How terrible does it took to have a lopsided SAT score?

<p>So I aced reading and writing on the SAT but got 700 in math, for a composite score = 2300. I would be really happy... except, well, colleges like math. A 700 in math won't look good at the really good colleges. But I feel like it'd be crazy to retake- what if I don't ace reading and writing again, and have to submit those worse scores to colleges? Help!</p>

<p>I don’t see retaking as a big issue. Also, a 2300 is good, no matter what. It’s not “lopsided”.</p>

<p>math is easy to improve in, if you learn everything. i’m sure if you took it again, after studying all the mathematics principles, you can end up with a less ‘lopsided’ score.</p>

<p>nevertheless, 2300 is fantastic, like ToastyToci said. I’m sure you’ll be fine with it…and if your not, you can follow my advice.</p>

<p>first of all, 700 is not a bad score. it’s not as good as your other scores (which are fantastic!) but it won’t hurt you. colleges will see your scores and probably think that you’re just better at reading and writing than you are at math, which is perfectly fine. if you’re planning on majoring in math or science and you feel like you can really improve your score on that section, consider retaking it since if you apply to one of those programs they’ll weight your math score the most. however if you want to major in the humanities, stick with your score and just be happy for yourself- great job! :)</p>

<p>700 is not bad at all, but you should retake if you want to</p>

<p>Thanks for all the advice you guys! I might major in science (want to be a vet), so math would be pretty important for that, but I don’t think I’ll retake it nonetheless.</p>

<p>Also, supposed I take the SAT II math 2 subject test and do well on that (say 750+); do you think that’ll “look good” and show colleges that I really just had a bad math day on the actual SAT?</p>

<p>@a94wang: it’s funny that everyone says that, because I really don’t think math is easy to imrove on at all! My math score has barely improved since the practice PSAT sophomore year… and I’ve studied concepts/done practice problems a lot! I think that if math isn’t naturally your strong suit- like for me- it’s much harder to improve than reading and writing!</p>

<p>The thing with SAT math is that it’s inherently tricky. You have to be attentive to detail.</p>

<p>my friend got the same score as you did with the same breakdown
math is his best subject but he apparently made some really stupid mistakes
he’s retaking; i’d say, if math is one of your strong subjects, go ahead and retake to prove it to colleges</p>

<p>^ your friend also got 800s on reading and writing? And is still retaking… even though those scores could potentially go down when math goes up?
Also, well… math isn’t my strongest suit, at least on the SAT. I’m slow and averaged about 730 in the blue book. So… idk if it’s worth the risk, at least for me, to retake.</p>

<p>^ your friend also got 800s on reading and writing? And is still retaking… even though those scores could potentially go down when math goes up?</p>

<p>icesk8girl could have a point IF a school you happen to apply to takes the highest single sitting score, however, if some of the schools you are applying to take the highest score on each section (aka superscore) than you can only improve your chances for admittance and merit-based money-- particularly at the most competitive schools.</p>

<p>How would it be risky to retake icesk8girl? If you don’t do well, they don’t have to see. And you can use Score Choice.</p>

<p>@ToastyToci: Some schools want to see ALL your SAT scores, and while I know about Score Choice, well… what happens if they find out down the line that I withheld a score? I don’t know if I’d want to risk that.</p>

<p>@jshain: I don’t think any of the schools I’m applying to take only the highest single sitting score, but some of them want ALL sat scores, while others do the highest score per section thing (superscore). So a retake might help for the superscore schools (unless i manage to do even worse in math, which isn’t unlikely-- I felt like this past SAT math was pretty easy, and I still barely made the 700 mark), but would probably look bad to the schools that want all scores.</p>

<p>I mean, think about it. If you were an admissions officer, would you look favorably upon a student who retook the SAT after acing 2 sections? I feel like I’d just seem annoyingly rich/score-obsessed, neither of which I really am, LOL</p>