.</p>
<p>Another thought is to take the time and effort you would put into prep and testing into something else that might make a difference. Time spent on the SAT right now is a diminishing return…spend your time somewhere it will matter.</p>
<p>As much as I appreciate the life coaching, my question was purely informational.</p>
<p>Can schools, such as Harvard, that accept scores from across multiple sittings tell if the scores come from a single sitting or not?
Would it look like this:
800
800
800</p>
<p>Or this:
800 (January)
800 (march)
800 (June)</p>
<p>"Not to be rude, but you have NO way of knowing that for certain. "</p>
<p>“Whose to say that those last 50 points won’t push me over the edge?” </p>
<p>Agreed. So why do students ask?</p>
<p>“Can schools, such as Harvard, that accept scores from across multiple sittings tell if the scores come from a single sitting or not?”</p>
<p>Fair enough…</p>
<p>I appreciate that you appreciated my uninvited and unwelcome life coaching! I have no idea how the scores are presented to the admission officer reading the file (wouldn’t it vary by institution?), but you can try asking MITChris in the MIT forum:</p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/massachusetts-institute-technology/1157949-mit-faq-application-year-2011-2012-answers-mitchris.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/massachusetts-institute-technology/1157949-mit-faq-application-year-2011-2012-answers-mitchris.html</a></p>
<p>He answered I question I hadn’t asked…</p>
<p>PropsectiveAppli, that’s essentially my question.</p>
<p>Do the colleges see that that your 2380 superscored has actually been achieved across 2 or 3 sittings, and do they see the individual scores for each sitting?</p>