Should I cancel my Dec 3rd SAT scores?

Test Preparation
1

I’m applying to Stanford and possibly some Boston area colleges or Columbia as a transfer student.

The last time I took the SAT was about 3 years ago and I got an 1800 (2400 version) which I know is a bad score.

This time I think the test was extremely easy, especially the math, but I didn’t answer one section of the write-in math questions because I thought that it was going to be done in the next section. They were very strict with saying that we can’t move on to the next section so I completely blanked out and didn’t realize that that particular write-in section was part of that section I was on. As a result, I lost out on about 8 problems. That and I left a few other problems blank because I ran out of time to bubble them in (probably about 2). On the reading test I ran out of time and didn’t even read the last passage, just bubbled em in to guess. I felt I did well on the writing part but I don’t know how they’ll judge me on the essay. I think that for the most part, the answers I did bubble in were correct (probably 1 or 2 could be iffy), but I simply ran out of time.

I also didn’t have any time to practice because I’ve been applying to UC schools and have had a load of midterms to study for. Over the winter break I will surely take some (timed!) practice tests. I mostly just went into this test to get a feel of what it would feel like

This is the first time I take the new exam and I’ll most likely be retaking it in January. Should I cancel these scores or keep them and use the results to improve? How bad will it look to those schools if I start off with a bad score and then get a drastically better one in January?

It’s my impression that these schools value raw talent over hard work since they’re not public schools (and they tend to admit more upper class people while public schools seem to desire more of those “worked their way up” narratives), so will it give a bad impression if my low->high scores make me look as if I worked hard and studied a lot to improve? Or would they prefer someone who just had one good sitting because it makes them look like they’re more smart/talented?

Would receiving my scores for this test provide me with any study benefits? I practically know I missed out on many questions due to timing, and I have a clue of which answered questions I may have gotten wrong. Plus I don’t know if receiving a really bad score might do more harm than good in other ways, such as decreasing my confidence.

2

I would cancel it. You know it’s not going to be a great score since you ran out of time. Just prepare more and take it in January.

3

@desie1 would it be too much of a hassle though? I would just like to know if it would look bad to the colleges I’m applying to or not, I would prefer to keep the scores but I’m not sure if it will do me harm

4

I think you should just cancel and take the January one — you’ll do better in January because you will have answered all the questions.

5

What if I do good on the writing? Would it be worth keeping the scores for that? And how bad does it look to those colleges if I keep the scores?

6

If you cancel them,nobody will know - the college won’t see that you cancelled a score. And very few colleges are paying much attention to the writing -even the ones that request writing. You know you ran out of time so it’s not going to be as good as you can get. If I were you, I’d cancel. But it’s up to you - totally your choice.

7

By writing do you mean the essay? If so it’s definitely not worth keeping it because of the essay.

8

@desie1 i was wondering more if colleges would dislike it if i had low scores and then moved up to have higher scores in january. i know they wont care if i cancel it since they wont see them at all. but if i were to keep them, would it look bad?

@VenomBuds by writing i meant the writing multiple choice section. not sure how i did on the essay, i would say it’s alright but then again their standards may be higher. the rubric for that was very subjective…how do you discern from great writing and good writing? it’s literally in their rubric…“good” “great” lol

9

Ok, even so, I suggest just cancelling and retaking in january. That’s probably your best option. Depends on how many schools you’re applying to in the future want all your SAT scores.