<p>I took the SAT this June as a junior and received the following scores. </p>
<p>Reading 800<br>
Math 800
Writing 680 (8) : (</p>
<p>Composite 2280 </p>
<p>That was on my second try at the SAT. Of course, I couldn't be happier with my R and M scores. The writing, however, is not spectacular especially considering that it's the "easy" section and people usually score high on writing. I know I can do better than an 8 on the essay and get a close to perfect score on the MC section. Should I retake it a third time to get that writing score up? (My reading score may drop a little, so the composite won't be higher, but if superscored that could be a potentially substantial rise.) </p>
<p>If it were Math or Reading 680, I wouldn't hesitate to retake it again, but it's Writing, that controversial section whose weight is uncertain. I heard that some schools don't even look at it, while others give it little weight. Yet I'm convinced (correct me if I'm wrong) that it probably still plays a role in admissions. For ex. why would schools ask for the ACT WITH writing, if the SAT's writing section doesn't count? Does a 2380/1600 look better than a 2250/1600? Should I bother to raise my writing score (and I'm pretty sure I can if i tried)? How important is the writing section REALLY to colleges? (If it were a 750, i wouldn't even think about retaking. but it's a 680, which at the Ivies is on the lower, 25% end)</p>
<p>In addition, I've taken the SAT twice. Will taking it a third time to raise writing be seen unfavorably by schools (thinking I'm test obsessed, etc)? I don't plan on using score choice because that's frowned upon. </p>
<p>I'm looking at some very selective institutions like HYPSM, Duke, and the Ivies. I'm white male, have good grades and fairly decent ECs, so I'm just curious about the SAT. : ) </p>
<p>Thanks a bunch to everyone for your help and advice!</p>
<p>Unless you’re absolutely certain that you can get 800s on Reading and Math again, retaking it might not be worthwhile. Since it’s the newest section, Writing hasn’t quite earned a reputation of reliability yet, and thus doesn’t have the weight of the other two sections, generally speaking. As long as everything else is strong, you shouldn’t have much trouble going where you want to go.</p>
<p>False. Some schools don’t place weight on writing, such as MIT and Georgetown. But many top institutions weigh it just as high as critical reading and math.</p>
<p>I say retake. Writing is not always the easiest section but it’s perhaps the easiest to improve. Personally, I think you should take it up to three times to get the score you need.</p>
<p>i got a 680 in CR…critical reading is my weakness. i didnt miss any on the vocab, so that’s not the problem. i don’t think i’ll take this again because it’s not my strong point and theres no real good way to study for it.</p>
<p>i did well on writing. really well.
i asked my teacher, who grades sat essays, what makes a 12 essay. he said: be ambitious. i guess i was ambitious.</p>