<p>Is there any point to taking more than three? I know some people taking 5-6, but don't most colleges only require 3? Does it give an advantage by showing more versatility and/or higher scores?</p>
<p>Thanks :)</p>
<p>if you think that you can score good scores on all tests, then do it - it will be beneficial ;]</p>
<p>if you are unsure about doing well, then do not waste your time</p>
<p>the most any college will ever require is 3.</p>
<p>more than that, and it really doesn’t come off well. SAT IIs are for subjects you want to demonstrate your best competency in (plus Math II). Otherwise, just take the APs.</p>
<p>I’m pretty sure it just looks like you have too much money to spend/are just taking a bunch of tests to impress colleges.</p>
<p>Unless you are homseschooled, in which case taking a lot of Subject Tests seems pretty much required to make one’s case to Ad Comm, it seems the time and money could be better spent doing any number of things.</p>
<p>If you can score highly on additional tests, and have noting else in your academic profile that you can improve on (and have the time), why not go for it? I seriously doubt an admissions officer will be turned off by a student with credentials above and beyond what’s required.</p>
<p>^they will be turned off by 5 SAT IIs</p>
<p>^ My brother took one SAT 2 in 9th grade and another one in 10th grade. Both were fairly bad. Then he took three more junior year and got 800/800/800. I don’t think colleges really cared that he had five tests, especially since they were spread out over three years.</p>
<p>“they will be turned off by 5 SAT IIs”</p>
<p>Show me one college website/information posted by a college admissions officer that states this.</p>
<p>You can take all you want, and use score choice for SAT IIs now too (provided the colleges to which you are applying do allow it. You can select SAT II scores by subject, and SAT scores by date of test taken.</p>
<p>haha, IBfootballer is…misinforming you. Charlie Brown is right. I know a lot of people who went to various ivies and top schools and those who went to Harvard, Princeton, and Yale took at least 4. This is because those who took 4(3 people including my cousin) got all 800 and 790s. I am not saying that you can only get into top colleges by taking more than 4, but it certainly IS beneficial. I know a person who took 7 and he got into all Ivies and top schools except for Standford. Take 5-6 if you think you can go 700+ in all. 3s will probably get you into low IVies like cornell or darth.</p>
<p>My D has already taken 5 and may take more before she is done. </p>
<p>Top colleges are trending towards weighting SAT-II scores much more than they did before, and even more than the SAT-I. The Harvard admissions dean is on record as saying that the SAT-II exams are more informative than SAT-I, since they measure mastery of content and are harder to ace just by learning test-taking strategies. Harvard may some day offer the option to submit 5 SAT-II scores instead of the SAT-I or ACT.</p>
<p>[The</a> Harvard Crimson :: News :: SAT May Someday Be Optional, Dean Says](<a href=“http://www.thecrimson.com/article.aspx?ref=524170]The”>http://www.thecrimson.com/article.aspx?ref=524170)</p>
<p>I thought that maybe taking more tests (not a bazillion but more like 5 or 6) might show more versatility and just competency in the classes I’ve taken. So maybe I’ll look into it for next year. I know they don’t want test-obsessed applicants, but it does seem a little weird that they would be turned away because of more high scores…</p>
<p>“Test obsessed” would be taking the SAT-I for the fourth time because you want to go from 2300 to 2350. Taking a 4th, 5th or 6th subject test is not test obsessed.</p>
<p>Yes, definitely. SAT II’s are much more valuable than AP scores because they are directly used when sifting students apart. I speak from experience.</p>
<p>Thanks a lot everyone! This really helped :)</p>
<p>^Bump, this thread is interesting. Are additional subject tests (more than three) significantly helpful in the admissions process for top colleges?</p>
<p>I know it’s better to focus on EC’s, but should students spend a Saturday morning taking a 4th or 5th subject test if they have nothing else to do?</p>
<p>I always thought admission officers looked down on too many tests, but the opinions in this thread are contrary to that belief.</p>