<p>Hello. I signed up to take the SAT II Math I and Math II on December 4th. Due to an unexpected amount of work I had in the past few months, I have only had this Thanksgiving break to study; since I did not take pre-calculus (went from trig/math 2 to AP Calculus) I need to review a little extra. I took a practice test from PR and got a 780 and one from the official CB book and got a 750. I will be applying to the top schools next year (some of which accept score choice, like Princeton, and others that do not, like Yale.) So here is the dilemma:</p>
<p>Pay a fee and move the test date to January and have one chance, one less test date for other tests, but more time to study and really get a high score.
OR
Take the test this December and run the risk of getting a unsatisfactory grade. When I say unsatisfactory grade, I mean I'm looking to get an 800 on the Math II. </p>
<p>I can always retake it in January if I take it in December, but that will be a bit more money as well as a permanent 'smudge' on my record. </p>
<p>Also, is getting an 800 on Math II and a 780-ish on Math I (due to the curve, or lack there of) any better than not taking the Math I at all and just having Math II? </p>
<p>Sorry for the long post, but I am rather indecisive and wanted to see if you could weigh in. </p>
<p>Move the test date to January; from what I understand, it always best to get a good score in Math II, unless you are sure the schools you consider weigh Math I and II the same (because many do not). I don’t know if it is even worth it to take Math I, but someone else may think it is.</p>
<p>But yeah, I would say to just move the test to January. I faced the same decision in October: I took subject tests in October, but knew I wouldn’t be satisfied. I ended up just cancelling those scores and taking them again in November. It wouldn’t be worth your money if you know you aren’t going to be satisfied. </p>
<p>You should have plenty more test dates for other exams after January (March/May/June/Oct/Nov/Dec)</p>
<p>Thank you, that’s good advice. I’m conflicted as to whether or not I should drop Math I and just do the Math II in January. Can anyone weigh in on this please?</p>
<p>I figured I would try to offer some advice, whether good or not ;)</p>
<p>I would definitely take Math II in January (lol like me!), especially because you want an 800. Getting anything lower than an 800 is, from my understanding and as you probably already know, unsatisfactory.
Is there a particular reason you want to take the Math I? Math II has much more merit and appeals more to colleges than Math I. Math II also has a better curve; granted, it is a harder test. I don’t know anyone who has taken both levels and frankly, I don’t see the point of taking Math I if you know you’re ready (or will be by Jan) for Math II.</p>
<p>Well, the Math I I thought would just be a pretty easy high 700, although an 800 would be near impossible because there is practically no curve (1 question wrong = 790.) I assumed that taking both the Math tests and demonstrating proficiency in both algebra/geometry AND precalc would only be a plus. However, based on what I read here on CC, it seems like the Math I wouldn’t help because it would not be an 800, and it would not even be considered with an 800 in Math II. So I’m not sure if I should bother with it, even if it has been paid for a few months ago.</p>
<p>Just take the Math II test. The math section of the SAT already covers algebra and geometry, so it would be sort of redundant if you did Math I. Plus, the Math II test has a much better curve even though the material on Math I is easier.</p>
<p>Touhou, wouldn’t 1 wrong still be a 790 since you lose .25 of a point for a wrong answer, so it would round up (provided you only got one wrong)? Also, I was going to take both, with the same reasoning as you, but after reading CC I am not sure if it’s worth spending an hour taking the test, not getting a very high 700, while an 800 on Math II is not very difficult.</p>