I’m going to be only a junior, but I’m already getting worried. I want to apply to top schools but the only SAT II I’ve taken, chemistry, was a 710. I look on this site and people often score in the high 700s if not an 800; these are the type of people I will be applying against. Should I retake it after taking AP Chem. this year? Or will a good AP test score cancel it out? Thanks.
<p>First take your other SATIIs and the AP. If you feel horrible about the AP exam in May, which I doubt you will, you can take the June SATII again. I wouldn't suggest it though...people usually freak out and retake the SAT Reasoning, but not the SATII. It's another to pay for. Plus, the SATII is not one of the heavy parts of your application: grades, regular SATs and essays mean a lot more.</p>
<p>It varies depending on subject, but the SAT II's are typically centered on 600. However, the people taking the SAT II Chem are people who consider chemistry to be one of their strongest subjects, and so the competition is tougher. An extremely competitive college will view a 710 as evidence of good work, but it will not impress anybody. It needs to be in the mid-700's. AP scores don't count for much. They are nice if you have a long string of 5's, but SAT II scores are tons more important. Getting a 710 was great after having taken regular chemistry. Since you are now taking AP Chem, certainly retake the SAT II Chem.</p>
<p>If you retake it after AP you can get an 800 or close to it. Definitely retake it. You have to take the SAT II again anyway, so why not take chemistry with it?</p>
<p>Don't judge things by the people on this site. This is the elite of the elite, for the most part. 710 is a fine score and it will not hurt your admissions chances at all.</p>
<p>O yourse you should retake after APchem.</p>
<p>I agree with MomofWildChild that 710 is a fine score, and I agree that it will not hurt your chances anywhere. It depends on where you are applying whether or not it will help your chances. At the top 10-15 schools, you are okay if you are over 700, but you need mid or upper 700's to look good. At those schools, an unhooked applicants should have three SAT II scores in the high 700's. In your own case, I can't see any reason not to retake it after AP Chem.</p>
<p>A lot of people tend to overlook the importance of SAT II's. At most top schools (HYPS especially), a SAT II subject score is given about the SAME weight as a section from the SAT. If you have a pretty high rank (ex: 1-3 out of 400 or more I guess), trying to get 750+'s and 800's can help you stand out more. As I've heard before, people with good grades/rank and low test scores are overachievers, but not necessarily as bright as other applicants, and people with good scores but mediocre grades/rank are very bright, but lazy. Getting high in both can really help you stand out. My advice: if you do not think you can realistically get your score up by 50 points or more, don't bother. Instead, focus on getting your other SAT II's as close to 800 as possible.</p>
<p>arti..you really hate your 710 score..you've mentioned how much it has irked you in many threads</p>
<p>Way to bump a way old thread :)</p>
<p>I retook it this spring, expecting a high 700 or 800 this time around</p>
<p>Hey, if you have the extra 20 bucks or so lying around and you'll study more and think you'll do better, why not? Besides, chemistry is not like bio or anything... most of it is common knowledge, well, some of it is at least.</p>
<p>well, I did take AP Chem this year so that was a big factor.</p>
<p>haha i got a 680 in chem :(</p>
<p>i like to just pretend it never happened</p>