I recently took the August SAT without studying and got a 1490 and an essay score of 20. I’m aiming for top schools like Stanford, MIT, or Ivy Leagues, and I know that a 1490 would not likely make the “cutoff”. However, is an essay score of 20 qualified for top schools? I couldn’t find average essay scores anywhere (I know it’s “optional”, but it still, more or less, has some effect).
Also, would we have to use the essay score from the same SAT given to colleges, or could we use them interchangeably? In other words, if I took the SAT again in November but without the essay and got a 1550, could I give colleges my 1550 score and my essay score of 20, or do I have to retake the essay as well to send my score.
My parents are saying that most colleges require the essay and SAT score to come from the same test, and the few colleges that don’t require that usually just skip your application because of the mess you make with the different SAT dates. Personally I feel like my essay score is already pretty high and stands a good chance, and I don’t see the need to take it again, and neither do I want to study for the essay.