I am currently ending my junior year of high school and plan on applying to elite/Ivy League colleges, My SAT score is currently a 1490 (780 English, 710 math, 7/5/7 essay) and I will be retaking in August as my main issue is careless errors in the math section. Should I retake the ACT as well in September, or should I focus on the SAT and college applications? I got a 32 on the ACT (34 English, 34 Reading, 32 Science, 29 math, 10 essay ) and I super score to a 33 ( second attempt was a 31 with a 34 in English, 35 in Reading, 23 Science, 29 math, 12 essay). Main weakness seems to be time management and some content for the math section. I made careless errors on the test in the Science section, but I get 36s every time in practice tests. Thanks in advance.
Looking at the SAT-ACT Conversion Chart, I see that your 1490 is equivalent to a 34 on the ACT. So it looks as if the SAT is probably a slightly better test for you. Working to get your math score up a bit for the next SAT seems like a good strategy. I think that will be good enough for your applications and that you won’t need to do the ACT again.
Re-taking SAT and focusing on increasing your math score probably makes sense—I say probably because I don’t know your unweighted GPA or ECs. A high(er) SAT will not compensate for a lower GPA or other application shortcomings.
I would not retake ACT, as math has more problems per minute than SAT—not ideal if you are making careless mistakes.
Do any of the schools on your list require or recommend SAT subject tests? If so, probably best to take those in August as well.
Good luck.
It depends on your socioeconomic status and high school quality. If your on the low end on both, stay with SAT. If your coming from a wealthy community and high level high school switch to ACT (abandon SAT) as currently your SAT scores will be re calibrated to lower level.
@rw1 wrote
If you are referring to CollegeBoard’s adversity index, there is no recalibrating of test scores involved.
OP should stick with the SAT because of their demonstrated success in SAT composite and math section relative to ACT composite and math subsection.
You are fundamentally correct the score will not be re calibrated, but it will be indexed. Recognize that the super score of OP on ACT is only 1 point away (34) from fairly elite crowd and will not be indexed.
Stick to the SAT, your are clearly better there.
Also, regarding some of the above comments on the adversity score, colleges don’t have to use or consider the adversity score. Indeed, I assume many colleges won’t.
OP said he was applying to Elite/ IVY schools. EVERY one will consider the adversity index.
Source for this statement?
Boston Globe June 3 2019…there are others too.
@Mwfan1921 I have already taken my subject tests. In terms of GPA, I’m at the top 2% of my class (school doesn’t give specific rank). UW GPA of 99 and weighted GPA is roughly 102 (AP classes are +5 and honors +2). But I won’t be able to confirm weighted until end of this school year. My 1490 SAT score is #4 in my class right now.
Extracurriculars: I am a heavily spiked applicant in terms of political extracurriculars (President of Model Congress and Model UN, elected VP at an Ivy League Model Congress conference, Political Editorial editor for school paper, political economy research, Field Organizer for Local state senators campaign, received proclamation and other awards from the State Senate, on council with County DA, Senate office intership etc.)
For all those who were are talking about he adversity score, I am an Indian American applicant in a 90% white, upper middle class community.