Hi,
I recently got a 780 on the Math 2 exam. I know its not a bad score but it is only 71 percentile, meaning it would be like minus 9 questions to get that score. Most kids at my school score 800 so I don’t know if this score would harm me. December is the last date for me to retake it but it is only a little over a week away. Should I grind one last time to retake it or should I just keep this score. I’m applying as a biology major to schools like Brown and Cornell. How much do subject test scores matter in admissions? Will this score “harm” me when compared to other kids at my school? Thanks and I know its kind of a stupid question but its bothering me.
I would not retake a 780.
That score will not harm you. The kids who take the Math SAT2 tend to be those who are exceptionally strong in math.
Your score shows you are one of those kids.
I doubt that, even if your HS is an elite STEM school like TJHSST
And a 790 is 75th percentile and an 800 is 79th percentile. The difference will not be the reason one is rejected.
Don’t get caught up with percentiles. It is important to understand that for several subjects, the percentiles are depressed because so few colleges request Subject Tests, that the ones that do are the ultra selective ones. As a result, it is the high achieving kids taking the tests. No AO is sitting on the floor cross-referencing scores with percentiles.
I’m not too sure, but I do recall someone saying if you’re intending to apply to Caltech or MIT, the 800 is a low sweep; meaning most applicants do have an 800. But tbh, when you’re that close to an 800, don’t bother. The first try Idk what happened and I got a 710!