<p>I took the SAT Subject Test in Physics yesterday, and I am not confident that I had an 800. I want to apply to MIT and HYP, so I needed to take the test because MIT requires a science test. The problem is that the only physics course I have ever taken is AP Physics C, which did not cover so much of the material on the test. MIT claims to consider Subject Test scores in the context of coursework, but I doubt that they would be okay with an applicants not having an 800 on a test 10% of test-takers score perfect on when I have completed the course. I feel certain that I had on 800 Math II, but I dont think that it matters if my Physics test score isnt 800. I dont want to study physics, and my application should give no indication that I would like to a physical science specifically. I feel as if my chance at any top school is lost. Should I cancel scores now? Is it even possible to retake? Does it look that bad if I do not have a perfect score on one of my Subject Tests? Help </p>
<p>I have the same situation as you. I’m applying to the same colleges, only took APC last year, and just took the physics test yesterday (also don’t think I did too well on it). First of all, I definitely wouldn’t recommend cancelling the scores. If you took more than one subject test yesterday, then all the scores would be cancelled. Have you already sent the scores to MIT? If not, then you should just wait until you get the scores back, and then possibly retake it. You can just use Score Choice to send the best score to MIT. And second, no school is gonna throw out your app just because of one non-perfect score, especially for a field that you’re not going into. SO just wait until October 24, then you can decide whether to retake it or just send in whatever you got.</p>
<p>It’s not bad at all. If you are great at physics or whatever anything over 750 is gravy. I take physics and have some friends who are in a higher math class than I am and the thing I see with them is that they are more worried about getting into the “good” colleges than a lot of other kids who do get in with other stuff going on. My friend who went on a trip with me last year was a top student, he won Russian prize and Math Prize and he went to a college in New York that was not Columbia. My GC told me there are just too many kids who who are so good at the same stuff. She told me I have a better chance of getting into the schools that he wanted to get into, than he did. And I suck at math. No kidding. 500s SAT2s.</p>
<p>Check some websites that show the scoring curve for SAT physics. There is a large curve, so you can get quite a few wrong and still score very high. </p>
<p>My son took it and almost cancelled the test because he didn’t know several answers, and assumed the rest wasn’t perfect either. When he looked up the curve, though, he realized he might score reasonably well. It turns out he got an 800. So be sure you REALLY need to cancel it before you go ahead with it.</p>
<p>@Yankees1995</p>
<p>To be honest I do not find the language medals or that kind of math honor impressive at all or even worthy of application space for schools like HYPMS. There are way too many physics-type people out there, and when there are—as far as admissions go—an unlimited supply of international students with far greater skill than 99% of physical science applicants, it takes a lot more than that. Still, I can’t help but feel that I must be at least as good as these people on every standardized metric so that there is no weakness in the test scores / academic end of my application. </p>
<p>I have national level awards, too many little math honors to list, National AP Scholar, etc.—the standard stuff but nothing great. The only thing I have going for me are URM status and grades. Without perfect test scores I don’t think I stand a chance even at Columbia. The so-called gravy may be what saves me from auto-reject and into the subjective realms.</p>
<p>@Maggiedog, I know the curve. I did the CollegeBoard practice test from their blue Subject Test book and had 800 with 10 questions wrong—I recognize the unbelievable generosity of the curve—before I went through the AP Physics B-exclusive topics in the 5 Steps to a Five Book and SparkNotes, but I still didn’t feel too good about the test. As I went through the test, I marked which questions I wasn’t sure about and counted nine. I found out that at least one is wrong, and I can’t say that I didn’t make careless errors on questions I didn’t mark.</p>
<p>Right now, I am trying to see if I am at that “REALLY” point.</p>
<p>"The only thing I have going for me are URM status and grades. Without perfect test scores I don’t think I stand a chance even at Columbia. "</p>
<p>Ummm… no.</p>
<p>You need to spend more time on these colleges’ webpages to discover the breadth and depth of student that are viable applicants. Your hurdle isn’t less-than-perfect-scores. It’s your lack of knowledge of what a top school applicant looks like. </p>
<p>Every single college you’ve named will admit people with poorer scores than you and reject people with higher ones. You’re on a fool’s errand if you think perfecting a test or two will be your golden ticket.</p>
<p>@D82391939 I scored a 740 on physics. You don’t “need” perfect or near-perfect test scores – having a great rest of the application can easily compensate for somewhat low test scores. Besides, if admitted to MIT, you’ll likely be taking 8.01/8.02 or a variant anyway (unless you have credit from HS).</p>
<p>Looooooool. Calm yourself. Anything above a 750 is whatever to them, if you’re looking to apply as a math/sciency candidate you’re going to need something more impressive than that, but a 750 is good enough to say “yo I’m not totally awful at physics/life”. You’ll be fine as long as you didn’t bomb it.</p>
<p>I understand that ECs are truly the most important factor and that tests scores and grades are just used to eliminate the bottom 20% of applicants, but when 90% of applicants have 800s, do you not stand out as an idiot when you have a lower score? With a sub-800 how can one even make that academic cut?</p>
<p>Because they practice what’s called “holistic” evaluations. They don’t take everyone, thow them onto an excel speadsheet with all their scores listed, and take the top X number of applicants. It’s not that rigid. Your over-focus on numbers indicates you don’t seem to understand that once a threshold has been met, other “soft” determinants will come into play.</p>
<p>Thus, I fully stand my by statement above: </p>
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<p>But if you want to maintain your robotic stance despite evidence to the contrary – go for it. It’s free world.</p>
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Sounds like something Shelon Cooper would say.</p>
<p>For MIT the mid 50 for Math SAT2 is 760-800 and the mid 50 for science SAT2 is 740-800. The median is near 800. You don’t need to be 800, but you may have a better chance if you get a score closer to that.</p>
<p>Meh… I had 800s on SAT Subject Tests. I was worried for nothing.</p>
<p>we’re just jumping for joy</p>
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<p>This is just downright demotivating. National STEM awards aren’t enough; multiple leadership positions aren’t enough; perfect test scores and (which I lack) GPAs are not enough; just exactly what, outside of having rich daddy legacies, is supposed to be enough?</p>