<p>How many times do you think you should take a particular subject test?</p>
<p>Depending on your scoring range, I would say.</p>
<p>As a general rule of thumb, however, I don't think taking any subject test over 3 times would "look good." It would probably be better to prepare for it intensely and just max out after one try.</p>
<p>If you are scoring 750+, I would say do not retake, as 750 does not differ significantly from a 800 and to some people that might be considered as obsessive (unless you are SURE you can get 800, like Math 2).</p>
<p>Otherwise, I don't see any harm if someone's score report looked like this: 620, 730, 800.</p>
<p>my math 2c was obssesive ><em>>
750=>770=>800 ></em><</p>
<p>haha amacing, i think it was kinda unnecessary to take it 3 times, but you DID reach the 800!</p>
<p>Oh ok then, cause reading the posts it seemed like everyone was getting 800s in their first try</p>
<p>Yeah the only reason I took mine twice was because I only took two the first time. So when I took my third test, I decided to take the first two again since I didn't think I'd have the time to study for two more tests.</p>
<p>I'd say as long as you get 700+ on subject tests, you shouldn't retake them.
Definitely don't need to retake if it's 750+</p>
<p>lol wat if its exactly 700, but on some subject that you don't clearly show an affinity for, like US history or something?</p>
<p>In my opinion, it would be fine...But do you know if they consider what exam it is?
I heard the history or language exams are supposed to be "easier," so would scoring low on one of those be worse than scoring low on a science?</p>
<p>i heard the opposite. on the sciency ones u get a few wrong and still get 800.not sure tho</p>
<p>Yeah sorry that's what I meant, I wasn't being clear.
Since the history or language ones are "easier" if you miss a few your score is lower. But the math/science ones are harder, so even if you miss a few you can still get an 800.</p>
<p>So what I was trying to say is:
Would a lower score on a history/language test (meaning you missed only a few) still be worse than a high math/science test (possibly meaning you missed a lot) or do they take in consideration the weight of the curve?</p>
<p>im not sure of this, but i think with each score, they also get the percentile. if u think about it, that is ultimately what they care about.</p>
<p>^ Not exactly. On the Math 2 a 800 is still 70-something percentile, so if you don't get a 800 then you are considered as worse than more than a quarter of the population? That's rather harsh...</p>
<p>But percentiles do make a difference, since a 800 in literature is much harder to get than a 800 in Math 2.</p>
<p>umm oasis, i think a 800 on math2c is 90th percentile</p>
<p>I signed up for the Spanish SAT II because I'm self-studying and would like to give the admissions officers some sort of idea of my progress. My transcript shows no record of my ever having taken Spanish (I took the equivalent of "Spanish I" in middle school, but that hardly counts), and I already scored 800 on the French test. I know the curve is really harsh, so will it look terrible if I don't score over 700? Is 600-something (possibly even low 600's) an acceptable score for someone who's self-studying, or am I better off not taking it at all?</p>
<p>hmm personally, I wouldn't take it if you already have all three SAT II scores done and if you think you'll score a 600something on it</p>
<p>Sorry, it's actually 88, I stand corrected. </p>
<p>Yeah, cameliasinensis, I think it might be easier just to mention somewhere in your application that you self-studied Spanish rather than take the subject test. A 600 will immediately look bad to adcoms and they might ignore or fail to notice the fact that you self-studied for it instead of taking a class.</p>
<p>I only took each one once... same with the SAT I...</p>
<p>Well, then you shouldn't have taken the test in the first place! Why do you take tests over subjects you don't like? Don't do it.</p>