SAT Subject Test Score make up for subpar AP score

Test Preparation
1

Hello,

I am a rising senior and have recently taken AP Biology and have scored a 4 on the exam :frowning:

However I took the SAT subject test and got a 800 and I have a 99 average in the class.
Will the AP score determinately effect my application? I am aiming to apply to some ivy league schools and other top 20 schools (as well as safeties).

Regarding my other scores, I have a 4.0 gpa and a 36 on the ACT and a 1570 on the SAT and a 770 on Math 2.
I have also gotten a 5 on all other ap exams (i’ve taken 5 other exams in total).

I am worried because I want to major in biology in college and I don’t want this one exam grade to ruin my chances :frowning:
I have also been doing neuroscience research for the past 2-3 years and have gotten awards at various competitions.

Sorry for the rant. Any advice/comments??

Thank you so much :slight_smile:

2

A 4 is still a great score. So I would not worry. AP scores carry little to no weight in the admissions process. Regardless, there is no such thing as “offsetting” a bad score with another test. However, if you get rejected from a college with a 4, I guarantee they would not have accepted you with a 5.

3

I agree a 4 is great and you don’t need to offset anything with another score. That’s not the paradigm with how these scores are viewed. However, I will disagree that AP scores carry little to no weight in admissions. I think colleges look at them differently. Consistently, colleges put the most weight on SAT and ACT. Lots of colleges report they are moving away from subject test scores altogether and some college like Stanford will tell you in their info sessions that AP scores are the best predictors of success in college.

4

Thank you so much for all your responses!!!

5

Interesting that if you get an 800 on a subject test and a 5 on an AP test, which gives you a full semester/quarter credit and which gives you nothing but self pride. That should tell you which test you should try to max.

6

@CU123 I understand what you are trying to say, but I already took by exam and got a 4. I was just wondering if the colleges will hold that against me.

7

No becuase you don’t have to submit it.

8

@CU123 so a 4 isn’t worth submitting?

9

No i wouldn’t submit it especially with an 800 on the subject test, however this is for the application only. The AP course scores can and should be submitted after acceptance for credit (if they give credit for a 4).

10

No, you should submit a 4 because its still a great score and if you don’t they’ll assume you got something lower, like a 2.