<p>I took the June 2009 SAT Reasoning test and scored 2230 (800 CR, 670 M, 760 W). I am very happy with this score, although feel I could do better on math and the Essay (8). </p>
<p>My question is this:
How will it look to colleges?</p>
<p>Do I take the test again, hoping to get a more balanced 2100-2150 and sending both scores, or not take it again to show that I got a 2230 on my first go-around?</p>
<p>I really don't want to run the risk of getting hammered come Fall, not wanting to send the score, and then losing the impressiveness of getting a 2230 right off the bat (because I'd have 'attempts: 2' on my transcript and only one score.) And yes, I know it shows the date of the test but I still feel like it would be much less emphatic I guess? I don't know...</p>
<p>Eric</p>
<p>PS Background:
- EC heavy
- not planning on majoring in math-related studies
- Schools: UVA, W&M, Mary Wash, other VA schools</p>
<p>The new policy is that you can choose whether or not to send your SAT scores. Colleges may not even know that you took it a second time (if you do). That being said, quite a few people take the SAT multiple times and receive lower scores their second try. As long as it’s not drastically lower, it won’t really affect you negatively because colleges look at SAT scores in ranges anyway. Also, some schools may superscore you, so you could end up with a higher score in the end after taking it twice.</p>
<p>Haha, our situation is nearly identical emmcdaniel… I took the June 2009 SAT and got 2260 with 800 CR, 680 M, and 780 W. This was the second time I took the test, and my score was a significant improvement over the first. </p>
<p>Alright, now onto my response. First, find out whether the schools you’re looking to apply to ‘superscore’. Superscoring is something many universities are beginning to embrace, it’s simply taking your highest section scores, regardless if they were from different tests, and combining them into one ‘super’ test. For example, if your first SAT score is 800 Cr, 670 M, and 760 W, but your second test is 780 CR, 730 M, and 780 W, then the a university which superscores will take the 800 CR from the first test and merge it with the 730 M and 780 W from the second test, creating the fantastic score of 2310. </p>
<p>This is important, because you don’t need to focus on reproducing your exceptional CR score. It is already locked away, and will be included on your superscore. Thus you can focus on raising your Math. </p>
<p>I don’t think taking it a second time and scoring within the same range with a higher math score but a non perfect CR will take away any impressiveness.</p>
<p>SO…</p>
<p>I think I’ve decided I am going to take it again come fall because of this whole ‘superscoring’ concept. Haha. I feel like with my resume and the schools I am applying to I should be fine either way <em>knocks on wood</em>, but it is a personal thing for me I think to up Math over 700 (not to mention the essay.) </p>
<p>Also, this article helped to subdue some of my ‘multiple attempts’ fears:
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/4198038-post1.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/4198038-post1.html</a></p>
<p>It is quite verbose but if you skip about halfway down, you get the message that you can take it as many times as you want really, according to Harvard.</p>
<p>UVA and William and Mary both superscore (yes!) and I think I’ve found a solid plan of action come October:
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/4470796-post10.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/4470796-post10.html</a></p>
<p>Thanks so much for all of your help.</p>
<p>Eric</p>
<p>The general rule with taking the SAT’s again is this: if you know you can do better, take it again. As you have made your decision, the only useful advice I can say is to do your best, but understand that you should not spend an excessive amount of time on preparation that other factors in the process are overlooked. Good luck!</p>
<p>You can probably take it again just to get more balanced scores. </p>
<p>When I first took the SATs, I got 2210 (670 CR, 800M, 730W). While a good score, I didn’t like how it was inbalanced so I took it again and received 2290 (770 CR, 740 M, 780 W). Superscoring from the two tests gave me 2350 (770 CR, 800M, 780 W), which looked much more balanced and was a significantly higher score.</p>
<p>I would say yes take it again if you want a better superscore since the math is lower. </p>
<p>“How will it look to colleges?”
Don’t worry about that too much, if you take the test a bunch of times then it shows you care enough to want to do good. Just take it until your satisfied…I took it 5 times between 7th grade and Junior year and it didn’t hurt me haha, dumbest decision ever I might add, just take the ACT…</p>
<p>If you cancel the score, or opt to use score choice, your score report will not include the number of times you attempted the test.</p>
<p>Check the colleges you are applying to now a days many colleges superscore, in other words, they will take the 800 from this one (since it can’t get better) and lets say you get a 760 on the Math in the next (but a 780 in CR). Your total score would be 1560, because they take the best of each section.</p>
<p>Also I would suggest taking the ACT, because you might do better, some kids do better on the ACT than the SAT and vise a verse. DS got a 34 on his ACT, but only 1390 out of 1600 on his SAT, colleges used his ACT for admissions since it was higher. DD got a 30 on ACT, but a 1360 out of 1600 on the SAT, thus they will most likely take her SAT for admission</p>
<p>If you think you can do better, then go for it. If you are able to perform better, then it will not only show your college of choice that you are smarter, but also demonstrate your drive for perfection.</p>