Is it worth it to retake SAT?

Test Preparation
1

All of my schools superscore. My highest scores have been 780 verbal, 780 math, and 6/6/6 essay.

I will also soon take subject tests in Math II and Biology M.

I hope to major in physics. My top choices for colleges are Princeton, UChicago, Columbia, Cornell, and Johns Hopkins. I will likely apply early to Princeton or UChicago.

I’m happy with my verbal. I slightly want to get my math up to 800, but I’m not sure how important that is. What I’m really concerned about is my essay. I’m not a bad writer whatsoever (I usually get 7 or 8 on AP Lang practice essays) , so it doesn’t seem to make sense to me that I would get a mediocre score. The other time I took the SAT my essay score was 5/5/5.

I don’t have time to take the SAT in May, and I’m taking subject tests in June, so my next available testing date is August.

Should I retake or should I just focus on the rest of my application? If it matters, I’ve never taken a prep class.

2

I wouldn’t retake. Some of your schools will want to see your entire testing history. It’s possible that your score could go down the second time. Don’t fix what isn’t broken.

The 6/6/6 on the essay is not going to hurt you.

And congrats!

3

A 1560 is not worth retaking.

4

What effect does the essay score have in admissions?

5

Wow, you got my target score! You’re on the right side of 1550; I don’t think there’s a point in retaking.