Math SAT I and SAT II... Dilemma - Should I try to raise my Math score?

[ldftalk]

<p>I got a 760 math score on the SAT I, which is not that great, but I got an 800 on the Math II Subject test, which (although is relatively easy to get)... is still an 800!</p>

<p>Is it worth it to take the SAT I again to improve my math score? Will colleges somehow infer one way or another that I'm good at math by just seeing that I made an 800 on the Math II subject test? or perhaps that I'm capable of making a 800 on the Math SAT I?</p>

[NotToo_Crazy]

<p>wow.</p>

<p>i’m saying this in the nicest way possible; please go find something else to stress about.</p>

[pbbuff]

<p>If you scored an 800 CR and 800 W and you’re sure you can do it again, I would go for it
any other circumstance and no.</p>

[sherpa]

<p>If you fail to be accepted to the college of your choice, it will not be because of your 760 SAT I Math score.</p>

[book_worm]

<p>I have the same problem - only I have a 720 SAT 1 math and an 800 Math 2. </p>

<p>Is that worth retaking?</p>

[zumai]

<p>Just a rule of thumb about retaking the SAT I, you should only do it if you have the time, can ensure that the math score is higher, and you MUST be able to ensure that the CR and Writing scores are the same or higher. Otherwise, it won’t be of any use. </p>

<p>40 points won’t make or break your application.</p>

[Mellyse]

<p>760 is a great SAT I math score! There is little difference between 760 and 800, and adcoms will not reject you because of a 760. :)</p>

[monstor344]

<p>While it’s not completely true that a 760 is essentially equivalent to an 800, with regards to the math section, there is so little statistical difference in terms of acceptance rates that you would be better off focusing on other aspects of your application. If it was your CR score that we were talking about and you were confident in your ability to get an 800 then you might have wanted to go for it; just making the point that it’s not as black-and-white of an issue as people think it is.</p>

[Millancad]

<p>No one is going to care that you got a 760 instead of an 800.</p>

<p>CC questions Ben Jones at MIT answered:

Question: Can you find a quote from an adcom at an elite college saying that “we do not distinguish between a 2400 and a 2250”?</p>

<p>No problem. In most cases we do not distinguish between a 2400 and a 2250. The exception would be a breakdown of 800/800/650 with the 650 being in math; obviously we’ll consider if the 150 point difference is entirely in one of the three scores. But we don’t distinguish between a 750 and an 800 on any single test. Period.</p>

<p>Question:…even if one adcom at MIT says a 760 is the same as an 800, it is impossible to get the opinions of every adcom on the matter.</p>

<p>Not true - at least at MIT. Any of my colleagues would tell you the same thing, including the Dean, Marilee Jones. One of her favorite quotes is “we’re looking for excellence, not perfection.” And 750 is excellent.</p>

<p>The directive from the top down is to use scores solely to measure our confidence in an applicant’s ability to thrive academically at MIT. A “7” at the beginning of any score makes us plenty confident assuming the rest of the app is solid. Even scores with a “6” at the beginning can be fine in many cases. Once you’ve demonstrated that you can thrive academically at MIT, it’s everything else that actually gets you admitted - what you will bring to the community, whether you’re a good match, etc.</p>

<p>How these things correlate with the various graphs and curves of “successful” SAT scores that people like to publish and reference I couldn’t tell you. This sort of hair splitting is certainly not on our minds when we’re deciding whether or not to admit someone.

[MIT</a> Admissions | Blog Entry: “Answers To Your Questions”](<a href=“http://www.mitadmissions.org/topics/qanda/questions_and_answers/answers_to_your_questions.shtml]MIT”>http://www.mitadmissions.org/topics/qanda/questions_and_answers/answers_to_your_questions.shtml)</p>

[C_BadDad]

<p>In that case is a heck of a coincidence that the 75th percentile for Math is 800 at MIT.</p>

[springva]

<p>I do not think you are correct. Many colleges now implement Highest Section Rule, which means they select the highest score on any individual section. My understanding is if you take SAT for the second time, and do not score 800 on CR and Writing, but just improve math score, the colleges will still count your highest score in CR and Writing, which is 800 and your improved math score.</p>

[ldftalk]

<p>I only missed 2 questions on the math section, and since it’s the math section, 2 questions = 40 points lost. I don’t know if I can get all the math questions right next time.</p>

[ldftalk]

<p>C’BadDad makes an interesting point…</p>

[monstor344]

<p>Honestly I think the math score is of little relevance at top schools anymore, at least at the upper ranges. It is practically a joke section that requires fastidiousness, not intelligence, to master. The CR score and perhaps even the W score are eclipsing the M score in importance.</p>