<p>I was very very happy with my writing. After the test i was almost sure i had gotten at least 2100, maybe even 2200. But, alas, i had made 3 simple errors on the math, but after inquiring with the critical reading i saw that i had done well... I was thinking that i would get 740-760 math 710-730 writing depending on the essay. I had recently studied very hard for writing i had dropped my errors from around 11-12 down to 5-7. The extra effort paid off, but i did not study so much for verbal only took practice tests. Usually practice tests were great indicators of my score, but i recently got a 2060 and 2130 on my practice test 3 weeks and 2 weeks before the june test. But, i got sick the last week and couldnt study :(. But, during that time i got 650 on Critical reading, and 740 the last time... i was overwhelmed by the 700+ CR... 5 wrong (2 on the passage) My sentence completions are good, but the passage usually kills me. I think i can possibly get it to 700(my CR) if i get consistent. and if i cut down on math i can easily get 750+(around 780,800) and writing... ill be happy to keep that 720.. i knew i had written a brilliant essay and was so happy that i proceeded by absolutely crushing the next writing section. By starting out so well, i guess it gave me some confidence. But, i know i can raise my Critical reading. a 2090 is a decent score for ivy's... not the greatest, but i still have a shot, and wont go into the rejection pile... But, i would have loved to have 720 for CR instead of writing since most colleges still only count those 2. Do you think this will change and they will start to count writing more? I really want to go to Stanford and will do anything to raise my chances. I know its the 4th time and its not recommended, but if i can improve it to 2200 would it be worth it?</p>
<p>Also im probably going to apply early and i need to retake my subject tests and my SAT I if i choose to... i Got 710 on math IIC, which was a joke since im great at math.. and 680 on history with just AP prep. If i only have time to retake one, which one would be more beneficial? Thanks for reading this, and i appreciate any advice you can give me!</p>
<p>Backfire, I don't think you should take the SAT for the fourth time. The June SAT math was considered by many professional SAT tutors to be much easier than any of the SAT exams administered since the new SAT came out. Your math score has already gone up significantly with the June exam and it should be fine. Your critical reasoning has however stayed stagnant all three times. No one can speculate if the Math in October on the SAT will be difficult like April, or easier (ie. not requiring a multi step process) like June. Bear in mind, that even when the math is easier, many still make inadvertant errors. Also, when the math is difficult and even though the scale/curve may be easier, many feel pressured by time constraints and this can affect their score. While you could improve in critical reasoning, it is possible that if you take the SAT again in October that your math score will decline and that your critical reasoning score will once again stay the same. Taking the SAT four times might appear to a school like Stanford that you dont have the confidence in your scores. While they count the highest scores in each section, it will not help you if your math score returns to where it was originally, as you will have had that similar score three times. I do agree however that your critical reasoning score is on the low side for Stanford, although you could still get accepted with that score, especially if you have some interesting/unique extracurriculars that show unusual talent, passion and/or leadership, or other hooks such as being a legacy or recruite athlete, or the admissions commmittee is moved by your essay.
My advice to you would be to take the ACT in the fall, and see how you do. If you do much better on the reading part of the ACT I would submit both the ACT and the SAT scores. If your overall ACT score is higher, they will count that instead of your composite SAT score. If however your ACT score is the same overall, but shows a higher score in critical reasoning than you performed on the SAT, that could also help you.
I would not recommend submitting the ACT instead of your SAT scores because you will not be able to send your SAT subject tests, and also the colleges would not get to see your 730 in Math. If you could, I would take the ACT to supplement your SAT scores</p>
<p>thank you for your advice. I appreciate you taking the time to read through it.</p>
<p>Now, I must admit that 730 is still quite a disappointment for me in math. On all the practice tests that i have taken i have never gotten more than 2 or 3 wrong. I do not worry about those scores falling because Math is the only thing im sure of. I know how to solve any problems and am probably going to major possibly in engineering.</p>
<p>However, i dont believe that i have hook and thus am troubled by my 640. The last practice test that i took showed that i was capable of getting 700+ if i could only focus. Now, my vocabulary is good, and it is hard to raise that part of my score already, but my passage reading is awful. I regularly get 10-12+ errors on the passage reading and it is killing my score.</p>
<p>Now, about the ACT, i looked at the test a couple months ago and decided it was not for me. I just plain out dont like the test and what the ACT is trying to measure. Its hordes of easy problems in a constrained time limit. I have a personal grudge against ACT. Plus i doubt ill be able to score a 2090 conversion on the ACT which is like a 32. But, i could take it just for reading.</p>
<p>I understand what your basically saying. If i can improve significantly I should retake it, but it is a big risk. But, i dont have to worry about it that much since ive already sent out my sat scores. Now, if i do bad on the October SAT i could just keep the scores and not let any colleges know about them right?</p>
<p>it really depends on the deadlines
for some early decisions they will only accept the score if you send it to the college at the time that you take it
if that is not the case you can get your score and then send score reports if you want to</p>
<p>it's critical reading, not critical reasoning</p>
<p>you really are quite the expert on the SAT, considering you know the names of all the sections</p>
<p>backfire,
you improved from 1870 to 2090. that's 210 points. well done!
unfortunately, that's as far as you can take it without looking like a fool. harvard says that "taking tests more than twice offers diminishing returns," so you were really pushing it by taking the test a third time. if you want to improve your chances, study a lot BEFORE you take the ACT, so you don't have to take it more than once</p>
<p>and also...I'd like evidence of what you're claiming here:</p>
<p>
[quote]
The June SAT math was considered by many professional SAT tutors to be much easier than any of the SAT exams administered since the new SAT came out.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>I think he has every right to nit pick at that...because 'critical reasoning' is completely irrelevant</p>