Retake SAT or take Math 2 in December?

Test Preparation
1

Hi all,

I just applied ED to Penn, and EA to Villanova and Penn State honors colleges. If I don’t get into Penn ED, I plan on applying to other T30’s RD. This left me with the question if I should retake the SAT again or Math 2.

Right now I have a 1470 raw from August 2018, and I think (I took the school day test on October 16) that I improved my math from a 740 to a 780, giving me a 1510 superscore. I have not taken a SAT subject test.

Going off of a 1510 SAT, with a 780 math, and not having a SAT subject test, which should I do? For all the T30’s, I’ll be applying business (except UoM which I’ll go biomed engineering).

  • I have got an A in calc AB and BC and am currently in multivariable calculus (3 on AB test, 4 on BC test, and a 5 on the AB subscore)
2

I ended up only getting a 760, which puts my superscore at 1490.

Would it be better to retake and study, or take 3 SAT subject tests instead of the SAT on the same day?

3

You should research whether or not your colleges require subject tests. If they do, definitely focus on that instead of retaking, a 1490 is great.

4

This is mainly for Penn. They say that they’re optional and I’ve seen people get in without having them. None of the schools that I’m applying to require a subject test.

5

“ SAT Subject Tests are recommended but not required”
https://admissions.upenn.edu/admissions-and-financial-aid/what-penn-looks-for/testing

And they specify which tests, by major. For Business it’s Math 2 (which seems weird, but whatever…).

Quite different than optional.

1490 is just below the mid-point of Penn’s 25-75%. (1460-1550). Significant improvements on a third try are unlikely, and having a good Subject Test score, vs. none, is probably more important.

Math 2 Ideally is taken after PreCalc. After MVC, you will likely require some refresher studying.

6

The latest SAT and SAT subject test dates for ED at University of Pennsylvania were on November 2; however, it is still possible to register for the December SAT tests (for RD schools), by paying a late fee.
https://admissions.upenn.edu/admissions-and-financial-aid/what-penn-looks-for/testing