Is retaking the subject test bad?

Test Preparation SAT Subject Test Preparation
1

<p>I just took the Math II subject test today, and I omitted 9 questions, and probably got like 5 wrong. I think I can get 750 max. If I'm aiming for MIT or Ivy leagues, I need 800 right?
Also, if I keep the score, and retake it, does that look bad on my college app?
I'm a junior, so people told me that I have plenty of time to retake it, but I'm not sure if I should cancel my score and retake it, or keep it and retake it.</p>

<p>So, that new rule about choosing the scores that gets sent to the colleges... Doesn't that start in march? and any tests taken before doesn't apply?</p>

<p>should I cancel my score??</p>

2

<p>I took the SAT chem in october, I thought i did really bad. I ended up with a 750, which is pretty good, but i thought i could do better. I took the test again today, and I did bad (def. less than a 750). So I'm going to cancel today's score. </p>

<p>But the point is you might be surprised with what you get, especially with Math II's curve.</p>

3

<p>I would risk seeing the score. Have you taken precalculus before? If not, no biggie. You have your junior year to take pre-calc class and then retake the Math II exam in May or June, preferably. Good luck.</p>

<p>Also, shinee, are you Korean? Just curious. ^_^</p>

4

<p>If you're applying to MIT you're going to want a good score. I'm not sure how the score choice thing works for subject tests, but with 9 omits you should probably just cancel it and take it again when you see fit.</p>

5

<p>If you get a 750 its fine...</p>

6

<p>you don't NEED an 800 in anything to get into ivies or MIT. not everyone who gets admitted has an 800. sure it looks good but a 750 isn't a far reach from an 800 in the amount of questions you miss so if that's what you got, be happy with it.</p>

7

<p>I was in the same position as you but I figured a 750 isn't that far off from an 800 as above poster said...so I'm not retaking :P</p>

8

<p>A 750 won't keep you out of any school, and an 800 won't get you in. You, my friend, are sorely misinformed.</p>

9

<p>People who say that <800 will hurt you for MIT are lying. </p>

<p>MIT</a> Admissions: Admissions Statistics<br>
The mid-range for the math subject test is 740-800, not 800-800. :rolleyes:</p>

10

<p>^ Thats the 25th-75th percentile. A 750 is already at the bottom of that range, but factor in the athletes and minorities who have slightly worse stats and a 750 doesn't get one very far. </p>

<p>I agree 800s DEFINITELY won't get you into MIT, but not great scores CAN keep you out.</p>

11

<p>For MIT, they specifically say that all scores that are 700+ are seen as the same. It's probably that the criteria MIT uses for accepting applicants naturally leads to a 740-800 mid range for the SAT II math. Just like if you look at the SAT math scores of USAMO qualifiers, they're probably really high, even though USAMO qualification isn't dependent on SAT scores (so you can get a 200 on the SAT math, and still be a USAMO qualifier).</p>

12

<p>Agreed. Correlation does not imply causation.</p>

13

<p>^ Interesting theory shravas, MIT ignores differences in SAT scores over 700. You can make the argument that correlation doesnt imply causation, but its hard for a thinking person to accept that postulate. Do SAT critical reading scores radically correlate with AIME scores? Because the demographic with the highest acceptance rate to MIT are those with 750+ on CR (and these people very likely had very high math scores as well). </p>

<p>It is in the interest of all schools to accept students with higher scores. It improves their ranking and prestige.</p>

14

<p>People with significantly higher scores typically are better at that subject. Just a thought.</p>

15

<p>Is retaking the Subject test bad?</p>

16

<p>No, it isn't.</p>

17

<p>Well chances are the kid with the 800 in chemistry is a helluva lot better at the subject than the kid with the 700. </p>

<p>A 750 won't keep anyone out, but an 800 won't get anyone in.</p>