<p>I just got my May SAT2 score, 720 on USH, and am quite disappointed. I even took AP exam right before! :( this was my first time taking subj test, and I'm not sure if I should retake it or not. (I don't know if I'll able to achieve higher score...) </p>
<p>what do you guys think? Is 720 good enough? Or should I aim for mid-700~800?</p>
<p>Good for what? If you are applying to the most selective schools, they should be mid 700-800,. Some schools take a 5 part SAT total with 4000 being the top score, and the word I was hearing at my sons’ prep school was that 770 was what you needed with kids getting close to perfect. That’s why you see kids getting into some top schools with SAT1s that are not perfect while other kids with perfect SAT1s, denied. My son’s girlfriend was accepted to Harvard with 3 800s but her SAT1s weren’t at the 750 levels. It can make a difference. On the other hand if you get perfect SAT1s, you have more of a leeway on them.</p>
<p>If you are applying to schools that don’t requre SAT2s, and your SAT1s are in the upper ranges, those numbers are fine. It can also depend on whether the test in in an area associated with your major. If you are an engineering major, high SATs are important in the maths and physics, with lower scores in other subjects sometimes overlooked.</p>
<p>It all depends on the curves. Given how a 71/80 raw is an 800 for USH, 720 is not that good.</p>
<p>I’m considering retaking it…
What if the retaken score is worse than this? How bad will it look? :(</p>
<p>I think it depends on your priorities - do you have other tests to study for, or are you able to devote much time to USH? If it’s the latter, I definitely recommend a re-take; if not, then keep the 720.</p>