Do percentiles matter to colleges?

<p>When applying to colleges how much do subject test percentiles matter? I have taken physics and received a score of 700 (55th percentile). My bio score was 760 (90th percentile). In a way what I am asking is should I send my physics score at all (I have decided not to retake it). Would it hurt me that I am only in the 55th percentile?</p>

<p>Also, I have to choose whether to take Math IC or IIC. IC is better percentile-wise, but IIC has a better curve. Would a 750 on Math IC (90th percentile) be better for me me than a 750 on II (68th percentile)?</p>

<p>Colleges don’t care about percentiles at all. </p>

<p>They just look at the scores. 750 on IIC will def look better than 750 on IC. </p>

<p>That’s what I always thought until last month when an admissions officer at a top 20 school stated that they are looking for a 90 percentile score on every test. It was pretty surprising. </p>

<p>I don’t understand why they wouldn’t. A 65 percentile score is inherently a worse score than 99th. That’s what makes the score better or worse than another. “Above 700 is a good score” is an arbitrary marking. Why would they use that instead of “80th percentile”?</p>