should i retake math 2 with a 780?

Test Preparation SAT Subject Test Preparation
1

i took the sat mathematics 2 subject test this past month and received a 780. i’m relatively happy with this score but am wondering whether i should retake it next year, for a couple reasons:

  • i'm fairly confident i could get an 800 on a retake, given that i was very ill the day of the test and was medicated to the point where i don't remember 90% of anything that happened that day lmao.
  • i am a strong math student, and believe the rest of my profile makes me competitive for top colleges. additionally, i'll be applying as a stem major (likely engineering). given that according to statistics about 20% of math 2 test takers get an 800, i don't want to be at a disadvantage if there's a way i could rectify it.
  • i'll be taking the biology subject test at that time anyways, so it's not like i'd be going out of my way to do so.

reasoning not to retake is that a 780 is definitely a decent score and i don’t want to come off as test-obsessed. thoughts?

2

I don’t think the difference between a 780 and an 800 is going to mean much to an admissions officer. If you have no other options, spare time, and the choice on which score to send, it’s only a matter of money so it doesn’t hurt. But for mathematically gifted students, I recommend focusing on AMC, AIME, ARML, etc. scores that much better differentiate true top math talent. MIT/Caltech are going to take a 780 Math II + AIME qualifier over an 800 Math II only.

3

I sort of agree with @RichInPitt. No question that AMC12 and AIME scores are going to matter a whole lot more than the SAT2. On the other hand, the curve for the M2 is fairly easy - you can get 5 or 6 wrong and still get an 800 - so to my mind anything less than an 800 would be a little suspicious (for the tippy top places) because it really is a very straightforward test. Again, a >8 on the AIME or >120ish on the AMC12 will allay any concerns about your math ability even at the Caltech/MIT level, but if you can’t achieve those sorts of numbers, then I’d go ahead and retake the level 2 math SAT2. Something like 30,000+ kids get an 800 every year - it’s not hard to do, so just go out and do it!! Best of luck.

Edit - my kid used the Benjamin Huh book to do a little preparation for the SAT2, and it definitely helped.