Good ACT, Bad Essay; Decent SAT, Good Essay/Writing - Help Me Out?

<p>Asian female Californian high school senior - I took the September ACT and scored a 36 composite with a 9 in writing, took the January SAT and scored a 2270 with a 720 Math, 750 CR, and 800 Writing. I'm signed up to take the SAT again in November, should I take it? Consequently, should I retake the ACT? I've only taken each test once. (Well, took SAT in 8th grade through Johns Hopkins CTY program. Not counting that.)</p>

<p>Additionally, I scored a 710 on the Math 2 subject test the first time I took it in June. I took it again in October, but don't know what I scored yet. I'm assuming I did worse - didn't study and left more blank. If I shouldn't take the SAT Reasoning, should I take the Math 2 test a third time, assuming I'll study and improve my score? My other subject test scores are a 730 US History, a 790 Biology, and an unknown Lit score from October, and I'm looking to major in biology.</p>

<p>Also, advice on how to send those test scores? I know Common Application/most schools ask that you send all scores. </p>

<p>Thanks for the assistance!</p>

<p>Your scores are pretty great! I definitely wouldn’t bother with the ACT, that writing score on the SAT tells the schools all they need to know in that department. As far as taking the SAT again, it’s kind of a toss up. If you’re really only interested in boosting your math score, you may be better off just taking the subject test again, and focusing all of your efforts on the math. That way you’re not wasting any energy on the rest of the general test. But if your 720 on the math section seems out of range for the schools you’re considering, you may have to retake. There really isn’t a clear-cut answer to me, but I’m sure that’s why you’re asking! I’ll be curious to see what everyone else says! Lots of luck to you.</p>

<p>I think you’re good with the scores. Spend the time you would spend studying doing community service.That’s my advise .</p>

<p>Dude… DECENT!!! STOP COMPLAINING THATS A GREAT SAT SCORE!!!</p>

<p>Definitely do NOT take the ACT again, chances are you won’t get another 36. Congrats, though.</p>

<p>You probably don’t need to retake a 2270 SAT either, unless you are positive you can raise it to like, 2350, because it’s already a great score.</p>

<p>I would sign up to take Math II a third time, but if your October score is good, then you can cancel it. Your other scores are good enough.</p>

<p>I agree with above advice. You need not take either SAT or ACT again as they are great scores, and it is my opinion that adcoms appreciate a lack of obsession with raising test scores. You might want to retake the SAT II math test, although 3 times for the same test seems like a lot. Maybe a chem SAT II would be beneficial for a bio major…if you prepare it and do well.</p>

<p>swans004, freakchild12 - Thanks for the advice! It’s really helpful to hear others’ advice on something as open as this, and I’ll be sure to take it into account. (Especially the advice on not retaking the ACT!)</p>

<p>OldbatesieDoc - Haha, will do. Actually, I should probably be spending my time trying not to fail AP Studio Art and actually finishing my projects.</p>

<p>skas12 - Decent, as in not bad. Not fantastic, not horrible, decent. And it might be a great SAT score if you’re taking America as a whole, but compared to the populations applying to the schools I’m applying to, not so much.</p>

<p>Wildwood11 - As I haven’t taken AP Chem, wasn’t very motivated during the requisite chem class sophomore year (bad teacher, but not really an excuse), and clearly don’t have quite the affinity for the math that I’m sure the test requires, I don’t think it would be a good idea to take the Chem SAT II. Thanks for the advice on the other issues though, I /am/ trying to avoid seeming like a test-obsessed person who hardcore studies for standardized tests (I probably just discounted that entire phrase by posting on collegeconfidential). For me, the opposite is probably more true - I avoided studying for the Math II, so I’ll probably have to take it a third time. Yay procrastination!</p>