Should I retake my 1440 SAT? Do I have the potential for 1500+?

Test Preparation
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1

Hi I’m a junior and am looking for advice about SAT/ACT testing. I have taken the ACT and, after a bit of prep, I got a 32 ACT. However, my math score was my lowest score at a 29 and I don’t feel like that accurately represents my academic strengths. I find Calculus AB VERY EASY and have always had a solid understanding of complex math and problem solving, but I find that I don’t perform as well on the ACT math section. The only math class I have ever struggled with is geometry (that I took in 8th grade) because I cannot easily visualize shapes, and I feel like geometry was a large portion of the test.

Anyways, I found the SAT math section much easier than the ACT because it seemed to focus on slightly more complex math and allotted more time per question. However, I only got a 700 on my first try taking SAT math (no SAT prep). I got a 52/58, so I think it was probably an “easier” math section, but I don’t know how that plays into my chances. I really want to get a 740+ on the SAT math because then I wouldn’t feel unqualified for wanting to go into pre-med… Do you guys think that it is possible for me to get a 740+ in the math section?

For the English section, I only missed 1 question for the grammar section, but I missed 10 for the reading and got a 740. I think I can do better though because I didn’t prep at all and didn’t know how the test would be structured. Also, I had to go to the bathroom the whole time and my proctor wouldn’t let me go, so I couldn’t focus at the end of the reading and bubbled in C for the last 7. Do you think I could possibly get 780+ on the English section? I feel like I can, but I don’t know if I’ll just not be able to finish the test every time…

I’m worried it’ll be too late to retake my SAT due to Covid-19 delays, so I was just wondering if it was worth devoting my time to SAT prep and intending on retaking it as soon as testing becomes an option again. If a 1440 is already good enough for schools such as OSU honors college, University of Michigan, then I won’t retake it.

So sorry for writing so much! I just wanted there to be enough details and I don’t know anyone else I can ask since no one I know talks about their scores. Thank you for your time!! :slight_smile:

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I would try to retake. OSU and Michigan have become very competitive, especially for certain majors and especially if you are out of state.

3

Okay thanks. Luckily I’m actually in state for OSU and (kinda?) a legacy at Michigan.

4

It sounds like you are a good test taker. My son was making scores similar to yours prior to prep, and after about 25 hours of targeted SAT prep, he raised his score by over 100 points. I bet you can do it too. You can start with the free prep at Khan Academy if you don’t have a preferred test prep program. He used PrepScholar and it was extremely effective for him. Khan Academy might be just as good, we just don’t have experience with it. He did his prep over the summer months and took the August SAT.

5

Thank you! I’m now planning to prep over the summer and take the SAT as soon as it becomes an option due to all the coronavirus cancellations. Hopefully I can raise my score like your son did!