How bad will this hurt?

Test Preparation
1

<p>Ok, Im only applying to one school that requires a science SAT II. Some of the others require two of any kind. I have an 800 Math II, and probably 760+ USH (I will know Wednesday). But I just took a sparknotes pre-test, and got a 610 Physics. How badly would a score like 650 hurt at places like duke and Penn that only require two? Would a third, bad score hurt anyway?</p>

<p>Also, would it be better to take the SAT II in the fall and study over the summer what I didn't learn in school (optics, waves, magnetism, thermal physics, modern physics, roataional motion), or should I take it in June and
October. Would a good score in October (750?) make up for a bad one in June? </p>

<p>Thanks for any help!</p>

2

<p>I don't think it will kill you at all.</p>

3

<p>at places that only require two, they'll only look at the top 2</p>

4

<p>so if i got 800, 780, 760, that 760 won't help me at all? (at places that require 2)</p>

5

<p>Well, wouldn't Applicant A (800, 780, 760) look better than Applicant B (800, 780), even though College X only requires two?</p>

6

<p>That's why there is more than just SAT IIs...</p>

7

<p>Sparknotes physics is harder than the real test. On thier practice tests i scored between 680-740 on all three. Got an 800 on the actual test though! You will probably score 50-100 pts. higher on the actual test, a 680-720 on the actual test isn't bad.</p>

8

<p>Cool. I read everything on modern physics and optics; ill study them all week, so those should be ok. It's just frustrating that I didn't learn so much. Plus, I don't want to study this week since I have to start and finish and AP USH project, finish an AP English paper, read the Great Gatsby, and do regular homework. I just wasn't prepared for it; I was expecting something easier. Thanks for all the input!</p>

9

<p>Bump. Also, would a 750+ in the fall make up for like a 680 now?</p>

10

<p>It's all about potential. Highest=most considered.</p>

11

<p>Is it true that schools that only require 2 SAT IIs only look at your top two scores? I have a 690 Bio which I would really like to wipe out. I'm taking Lit and Math Level 1 this Saturday, and so if I score 700+ on both, that's all a school like Columbia (requires only 2) will look at?</p>

12

<p>i took SATIIs the saturday after a long week of AP tests and did horribly, probably 600-650 math1 (i know, its pretty bad) i have 700M, 720M on regular SATs, you think if i retake colleges wont really notice the bombed Math1?</p>

13

<p>you only need two sat IIs for penn</p>

14

<p>Well I found out I got an 800 on USH, making my two highest scores 800's. So Penn and Duke will only care about those two, even if the other score is considerably lower? Thats pretty cool; a good bit of pressure off.</p>