<p>I am applying to Andover, Exeter, Deerfield, and St. Paul's for 10th grade. I have a lot of great EC's that are unique and different. I have won a few prestigious awards and have an interesting past, etc. I took the December 11th SSAT and scored an overall 94% but my math score really isn't up to par. I scored 99% on verbal (800), 94% on reading, but a 66% on math. Math really isn't my strength, but I don't want it to be the factor that ruins my chances. Should I retake it in January?</p>
<p>No because the AO lookat Your application as a whole</p>
<p>@tuxedoKeys,
I would retake it to be safe. AOs at the schools you’re applying to like to see all sections above an 80%. Maybe one section in the 70’s wouldn’t kill you. And don’t think that you can’t raise your score. The first time I took the SSAT I got a 59% on math. The next time I took it I got a 78%. I would recommend getting a tutor. They help a lot! Good luck!</p>
<p>@ ifax108
Thanks for the advice. I probably will retake it, although I’m not looking forward to it because of the possibility of lowering my verbal and reading scores. I don’t know if I have time to get a tutor, or the money to pay for one. Is it very uncommon for someone to get into these schools with a math score as low as mine?</p>
<p>@ tuxedokeys: nope. someone here got into exeter (or was it SPS…) with a 50 something in math, but 90s in verbal and reading… math scores tend to be extremely inflated anyways, so i wouldn’t worry too much. if you have the money, it wouldn’t hurt to retake but if you got a high score overall i’m sure it won’t be too bad. testing is just one facet of your app anyways ~</p>
<p>if you have the money, i’d retake. i think most schools superscore (take the best score of each section, from several different tests) so if you get lower on verbal/reading, it’s alright-- i’d still be careful though, because if you got 99 in verbal the first time but 50th the second time, that’s showing rather alarming inconsistency imho</p>
<p>I agree with Exeterr and DiveAlive. </p>
<p>The AO is looking at your application at a whole. If you retake the SSAT, there is a chance that your math will improve to the 70s or 80s at the risk of reducing your verbal.</p>
<p>If you retake in January, I am not sure that the schools will receive your score by the application deadline.</p>
<p>“It takes approximately two weeks after you take the test for the schools to receive your score.”</p>