Hi,
I just got my Sat Subject scores back and I’m disappointed in my math score. I got 690 on Math 2, 780 on Literature, and 800 on US History. I plan to major in English. Most of the colleges I’m thinking of applying to don’t require subject tests, some recommend them (Brown, Princeton, Amherst, Swarthmore are some that I’m thinking about). The UCs require applicants to send all their scores though. I know my math score is kinda bad, should I retake it? I think if I studied for a few weeks I could bring it up maybe 40-70 points. My regular SAT score is 1540, 790 English and 750 math and my GPA is 3.9 unweighted, 4.9 weighted.
Thanks
Are you a rising senior? If so, you need to prioritize carefully how you spend your time. Test prep takes away from college research time, essay writing time, your school work and ECs.
690 isn’t bad for an English major. Is that score the weakest part of your application or do you think your time could be best spent elsewhere?
English major? Then no.
690 is on the edge of bad. Studying for a few weeks on that would be nonsensical if there is any chance it would interfere with the rest of your life in any way.
750 on the regular SAT math is excellent, especially for an English major, so you will be fine.
Ok thanks both of you. This score is the weakest part of my app for sure, I’d say. I am a rising senior but I was thinking I could study over the summer and take it again in the fall, which would also ensure I was in good shape for starting Calc AB. I will be very busy once school starts again, but my score bothers me, so I might take it again anyways.
No don’t retake. The schools that obsess over Math scores are ones that you clearly aren’t interested in: MIT, Harvey Mudd, Caltech, etc. I think you’ll be fine.
This is a toughie and I’m not a fan of taking standardized tests for the sake of taking them. However even if you don’t apply to a stem-focused college, English is typically in the arts and science college of universities, and they want a balanced student and there are going to be a lot of non-stem applicants with 700 or 750 on Math 2. Do you have any hooks - urm, legacy, athlete, first-gen? If you can get away with only sending two, then you’re fine, if the UCs see all three, you should take it again.
Don’t send it if you don’t have to.
I helped a kid with his apps last year. He was applying to college as a physics and English major. His sat score was a 720 critical reading, 680 math, and 780 writing. He was unhooked and didn’t have any wow EC’s, and none of out of school (he was co-editor in chief of school newspaper and a non-recruitable athlete, and played an instrument). He didn’t take either Math SAT2, but did have decent scores like yours for his bio and history scores. He was admitted to Yale, tufts, JHU, Hamilton.
I don’t think your math sat2 score will hurt you, particularly bc unlike the kid I helped, you have a strong math SAT score.
Anecdotal data that is an exception to a rule, more often than not proves the rule. I know students with 750 reading, 740 math, 780 writing, 800 USH, 770 Lit, 770 Math 2, editor in chief, varsity athlete, and got rejected by Yale, among couple other ivies. The rule is that unless you’re hooked, the selective schools want 700 in each standardized test.
Thank you for the replies everyone. I do not have any hooks, sadly, and since I will probably be applying to a number of the UCs, I will most likely retake it.
Unless schools ask for Math 2, you will be fine just submitting the two that you did really well on. I would not take it again. I wouldn’t send the score. Be happy with the 2 good “humanities” scores. Unless the UCs require Math 2 (I’m not too familiar with them), do not retake it.
If you can get away with not sending the score, then you’re fine, so check the UC policy on that. They don’t require subject tests unless you’re applying for engineering or science. Subject tests I believe be selectively sent so check with a UC admissions office, they will clarify, unless you already did. The other thing is that if you feel the test score didn’t reflect your knowledge of the material, you should take it again.
You don’t have to send all your subject test scores to the UCs! That is not true and is outdated info.
The website is not presented clearly and the admissions office will tell you - you do not have to send all scores in to the UCs! Call them and verify don’t rely on CC - call the schools.