<p>Hi, I scored really really bad on CR (way worse than my normal range): 560
Would a good toefl score (105-110) and 800 Math II and Chem eclipse my CR score?</p>
<p>I only have October to take tests, so should I take the subject tests or should I retake the godforsaken SAT? If I retake i believe I can push it to at least 650
My full score: 2020 (M 700 Writing 760 CR 560 essay 12)</p>
<p>I apply to small LACs like St. Olaf, Providence, Denison,... But need a lot of aids since my family can only afford $15,000/year</p>
<p>Retake the SAT, if you can! They don’t look at your TOEFL once it’s 100+ so it can’t really boost your application.
Definitely take the subject tests, too, but the SAT is way more important.</p>
<p>Take the September ACT and the Subject tests in October.</p>
<p>@MYOS1634 I dont know anything yet about the ACT. Is its Reading easier or harder than the SAT’s? I heard that you barely have enough time to finish the Reading and Science sections.
If I start preping today, is it possible to make it in Sept?</p>
<p>The ACT is more intense. You have a total of 8-9 mn per text so you have to go very fast. In some ways it’s thus harder, but in others it’s easier: there’s no penalty for guessing; the questions are more straight forward and less focused on arcane vocabulary which can be helpful for non native speakers (it depends, of course, of the ways you learn and practice). Science is not like a subject test but more a skills test involving your ability to read graphs and chart, take logical steps, etc.
Yes if you start prepping today you can get a high(er) score in September, considering your current scores on the SAT.</p>
<p>I second MYOS’s suggestions about the ACT + SAT Subject Tests. I personally did extremely well on the ACT but would have struggled on the SAT. (I went from a projected SAT CR score in the 500-600 range to ACT English + Reading scores in the 30s.) </p>
<p>Like you, I initially had concerned about time pressure on the ACT. On my first practice test, I could only finish 2 of the 4 reading passages in the time allowed. Fortunately, a few hours of practice did wonders for me. In the end it came down to test-taking strategies: should you answer the questions while you read the text for the first time, or should you read the text first and then go back to answer the questions? Are there passages of text that are save to skim or skip? (I personally found that I did not need to read long descriptions of scenery, which saved me a few minutes.)</p>
<p>I struggled on the SAT mainly because of vocab. Since I preferred practicing reading speed and test taking strategies over memorizing long lists of vocab, the ACT was the better choice for me.</p>
<p>I did not have any problems with the ACT science section and did well without extra practice. </p>
<p>Thank you guys 
@b@r!um I thought the Science section is just like another Reading section but about Science?</p>
<p>Yes and no. The Science section does have reading parts, but they really just give you information that you’ll need to solve science problems later. For example, I had one science text about fog and clouds that described how dew points are calculated. And then I had a few questions that asked me to do some dew point calculations myself. Time pressure was not an issue for me on that section.</p>