I got 800 Math, 800 Reading, 740 Writing. I got a perfect score on the writing multiple choice but I failed the essay portion with a 6/12. I was super suprised at this low mark because I thought my essay was fantastic.
I know that 2340 is a great score, and even elite colleges will be satisfied. However the 6/12 really is a terrible mark at the elite colleges. It’s actually below average! What would colleges think of a fantastic score on the objective portion of the test and a terrible score on the subjective part? Am I screwed? Should I retake.
You are not screwed at all. 2340 is fantastic as you said and a 6/12 on the essay portion does not matter since you did so well everywhere else. In fact, some colleges only look at your combined Reading+Math scores. You definitely do not need to retake it or be worried at all.
If I am adcom, I won’t be bothered by your essay score because I am going to read your essay for application which is more elaborated piece of work. Everybody knows that there is a specific way of writing to get high score in SAT essay and it is not the best way to write essays.
Don’t retake. They won’t care about your essay score.
Btw- the way to get a good score on the essay is to write an absolutely terrible one. It’s incredibly formulaic. An essay that gets you a 12 on the SAT probably wouldn’t even get you a C in english class. That’s a fault of the test, not you.
Are you really saying I’m safe? I was thinking what NYDad513 said, that my writing skills would be more clearly demonstrated in the common app and supplementary essays. Does anyone would think I should retake?
Are you taking any AP English classes or advanced language classes? If so, and you retain high grades in those classes along with well-written essays, I don’t think you need to worry about 6/12 score.
For MIT at least, I don’t think they really care about SAT essay score. Nearly all incoming freshmen have to take an essay evaluation where you have 3 days to write two essays (~1000 words each if I remember correctly), and use those results for freshman writing placement (for CI-Hs).
I don’t think the writing matters. One of my kid is not a writer but I told her to write lots and fast, I think she got either an 11 or a 12. Same advice I told my other kid, but she is a good writer, and got a 12. So the bottom line, the good writer got a 12, the not so good writer got a 12 also, they both wrote very fast. I think it was the length that counts, there was a study on this.
A little humility goes a long way! With that said, are you allowed to ask for a review of your essay grade? I think anyone would see that there is huge disconnect here. I have no idea if it is permitted, but that was my immediate reaction.
@guineagirl96, our son said exactly the same thing about the SAT essay. Like the OP, it brought his score down a bit. I doubt he’ll decide to retake since his M+CR is very high.
Post #12, the essay doesn’t measure excellence, it measures word counts. If you rack your brain to produce excellent essay, it’s not surprised you got 6.