I took two subject tests and did decent, but not great (720 and 740). How much would it help me to retake these? I know there’s a lot of data out there about median SAT reasoning, ACT, and GPA, but I can’t find anything of this nature for subject tests. How much of an impact do theses tests have in admissions? Would my relatively average scores hurt me at Ivy-level schools?
Bump on your behalf. I’m wondering about this too.
Anything above 700 is good. Don’t bother retaking.
Well, the problem with that is that a 700 is a pretty poor score in terms of percentage on some tests. You can search and find SAT subject test percentiles. For example, a 700 is 46th percentile for Math II in 2015. It is something like 56th percentile in Chem. Subject tests are less important than SAT I or GPA, but I think it is a common mistake to think you can just think of them in the same range as SAT I scores. I’d check the percentiles and see how you feel about them. Top schools like strength across all components of the application.
@intparent I think the drop off is so steep on many of those tests for one mistake that colleges understand and will consider that.
Well… the OP will be competing against a lot of students who got those few questions right. I suppose it depends on which schools the OP intends to apply to.
If you’re applying to Ivy League colleges and other top universities, aim for a 750+
I would not get hung up on the percentiles; there is nobody in the admissions office who is crossreferencing scores with percentiles. It stands to reason that the percentiles on many subject tests are low; there are relatively few universities that require/recommend subject tests (with those generally being in the reach category) and the students who take a particular subject test are self-selecting.
You should strive for a XXX on the Subject Tests, but unless you are told by an admissions officer what XXX is, that value is pure speculation on everyone’s part. I doubt (and I’m speculating) that your 740 vs. a 750 will be the difference between acceptance and rejection.
@skieurope, why would you think no one in admissions is aware of those percentages? They are readily available from College Board, and I don’t know why a school would ask for the tests and not pay attention to the percentiles of a student’s results. You better believe that pretty much everyone getting into MIT or Caltech has an 800 or close to it on Math II, for example. I agree it is not as important as SAT I scores, but colleges don’t ask for items and then ignore the data available to evaluate what they are getting.
@intparent That’s not what I said; I said that they are not crossreferencing charts. To them a 750 in Latin is the same as a 750 in Bio M is the same as a 750 in Bio E.
Colleges are not asking applicants to read between the lines; if they want something specific, they will ask for it. If they wanted to know what the percentile conversion was, rest assured it would appear as a question on the application, particularly for those colleges, like MIT, that have a unique app.
Agreed, but the OP made no mention of MIT or Caltech, not the specific Subject Tests, in his/her post. Additionally, in my earlier post, the value of XXX will be dependent upon the schools the applicant is targeting.
I think you are mistaken. The curve varies widely on these tests, and while the average CC user may think a 750 is considered the same in all tests, I don’t believe for a minute that college admissions offices aren’t looking at those percentages and taking them into account.
@intparent @skieurope thank you for your input! my scores were actually in bio M and us history respectively. i’m taking the Math II in october and am aiming for an 800. that being said, i know some scores don’t have score choice and require you to send all scores; do you think my 690 in chem would hurt me? i took it on a whim after i forgot my calculator and couldn’t do math and hadn’t taken chem in over a year. thanks again for your input!
@intparent My experience is based upon answers I received from AO’s during my own application process. Admittedly, this was a relatively small sample of universities, but was supplemented by my HS’s college counseling office. Your experience, of course, may be different.
Unlikely with two better scores. Colleges that request/require 2 Subject Tests will look at the best 2.
“I think you are mistaken. The curve varies widely on these tests, and while the average CC user may think a 750 is considered the same in all tests, I don’t believe for a minute that college admissions offices aren’t looking at those percentages and taking them into account.”
This.
The problem with relying overmuch on percentiles for subject tests is that takers of subject tests are a self-selecting population, and particularly so for certain of the tests. Any admissions officer that doesn’t understand statistics well enough to not focus on percentiles in such cases the way some are in this thread doesn’t understand statistics well enough to be successful in college admissions.
Any student who thinks the curve doesn’t matter (and honestly most people out here don’t even think to investigate it) is missing the boat on how that portion of their application will be viewed. My kid who tests well got an 800 on Math II and an 800 on Lit. This clearly bolstered her app with strength across two very different areas. She got in everyplace she applied, and I am pretty sure those scores helped her stand out.
^ And you have no idea if she would have gotten in to those schools with a 750 on those tests.