<p>My D wasn't particularly happy with her SAT scores (CR 710, M 680, W 690, Essay 11) and plans to take it again. Math has always been her weaker score on standardized tests. I know her score of a 2080 is lower than many here, but I thought it was very good. Of course, with it being the new test, I'm not really sure what is fair, good or great. Does anyone have some specific suggestions on raising her math scores? I would happily get some tutoring for her this summer, but she will be gone for six weeks. She doesn't hate math, but she doesn't particularly like it. She has always done well in her math classes (A's), but doesn't enjoy them. She took Algebra I Honors in 8th grade, Geometry I Honors in 9th, Algebra II Honors in 10th and Advanced Algebra and Trig (no honors offered for that class) this year. She has chosen not to take a math class next year since she has already completed four years of high school math. I hope that won't hurt her chances of getting into a school she desires (at this point, Rhodes and Centre top her list), but there were other classes she much preferred to take.</p>
<p>So sorry to have droned on ... math suggestions, anyone? :)</p>
<p>A 2080 is an excellent score, top ~95%, nationally. But, for math practice, just obtain the SAT prep book from collegeboard -- it's likely she forgot some basic number rules since Alg I & Geom were soooo long ago. (One more correct bubble, and she would have scored 700.)</p>
<p>btw: Is Advanced Alg & Trig the equivalent of Pre-Calc? If not, then she might reconsider and take pre-calc, since many social sciences require at least that amount of math.</p>
<p>My opinion: her scores are great for both Rhodes and Centre, so I wouldn't go crazy worrying about a 10 point difference in math. The nice thing is her math scores are not SIGNIFICANTLY lower than her other scores, so it should NOT be a problem.</p>
<p>If she wants to take the test again just to see if she can bring it up, that's fine, but please tell her that she will do fine with those scores.</p>
<p>First of all - her score is very good. Congrats to your D!</p>
<p>If her GPA and rank are good, I think her math score is fine for Rhodes and Centre. Her weakest score is actually the multiple guess section of the writing. If she goes for a retake (maybe for scholarship money) she should work on that as well.</p>
<p>The thing I would be concerned with is not taking math senior year. Calling these schools and asking them about this specific item wouldn't hurt. </p>
<p>My SIL attended Centre - she loved it, met her H there, and still does alumni stuff. Great school!</p>
<p>
[quote]
btw: Is Advanced Alg & Trig the equivalent of Pre-Calc? If not, then she might reconsider and take pre-calc, since many social sciences require at least that amount of math.
[/quote]
This was of concern to me, too. Her GC assures us she should be fine with not taking another math class. DH and I agree it would be best if she did, but quite honestly, she really wants to take European History AP instead and doesn't have room in her schedule to allow for both. According to the school web site, level 5 is the highest level of math ... Adv. Algebra & Trig, Statistics, Pre-Cal, and Calculus are all listed there. Maybe she should e-mail the admissions people at the schools in which she is especially interested to see what they suggest. I don't want her to think the pushing comes from me or DH.</p>
<p>Thanks, all, for your input and suggestions. The more I read, the more I really do think she should contact some of the top schools on her list to check it out. Y'all are great! :)</p>
<p>1moremom: At risk of distorting the Xiggi method (and you may hear from The Great Man himself on this) the idea is to eschew the prep courses, get a book of actual SAT tests (used to be 10 Real SATs, now it's called something else) carve the tests in the book up into their various sections (M, CR & W) and do a section or two at a time, over and over again. </p>
<p>My experience is that the Xiggi method works. The lowest score my S got on any PSAT SAT test came after he took a prep course. The highest came after Xiggi-type practice.</p>
<p>Splashmom, I think emailing each schools admissions office is a very good idea. My daughter made the decision not to take a science class next year after talking with the admissions people at the various schools on her list: they all assured her that as long as her curriculum was strong in other areas (and I would think AP Euro would count as "strong), that dropping science would not count against her.</p>
<p>I just want to say thank you for acknowledging that 2080 is a great score-high national percentile. My son scored 1450 (750V/700M) on the "old" SAT-which placed him in the top 5% nationwide, and top 4% for his state-but from reading this site you'd think that made him a knuckle-dragging, too-stupid-to come-out of the rain nincompoop! His SAT2 wriitng score was 720, so that's an equivalent of 2170 on the new SAT. BTW-he was accepted ED to Columbia (the College, not SEAS) with these "low" scores, so while it's always advisablew to try to raise scores, I really think that once we get up to the 95%ile, colleges look at other factors, and the differeence between, say a 1450, and a `1550 is pretty minimal.</p>
<p>A</a> condensed version of the "Xiggi method"
The main points: Using 10RS or whatever new SAT book CB has put out,
[ul]
[<em>]Ignore time limits at first
[</em>]Make sure you know why the correct answer to each question is correct before you move on to another test.
[<em>]Keep track of what types of questions you are missing and their "difficulty" level.
[</em>]Based on what you've missed, go back and do targeted studying/review/practice
[<em>]Later, start simulating testing conditions with time limits, breaks etc
[</em>]Practice budgeting your time so you can finish the sections.
[/ul]</p>
<p>SplashMom, congrats to D. If she really wants to retake, then there's nothing better than practice, practice, practice. But honestly, I agree with others, I don't think it's necessary. And I agree w/GC too, since D's interests don't lie in that area.</p>