How to judge SAT 2 scores??

Applying to College
1

<p>There're a million websites that tell you colleges' SAT reasoning mean scores, but I can't find anyplace that lists their average SAT 2 scores. What's considered a high score and what is low? (Especially at HYPS.) Is a 700 in history considered very low? Is an 750 really about the average? Would an 800 be so common that it's no big accomplishment?</p>

2

<p>Here are the national percentiles:</p>

<p><a href="http://www.collegeboard.com/prod_downloads/about/news_info/cbsenior/yr2005/16_subj_test_percentile_ranks_0506.pdf%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.collegeboard.com/prod_downloads/about/news_info/cbsenior/yr2005/16_subj_test_percentile_ranks_0506.pdf&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

3

<p>OMG... That means that a 750 Math Level II is only 76th percentile!!! That's crazy! And an 800 is only 88th? That makes ZERO sense.</p>

4

<p>yeah it does it means that the curve is SO generous that 12% of the people that take the test get a perfect score.</p>

5

<p>It makes plenty of sense. What it means, as far as I can tell, is that 12% of Math II tests are 800s, so all an 800 means is that you're in the top 12% of test-takers. </p>

<p>At least it's not like some of the foreign languages, with 40% 800s!</p>

6

<p>You need to remember that in general, only well-qualified students take the SAT Subject Tests. And even then they usually get to avoid their weakest subjects. If the 50th percentile was set at 500, you would get kids with 700s on the various sections of the SAT I getting in the 500s on the SAT IIs. That would be really weird.</p>

7

<p>i said that etselec</p>

8

<p>How long, in terms of time and number of questions, is an SAT subject test? Thanx.</p>

9

<p>the subject tests are all an hour long each, but the # of questions depends on the type of test. the Bio test has 80, I think the history tests have 90, and I would guess that the math tests have fewer than that, but i'm not sure</p>

10

<p>It's also because they don't curve scores nationally (like the AP test for example). Rather, all qualified students recieve the score they deserve. And because many of the people that take IIC or Physics, for example, are highly qualified and will score very high. College Board won't lower their scores just because lots of really smart people take a test.</p>

11

<p>So, if everyone gets the score they deserve, then a 750 (or any score in the 700s) is still a respectable score, no matter what the percentile?</p>

12

<p>i got a 740...it's not very respectable for the places i want to go to, but it is quite a bit higher than the average (670)...admissions WILL see those percentiles.</p>

13

<p>brand_182, you must have posted while I was composing my post, because I didn't see your reply until after I had posted.</p>

14

<p>Well, an 800 Physics probably looks better than a 780 USH at first glance. But the smarter adcoms will realize that the USH is not harder parsay, but that less people ace it and shouldn't count it against you.</p>

15

<p>As long as you are above 700, it is acceptable. Above 750 is really good. Personally, I have two 800s and a 790, but I took subjects I am good at, so...</p>