I am currently a junior and I took my first SAT on October 1st and received a score of 740 Math / 710 Verbal (1450 Composite) and a 5/5/5 Essay (15/24). My goal was to get a 1500 or above on the test. I am not very worried about the essay because the reason I am trying to get a 1500 is to get a full ride through a scholarship which doesn’t look at the essay score.
I am very srong in the math area of the SAT and I was certain that I only missed 1 or maybe 2 so I was hoping for a 770+ on the math but unfourtunately I received only a 740. The score report says I missed 3 and omitted 1 (which I didn’t so I may have made a bubbling mistake). I was very upset that I lost 60 points for 4 questions. I was pleasantly surprised with my 710 verbal because I was praying for at least a 700. I was also content because I missed only 4 on the reading but unfortunately 7 on the writing.
My questions are:
Will the QAS I ordered let me check whose mistake it was on the omitted question and when will I receive the QAS
I am definitely taking the January SAT because I heard the curve is better then for high scorers and because I’ll have time during winter break. I don’t plan on taking the SAT again after January because I will try my hand at the ACT and I am not looking to take either the SAT or ACT during my senior year. So should I take the SAT in December also? Would that be too fast after the October SAT? I could study a bit during thanksgiving break also.
What do you guys recommend to improve my writing score (not the essay)? (Grammar, English Conventions, etc)
I’m sorry for so much text, I just wanted to provide as much background information as I could!
I would really appreciate help and any feedback!
You are obsessing on these tests! That will be a major negative for you at top schools that require you to send all scores.
I appreciate the input, but my goal is a single scholarship that can save me a lot of money. So I hope to be a bit justified in obsessing over scores. And I am not applying to any top schools. Just a local texas college
@tillus1 In your case I do not see any downside in taking the December test. My kid prep for SAT in the summer, the office manager mentioned something taking the tests twice and that there are differences between each test…I didn’t really pay attention on the reasoning… Then on a whim, I decided to register her for the September ACT, she said it was easy, and has a decent score, we decided to register her for the Oct test, and when everything I read, it was difficult, I do not know her score may be…from everything I read, the scores so be normed across different test dates, but I am not sure…In your case, I do not see a major deficiency in the concepts, it may just be luck…Given you have the thanksgiving break to study, why not just add December test,
A local Texas college you’re sure to get into? Why not do what you can to get the $$$?
In general, not so odd to see two SATs and one ACT. Or you could withhold scores for now, send the best to the college later, if they allow selective reporting. The risk is you change your mind and apply to more, those fees.
How assured are you of getting this scholarship with a 1500? Or is it another case of lots of top scoring kids and only a handful get it? I say, go with your gut, re: the 3rd SAT.
Couple of things you should know as you make these tactical decisions:
- If the May test is any guide, do not count on having your QAS back in time to make use of it in your studying for December or January. Even March is no sure bet.
- There is no reason at all to believe that there will be a more favorable curve on any particular SAT. This is the myth that will not die!
So just take the test that you have time to prepare for. There are now 6 available released tests. Work thru them so that you can explain every question – why the right answer is right and why the wrong ones are wrong.
Also, there is nothing obsessive about taking the test 2 or 3 times, especially if you are motivated by a scholarship (as opposed to out-of-control perfectionism.)
Good Luck