<p>I got CR 790, Math 800 and Writing 700 with 9 essay for the jan SAT. I've heard that most universities will only look at CR and Math and that retaking just for writing is a stupid idea, but some people have also told me that I should retake and get a higher writing score just to bring up my superscore (since this was my first time). </p>
<p>I'm a junior from new zealand (graduating in december 2011).</p>
<p>Normally I get much higher in writing and lower in CR, so my results came as a surprise to me as well... should I risk dropping my CR score for a higher overall superscore + higher writing score?</p>
<p>I see lots of people talking about their total score including writing, but I think that the writing score may not being used by the colleges. The colleges that we visited last year kept saying that they didn’t know yet how useful the writing portion would be in predicting how well a student would do in their school and that it will take a few years of comparing the writing scores to college performance in order to understand if the writing score is helpful.</p>
<p>Keep in mind that the reason why the SAT and ACT are used for college admission is that the scores have been shown to predict success in college. So, until writing is shown to help they won’t use it.</p>
<p>So, my conclusion is don’t bother retaking. This may change in a few years, but not yet.</p>
<p>Writing will gradually garner more support from the colleges and universities across the nation, as time progresses. However at this point, the writing section is considered “unproven and untested”. </p>
<p>The writing score is not indicative of your ability and I am personally against it. I know a former classmate who has been recognized by Yale University for her writing ability, and yet she received a 610 on the writing section. And yes, that ability has been with her since high school. She did not develop it. </p>
<p>I too have heard people using their cumulative score proudly. I then proceed to ask them how they fared in the areas that matter (CR and M) and I did better than them after all. Students may think that their higher cumulative score (out of 2400) makes them better and sound smarter; however, it matters not. </p>
<p>Do not worry about the writing section. It means nothing for at least the next two years.</p>