Should I retake my SAT I (because of writing scores)??

Test Preparation
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<p>So I just took the December SAT and I got a 780 M, 760 CR, and 710 W for a combined score of 2250. Although I'm satisfied with reading (which was higher than I'd usually been getting in practices) and math, I'm kind of annoyed about my writing. </p>

<p>Since day one of my preparations, Writing had been my strongest section. On the last two practices I took before the test, I got 800s. As I'm looking to apply to top schools (Some Ivies, Amherst, Swarthmore, Williams, Georgetown, etc.) do you guys think it would be worth it to retake to improve the writing? I get that a 710 is a great score and that writing tends to be least important, but it would be awesome to break 2300...</p>

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<p>I’ll Copy+Pasta one of my post. BTW I also got 2250 my first time.</p>

<p>"I retook my 2250 because my CR and M was stupidly low. I at least wanted to break the 1500/1600 mark.</p>

<p>720M
730CR
800 W.</p>

<p>I retook even though I was 100% my Writing would drop, and I did but only by 10pts.</p>

<p>770CR
780M
790W</p>

<p>2340.
90+ increase total and and broke the 1500 mark. It all really depend on if you’re really sure you can do much better in one of the section. Tbh, if I had gotten 750/750/750 (still 2250) I probably wouldn’t retake."</p>

<p>Your scenario is quite different. Writing is not held to a high regard as Cr and M. Your CR and M combined is 1540/1600, which is really good already. Like I said, if you’re really sure you can do much better in one section (writing in this case) then retake.</p>

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<p>Just a quick question, Niceboat. Did you keep studying your writing while you were working on the other two sections? Or did you find that what you knew kind of stuck? Also, how long did you wait between your two tests?</p>

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<p>“So I just took the December SAT and I got a 780 M, 760 CR, and 710 W for a combined score of 2250.”</p>

<p>“As I’m looking to apply to top schools (Some Ivies, Amherst, Swarthmore, Williams, Georgetown, etc.) do you guys think it would be worth it to retake to improve the writing?”</p>

<p>No. Reading and Math scores are far more important. Some place like Chicago and Cornell don’t use it. The test has its critics for being inaccurate and rewarding for bad writing on the essay. Your time is better spent on application essays.</p>

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<p>I only worked on the other two sections and kinda ignore writing. I can’t really say that’s the best thing to do because I was kinda riding on luck. I was pretty confident in my W( I knew it would drop but not by much) so all I hoped for was an easy Essay prompt. Speaking of the essay, I suggest you to look over this thread: <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/sat-preparation/645763-how-write-12-essay-just-10-days-11.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/sat-preparation/645763-how-write-12-essay-just-10-days-11.html&lt;/a&gt;.
Did you get a 710 in Writing because of a less than stellar essay or bad MC? </p>

<p>I took my 1st test in March 2012 and the second one December 2012. Are you a senior? You might not have the luxury of time.
I think what I would do is:</p>

<p>Review some vocab for Sentence Completion and have that as your only CR prep. Once you get in the 700’s in CR it’s very unlikely your reading comprehension skills will suddenly deteriorate so I don’t think it’s too overly important for you to practice CR by answering the reading passages questions. Forgetting important vocabulary does happen though.
Go over some Math topics that you might think your shaky with/ go over previous problems that you got wrong. You might not have much to do here since you got a 780, but a little practice wouldn’t hurt.
For writing, you should go read the thread I posted if the essay is your weak point. If the MC is your weak part then you should spend the majority of your time on it. I prepped with this book: [Amazon.com:</a> Kaplan SAT Writing Workbook (9781419550706): Kaplan: Books](<a href=“http://www.amazon.com/Kaplan-SAT-Writing-Workbook/dp/1419550705/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1356384904&sr=8-1&keywords=kaplan+writing+sat]Amazon.com:”>http://www.amazon.com/Kaplan-SAT-Writing-Workbook/dp/1419550705/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1356384904&sr=8-1&keywords=kaplan+writing+sat)</p>

<p>What I have listed above is what I WOULD do if I do plan to take the test again. Like I said, writing is not held to a high regard as Cr and M. Your CR and M combined is 1540/1600, which is really good already.</p>

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<p>My essay was a 10, which could be improved upon, but it was really the MC that got me this time. And I’m a Junior so that gives me some time to improve… anyways thanks for the tips! I’ll look in to that book.</p>