<p>So, I am taking my final subject test tomorrow. I will be taking physics. Here is my dilemma. I am not ready for it, whatsoever. I bought a prep book and worked my way through most of it but it's not sticking around in the old noggin. So, you ask, why would I take a test I'm not prepared to take? MIT told me to...</p>
<p>I took chem my sophomore year and probably should have taken that subject test; hindsight is 20/20. Now, I took Physics last year, as a Junior, but it was not AP. My school recently moved away from the curriculum so we moved at a very peculiar pace and dwelled on interesting topics (I spent a month putting together the perfect 15 minute presentation on string theory). I did very well in the course too. I'm even taking the second track physics course, what was formerly AP Phys C this year.</p>
<p>So, now I am worried that I'll look pretty dumb with a low 700 on the subject test after nearly four full semesters of physics. Ultimately, how much emphasis is put on these subject tests? </p>
<p>I applied EA and have to send these scores regardless. Just so I don't seem like a fluke, all my other test scores are at or above the upper quartile for MIT</p>
<p>I, too, am curious about this. I’m taking Cell/Molecular Biology and Biochemistry next semester, but I’ve been really unsatisfied with my Biology Subject Test score. I’m not sure what the deal is, but my advanced courses aren’t translating into high scores. Does the admissions committee evaluate test scores in combination with coursework? One of the reasons I applied to MIT was because admissions weren’t so formulaic (i.e. test score-oriented). I hope that with low 700s I can still pull it off.</p>
<p>You guys worry way too much about this. Not that I blame you - I was worried about my scores too, back in the day Seriously, 700s is nothing to worry about.</p>
<p>To answer Pharyngula’s ponderings, yes, they absolutely take coursework into context. Some people aren’t good standardized test takers. It turns out some of that skill set isn’t important to being an awesome engineer. If your scores were actually low enough to be concerned about, other parts of your application could show that you have strength in that area.</p>
<p>But y’all don’t have low enough scores to be concerned about :)</p>
<p>Let me make something really clear. People in admissions know the different things that could have happened. I mean, regardless what school , if they aren’t totally dumb. </p>
<p>That means they know there’s a good chance some people with a 700 could have gotten an 800 if they studied for the test more closely, and their classes were based more closely on the test.</p>
Seriously, 700s is nothing to worry about.</p>