Will a 91%ile hurt my chances for hades, if so, should I retake in December?
As a bit of background, my last year ssats are within a point so perhaps this is an acurate score. Any thoughts?
You’re fine, LaxPrep. If you are not admitted, it will not be because of your score. A 91 is an excellent score. Congrats! Now — Focus on your essay! 
Thanks for the reassurance! @cameo43
Hi, LaxPrep! I’ve also taken the October test and I also wanted to assure you that you’ll be fine. Don’t worry and just as cameo43 had said, focus on your essays! Best of luck.
Congrats on a great score!!! My DD will be taking November test, if you do not mind me asking, how long does it take to get results back? Best of luck on getting admitted to your first choice of school!!!
This time it took less than 2 weeks.
To the OP, don’t retake the test a 91%tile is great. Look at the range score and if you retake random variance could put you anywhere in that range. Improvement for you would mean getting just 1 or 2 more questions right on the total test. Focus on other things.
91%tile is SOLID. aaargh on the hades reference #$%6&#!!!
I love the support on this post!
@blue77skidoo I wish your daughter good luck. If you want any advice on preparation or suggestions on what website/book to buy feel free to DM me.
@minimalist have you heard back?
@smullaney I was thinking of the cost and time of taking the test vs a chance for a slightly better score and came to the same conclusion you did. Thanks for the advice.
@GMTplus7 too much caffeine? Just kidding, thanks for the comment
I’ve heard back. If you want me to disclose my scores, I’ll be willing to do so.
@LaxPrep If you got the same scores last year as this year, don’t retake. That 91% is a solid score, and the worst thing you could do now is go down. Don’t risk it. You are good. Taking the test over and over is never a solid bet. (The only way you–or any applicant–should retake under any circumstances is if you significantly underperform compared to practice exams. If you had been getting 90-92% consistently on practice for both years but had not cracked 80%, then that’s a situation where you retake.)
I have a question based on the last post. What is the risk of retaking? Are you required to submit only the latest score? Even if your score were to go down, can I submit an earlier score that was better? thanks for any help.
You can submit scores from the same academic year cycle of test taking. No, you do not have to send a retaken score if it is worse.
SSAT changed regs this year and will allow you to submit scores from last year. Check with schools to see if they will accept them. I know some kids who took it for practice in June and are able to use the scores.
The risk, besides time, money, and sanity, of taking the test after a year + of consistent scores is that you will make yourself looks strange if you keep submitting scores that haven’t changed. Unless you want to take the test a couple of times and just hold on to them. 91% is a great score, and the fact that hasn’t changed after more than a year should be a huge indication that 91% is pretty close to the best you would do. Going back and taking the test again, assuming you will submit the score if it’s close to your previous two–2!–years/attempts runs the risk of making you stand out in the admissions process in a bad way.
If you are applying as a repeat freshman, the answer is probably different than if you are applying to enter in 10th grade. Exeter, for example, was over-enrolled last year, so 10th grade will be a very difficult proposition. Plus 10th grade admits are traditionally fewer. I would consider studying for and taking some practice testing to try to boost above 95% (assuming all sections are pretty similar). If your practice test is good, I would re-take. If it indicates 90% or worse, I would let it ride.
91% IS solid, but being above the median for your target school is always better than being below the median; all else being equal. If it is stressing you or would impact your life in any way, don’t do it. If you can work it in, I think there may be some “goodness” to it. And congratulations on the 91%. Realize that is a higher score than last year since it is scored relative to the same-grade pool, and the pool of 9th graders is smaller, more concentrated, and even higher-achieving than the pool of 8th graders.
TBBH, %91 keeps you in the game but it doesn’t wim the game. Focus on your strengths and show the AO’s exactlly who you are.
sorry for the typo…“win”
FWIW, neither does a 99.