Serious question - should junior retake 1540 SAT
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Anonymous
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Junior took October SAT for first time and got 1540- 780 verbal and 760 math. They didn’t do a ton of prep (but did do some practice tests and a little Khan academy) but are a bit disappointed in the Math score and had been doing better than 760 in practice
I get that 1540 would be competitive at most schools but should they do the last paper SAT in Dec to see if they go up a bit in math ? They’d like to be done m, but their interests are CS, Econ, public policy Other option is to see how they did on digital psat and maybe just do the digital SAT in March - but the technical issues and blackbox score algorithm are a little off putting |
Anonymous
| I’d give it another shot to raise the math unless my first choice was a school that wants to see every exam taken like Georgetown. CS is crazy competitive. If not CS or engineering at T20, I would not retake. |
Anonymous
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A 760 math is essentially statistically the same as an 800 (missed only 1 question) and so I wouldn't retake it, unless there were a specific 800 only scholarship or something.
What would be the goal? 1540 is like in the 97th percentile of test takers. |
Anonymous
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No, he should focus on bolstering other areas of his profile, because the selective schools that routinely receive that type of score are likely to ding him for not having stellar extra-curriculars, community engagement etc. |
Anonymous
| Part of it would depend on where they are applying. If they are otherwise a stellar candidate and have a shot at those lottery schools, and want to take it, I'd retake. If they are kid who is more balanced, and aren't aiming for the very top, then I probably wouldn't. |
Anonymous
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1540 works for every school except MIT, CMU CS, and JHU.
and a 760 is not the same as missing one question. you could miss one question on the Oct 2023 and get an 800. look into the curve. I think 760 was probably -5. |
Anonymous
Since this is a junior year score, I'd have him take the test towards the end of Jr. year. Maybe August. Kids mature some more and may do better. Also, summer gives you time to prepare. |
Anonymous
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I don’t think having more time to mature is going to help. They are in multivariable calc and it’s more that some of the math (like geometry) is from a long time ago and hasn’t really resurfaced much. They did get a 5 on the AP BC calc exam last year
I think it probably makes sense to try again just because an extra 20 points might matter in CS, even though it wouldn’t matter elsewhere … |
Anonymous
| Hell no. |
Anonymous
20 points = opportunity cost. again, if you're applying to MIT or CMU or JHU (later two for CS), then they want to see that 800 in math. otherwise, if you're thinking of doing even minimal prep plus test that's 15-20 hours at least and that could have probably been better spent getting an A- into an A in your junior year. |
Anonymous
| Jesus. Will your kid ever be good enough for you? |
Anonymous
+1. I’m just hoping that OP is staging a humble brag. Otherwise I feel very sorry for her child. |
Anonymous
| I can’t believe you’re even posting this. I’m thinking this might be a troll post. If not, I’m seriously embarrassed for you. |
Anonymous
I hope your kid likes math because otherwise this kind of pushing (BC calc in 10th grade, suggesting a retake of a 760 math score) is honestly abusive parenting. 
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Anonymous
| Of course not. |