My daughter (rising 10th grader) recently took the SAT Math 2 test in June and got a 790. She did absolutely no prep. Wondering if she should try to retake to get an 800, or is it not worth it. She is over 2 years away from applying to college.
No. There is not statistical difference IMO between a 790 and 800. The time is better spent on preparing for SAT/ACT, her second Subject Test, her EC’s, her HW, or basically anything else.
Just be happy with your daughter’s outstanding score. Spend the time and money elsewhere.
thanks for the replies!
So I recommend retaking it and here’s why. She’ll have to take another subject test anyway (most colleges require 2) so at that time she should retake it along with the other test. That way, you won’t be paying for a new registration. Her score of a 790 could have easily been an 800 if she had gotten one less question wrong. It doesn’t matter too much, but if she’s taking another subject test, it might not be a bad idea to take math as well, especially considering that an 800 looks great on the application.
Nope, really anything 750+ is a very strong score. Even at MIT you can get in with 730s as long as you have an otherwise strong app. Subject tests aren’t going to get you rejected, but they aren’t going to get you in.
WOW! I’d be sure to note somewhere in her college app, or at least ask her future LOR writers to make note, that she earned a 790 after finishing 9th grade. Just unbelievable. (Are you SURE she took the Math 2 Subject test and not the Math 1 Subject test? I ask bc it can be confusing that the subject tests are also called “SAT 2” tests while the full SAT test is called the SAT 1.)
Not trying to yuck your yum, but I’m extremely impressed that a rising 10th grader has so much math expertise already!
@RockyPA About 20% of the test takers world wide get a 790 or 800 on Math 2 subject exam if they are even a little bit ahead. Its just algebra, trigonometry with a little bit of geometry. Its not a hard test for anyone good at mathematics.
See numbers here:
https://secure-media.collegeboard.org/digitalServices/pdf/sat/sat-percentile-ranks-subject-tests-2015.pdf
Note that the Physics subject exam is also taken by fewer students and has a large number of 800s. So the Math 2 subject exam is no longer a differentiator for math talent so much. . And getting that score as a 9th grader will not be helpful for the vast number of colleges where the test is not required or not really weighted that heavily for admissions.
Your daughter should take the harder math tests like AMC 10 and AMC 12 and try to qualify for AIME exams.
Its fine to get a 790, do not repeat it.
These subject tests largely do NOT help students get into college today. Scoring well early is not particularly helpful, for any college that I can think of. But, some schools, like Georgia Tech will actually give college credit for
some SAT subject exam scores, in chemistry for instance.
There is no reason to mention this in an LoR; for the Common App, one lists the test dates, and the official score report lists the date. The 790 is impressive, as I stated upthread, but it’s not that impressive that it needs to be called out more than just listed.
She finished up a precalculus class and it was recommended that she take the Math 2 test right after this. She will be taking AP calc in 10th grade.