Importance of Subject Tests

I am going to apply ED to Duke University. I know this school recommends 2 subject tests; however, throughout my testing I received a 770 on Bio M and only a 710 on Math II. Would it hurt to only send biology? I have a 1520 on my SAT (750 RW and 770 math). I believe the 710 would hurt me but I don’t know if not submitting 2 would hurt more. My mom refuses to pay more for testing with the amount of fees associated with applying to college.

If a college asks for two or “strongly recommends,” you don’t want them reading your app and thinking, “Wish we had two.” For Duke and JHU, the competition will be substantial. Right now, I lean toward submitting both. But we don’t know where you got the AP 5 scores. Or the ECs. IOW, how strong an applicant.

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I have a 5 on AP Stats, and so far have retained a 100 average in AP calculus. Guess the day I tested just wasn’t my best. So you believe it would be best just to supply it? Do you think it would hurt me at all? Or simply just not add anything. My intended majors are neuroscience/psychology or biochemistry if that helps.

There are hints colleges can use to easily guess your SES status. One-parent family… first gen college student… holding down a job was your primary EC, low EFC, coming from a high school with a very high percentage of students receiving free/reduced lunch, etc. If you meet several of those, then the subject tests are more likely to be overlooked. If there are things on your app to suggest you come from a middle or upper class family, then AOs will be less forgiving.

If paying for a re-test is truly an issue, then offer to pay your mom back. Take some odd jobs around the neighborhood doing fall cleanup work. Ask your school if they have any program in place where you can put in some hours there (tutoring, working for maintenance, etc.) in exchange for the school covering your test fee (DD’s HS offers this). Fee waivers may be available, but that would apply more to the low SES students discussed above.

Or ask Duke if they will consider AP exam scores in lieu of SAT IIs (a policy which makes sense to me, but I’m not the decision maker here). Remember, though, you’re competing against students who have the whole package.

If the only 5 is AP stats, that’s not considered one of the rigorous cores, by top colleges. I realize AP bio was soph year.

Let’s see if you get more feedback.

well just to put more info, I got a 5 on both AP stats and apush and 4s on euro and biology.

as lookingforward hints at, not submitting would raise eyebrows and could hurt you more, that you took the math 2 and maybe another subject test as well and just sent the best one. I would just send the math 2 and see what happens.

I’m still leaning toward sending both. They may look at the SAT M and be satisfied. We have no idea how strong the rest of your app is, your rigor, ECs, knowledge of Duke, and how you pull the whole app/supp together. The stronger your match (to what they want) and how you “show” that, the less one score may matter. BUT, this still leaves the challenge of understanding AND you still compete with others in your area or sub area.

Go find their “what we look for.” Ask yourself if that’s going to “show” in your record and app/supp.

Have you looked at the language? Duke strongly recommends subject tests for applicants who submit only SAT scores. They don’t mention anything about requiring it, or even recommending it, for applicants who submit an ACT score. If you have a good ACT score, you could submit that and be fine.

“For students who submit both ACT and SAT scores, Duke will consider your best score. We strongly recommend that students who submit only the SAT also submit two subject test scores of their choice (with math recommended for Pratt).”