should I retake the sat?

Hey Everyone!

I am applying to some top schools, and I was wondering if my scores are sufficient, or if I should retest:

New SAT: 1500 (800 Math 700 RW, 36 Reading and 34 Grammar)
Old SAT: 2110 (760 M 630 CR 720 W)

As you can see, on the new one, I did well on the reading, not so much on the grammar, and vice-versa on the old SAT. I have already sent both scores and reported both of them on my common app. I know colleges won’t superscore between the two SATs, however since I’m reporting my old writing score, will that help me? The colleges won’t superscore, but they can’t un-see a score–they will see my 720 W and have that in the back of their minds since I self-reported it on my common app. (97% old W and 84% New W) Should I retest to aim for a higher score?

For reference: I’m interested in studying pure mathematics. Thanks!

Those scores are good, but I can’t help thinking it wouldn’t be too tough to raise the W portion of your RW score.

Honestly if you can find it in you to retake it then retake it… if you really don’t want to then don’t! Once you’re to a score of ~1500 it doesn’t really make that much of a difference to raise it

That’s what I was thinking, because I did much better on the old Sat’s grammar section. Will colleges consider that section during review? I know they won’t superscore, but they will see that I don’t suck at grammar. For reference, the concordance table states that a 710 equates to a 37 W, so I can safely assume that a 720 also equates to a 37 grammar. @marvin100

Be careful, @ConfusedContent – the W MCQs aren’t just grammar anymore. In fact, I think it’s the info flow Qs that are probably causing you the most trouble (since you did well on old SAT grammar).

Do you know which section on the score report will tell me my performance on Flow questions? @marvin100

Ugh now I feel so inadequate. I’m probably going to retest because my scores aren’t the best they can be, which is kind of depressing cause I had thought I would be done.

@ConfusedContent - Command of Evidence includes evidence q’s in R and info flow q’s in W.

I got 14 out of 15 for that section @marvin100

What’d you miss, then, @ConfusedContent ? Because if it was Writing and Language: Expression of Ideas and Standard English Conventions then you can probably bring it up pretty easily by brushing up on your grammar/mechanics. If it was Vocab in Context, then it’s probably more about reading comprehension than vocab (although VICs in the W section are often vocab-based).

It’s mostly Expressions of Ideas. I guess I will brush up on all my skills @marvin100 Do you have any tips to improve every section in general?

Absolutely no reason to retake a 1500.

Since I am not lacking in command of evidence, would my old writing score work? @marvin100 (it shows that I got 14/15 on my score report)

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A 1500 is a great score and an 800 in Math is a perfect score. Given you are interested in a Math major, why bother retaking? I would suggest retaking if you had a lower Math score, but that isn’t your situation. Focus on other more important things at this stage.

I’m just worried that the admissions officer may believe that I may be lacking in grammatical skills, which is false since I scored a 720 on my old SAT grammar. I’m just worried they won’t consider my old score. If they will, then I will probably not retake.

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