I’ve just received my scores from the March SAT and am a bit conflicted about which score is better. I took both the ACT and the SAT only one time.
ACT: 35 composite (35 everything, 34 on math) and 9 on writing
SAT: 1550 composite (760 reading, 790 math) and 5/6/8 on writing
Which score is a better score to send? Also, how strong of a writing score is 5/6/8? I find a bit strange that I managed a perfect score in essay writing, but a 5 and 6 in reading and analysis, respectively.
Thanks in advance!
EDIT: My parents would still like for me to retake the SAT, any more ideas on ways to politely let them know it would be a waste of my time? I appreciate all the suggestions on my last thread.
Compare your percentile ranking to see if the scores are equivalent. The composites appear equivalent to me. Not sure about the writing scores.
Just a parental opinion here, and reader of lots of CC threads, but even if you got a 1600 on the SAT next time, won’t make much difference. Can’t imagine it would hurt, though, or hurt just to try. Also, depends on they type of school you want to go to. Some automatic scholarships based on scores, so you would need to check the thresholds.
Send both. They are both excellent and colleges will see that you clearly have ability.
I replied to your other thread. Show them my letter. There is NO, I repeat NO, reason for you to retake the test. Both your writing scores are absolutely fine for any college, and that includes HYPSM.
I’m going to say it again, and your parents need to know this: you run a HUGE risk of doing worse on both tests by retaking. You WILL have to submit all scores to the highly competitive schools you want to apply to. A 36 and a 1600 are not going to improve your chances, but a 33 and a 1500 might hinder your chances, because colleges might think you are an obsessive test taking drone. They don’t want obsessive test takers. With your writing scores, they can see that you know how to write. Not one college will care if you improve the writing score. Both writing scores are good. Stop while you are ahead.
Do not take any more ACT or SAT 1 tests. Your parents are going to screw up your chances, quite frankly. Get your counselor involved. You’ve already been told all of this on your other thread.
@reallypanicked Slightly different take. Check the Common Data Set at each school you are applying to, and send the score that is relatively higher at that particular school. For example, at Harvard https://oir.harvard.edu/files/huoir/files/harvard_cds_2017-18.pdf Section C9, a 35 ACT composite is 75th percentile while it takes a 1590 SAT to hit 75th.