Which test to take in December SAT, SAT IIs, or the ACT?

<p>I'm a senior so this would be my last chance to take any tests. I'm not sure which one to register for. Here are my current scores:</p>

<p>SAT
Math 770
Critical Reading 580
Writing 670
Total 2020</p>

<p>I only have about 8 practice tests left and to be honest, with the amount of practice I've already done, I think my score can only go up to maybe a 800 in math (if I'm lucky), a 600 in reading, and a 720ish in writing. This is the highest I've ever scored on a practice test. </p>

<p>SAT IIs
Math I: 780
Math II: 700
Chemistry: I don't even want to say it but its in the 500s. (My school doesn't have the strongest science department)</p>

<p>I have never taken the ACT before. </p>

<p>I already have the sat score to most of the engineering schools I'm applying to except maybe the reaches which are Carnegie Mellon and Cornell engineering.</p>

<ol>
<li>Which test(s) should I take in December?</li>
<li>Do you think its okay to take the SAT a 3rd time in December just to see how it goes if I plan to do little studying this time?</li>
</ol>

<p>I don’t think you should take the SAT in December if you think you can only manage a 50-100 point increase and if your score is already good enough for most of your schools. Your subject tests are weak (two math scores isn’t as impressive as two separate subjects, and your chemistry score is below average), so I would highly recommend another one of those.</p>

<p>If your school’s science department isn’t strong, then perhaps consider taking literature or one of the history subject tests in December. Then again, if you’re looking into engineering, it might be worth it to study your butt off in the next month and earn a strong SAT physics score.</p>

<p>Taking the SAT and ACT are not mutually exclusive, so you could take the ACT as well if you think you would do better on it than you did on the SAT. Here’s a run-through of the differences: the ACT contains more straight-forward, curriculum-based questions, while the SAT’s questions are puzzle-like and reasoning-based. The ACT contains a science section and more advanced math (trig), but since you seem to be the STEM sort, that probably isn’t an issue. Also, no vocab on the ACT (yay!). However, the ACT is shorter and crunches you on time more, so you may not do better on that test if you normally run out of time on the SAT.</p>

<p>Bottom line: take another subject test, and if you decide that the ACT may be a better test for you, then go ahead and try it out too.</p>

<p>Yeah the key thing is that 3 of the schools I’m applying to require Sat subject tests and a few recommend it and a good amount make it optional. Also which math score do you think is better the math I or math II?</p>

<p>I’ve been so use to the Sat that I feel like trying to take it to raise reading by about 30 points and writing by about 50 points but I’m not sure if it is worth it and how much of a difference it would make.</p>

<p>bump bump bump</p>

<p>I think you should go for the SAT IIs if you think your current scores are good enough for your schools. The math level II is given a higher weight. If you want to take the level II and a science once more, then by all means, do so. I think this would be more beneficial.</p>

<p>But if you want to take the SAT once more, it is acceptable to take it a third time.</p>