Retake High SAT?

[Anonymous]

He think he should be able to do better at verbal, is 730 low score for him?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:He think he should be able to do better at verbal, is 730 low score for him?

It’s possible. The conventional wisdom is that the verbal section is harder to improve on with tutoring than math, because it’s hard to teach reading comprehension over a short period of time. However — the SAT is set up differently than the ACT, but my kid (who took the ACT) was able to make a considerable improvement on the English (grammar) portion (he brought it up from a 30 to a 35). He already had a 36 on reading, and he can write well, but the format of the grammar questions tripped him up somehow the first time around. He was being tutored to bring his math score up (which also worked), but I think they spent one session on grammar and it made a dramatic difference. He also spent part of one or two sessions with the tutor on Science, and brought his score up from a 33 to a 35. I would look at the details of the questions he missed and see if they are the type that would lend themselves to some “tips and tricks” from a tutor (e.g., grammar vs. reading comprehension”).

[Anonymous]

It is totally insane. My kid is on the same math track. Took multi var and diff eq last year and taking linear algebra and complex analysis this year as a senior. Got 1530 on 1st sat and decided to take again for 2 reasons: 1, it was free (school announced free test after she had already signed up and paid for first one). 2. Applying to some tippy top schools for which it might make a difference. Also, 1530 had a high math, so retaking also seemed a good bet for raising verbal. Result was a 1570.

So, I guess it depends on where he is applying, really. 1530 is a great score, but it does affect the scattergram chances at some schools. It's all a matter of what matters more. Good luck@

He could improve verbal, would have to study a lot of grammar, will leave it up to him.

He will probably go back to HS (from CC) for math senior year and take AP Stats for several reasons. It's already hard to find small (only Williams and Harvey Mudd) and medium size schools which is his preference to meet math needs - not considering Cal Tech. Any safety has to be a large university. And HS has a very good Stats teacher who also sponsors math team and it will give him more time for applications. Where is your child applying?

[Anonymous]

NP. DC also got 1530 on first try and wanted to retake. Didn’t prep for the second one and got 1570. I am sceptical if a higher score would make any difference but since DC spent little extra effort on it I see no harm

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:He think he should be able to do better at verbal, is 730 low score for him?

It’s possible. The conventional wisdom is that the verbal section is harder to improve on with tutoring than math, because it’s hard to teach reading comprehension over a short period of time. However — the SAT is set up differently than the ACT, but my kid (who took the ACT) was able to make a considerable improvement on the English (grammar) portion (he brought it up from a 30 to a 35). He already had a 36 on reading, and he can write well, but the format of the grammar questions tripped him up somehow the first time around. He was being tutored to bring his math score up (which also worked), but I think they spent one session on grammar and it made a dramatic difference. He also spent part of one or two sessions with the tutor on Science, and brought his score up from a 33 to a 35. I would look at the details of the questions he missed and see if they are the type that would lend themselves to some “tips and tricks” from a tutor (e.g., grammar vs. reading comprehension”).

How many tutoring sessions your child had? Can you also let us know who the tutor was?

[Anonymous]

Wait, your kid has told his/her friends his SAT score? And these kids have told your child to retake? This post cannot be real. If it is real, talk to the guidance counselor, not some 17 year olds.

[Anonymous]

Mine was one and done with high 1400s. School counselor said it is enough for every school on DC's list and Naviance backs that up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wait, your kid has told his/her friends his SAT score? And these kids have told your child to retake? This post cannot be real. If it is real, talk to the guidance counselor, not some 17 year olds.

Nothing unreal or abnormal about kids sharing their SAT scores with each other and discussing admission strategies. My DC with similar score (1540/780E/760M) has done that and contemplating retaking SAT.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wait, your kid has told his/her friends his SAT score? And these kids have told your child to retake? This post cannot be real. If it is real, talk to the guidance counselor, not some 17 year olds.

Nothing unreal or abnormal about kids sharing their SAT scores with each other and discussing admission strategies. My DC with similar score (1540/780E/760M) has done that and contemplating retaking SAT.

Yes, there is something wrong with it. These kids are under too much pressure and sharing their high SAT scores is for one reason only--to humble brag and in most instances make others around them feel bad. Teach them to do better. None of my kids or their friends talk about grades or SAT scores. But, they're normal and not super nerds, so maybe that's why.

[Anonymous]

I know this gets discussed on dcum, but I really do not understand how so many posters seem to have kids who scored 1500 and above. I wonder if the percentiles of students with those scores have skyrocketed and the percentiles one reads on rhe acollege Board site are just out of date. (and yes I realize this is an educated area but no more so than nyc, boston, san fran, etc and most of the state of nj, haha).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wait, your kid has told his/her friends his SAT score? And these kids have told your child to retake? This post cannot be real. If it is real, talk to the guidance counselor, not some 17 year olds.

Nothing unreal or abnormal about kids sharing their SAT scores with each other and discussing admission strategies. My DC with similar score (1540/780E/760M) has done that and contemplating retaking SAT.

Yes, there is something wrong with it. These kids are under too much pressure and sharing their high SAT scores is for one reason only--to humble brag and in most instances make others around them feel bad. Teach them to do better. None of my kids or their friends talk about grades or SAT scores. But, they're normal and not super nerds, so maybe that's why.

Apparently, you were never taught to do better.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wait, your kid has told his/her friends his SAT score? And these kids have told your child to retake? This post cannot be real. If it is real, talk to the guidance counselor, not some 17 year olds.

I wish it wasn't real. I strongly discouraged him from discussing scores with his friends, but surprise teenage boys don't always listen. And guidance counselor at public school is much to busy and would somewhat rightfully think it was a crazy question.

[Anonymous]

Kids know whether their close friends care about this discussion or not. My son and his friends talked about scores. They have all different levels of abilities and different talents, and he said his friends' scores ranged from 1100 to 1600. They are not threatened by each others abilities, and they support each other, and are helping each other through the application process. They attend six different high schools and are sharing resources and information. It isn't a competition. They are friends.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wait, your kid has told his/her friends his SAT score? And these kids have told your child to retake? This post cannot be real. If it is real, talk to the guidance counselor, not some 17 year olds.

Nothing unreal or abnormal about kids sharing their SAT scores with each other and discussing admission strategies. My DC with similar score (1540/780E/760M) has done that and contemplating retaking SAT.

Yes, there is something wrong with it. These kids are under too much pressure and sharing their high SAT scores is for one reason only--to humble brag and in most instances make others around them feel bad. Teach them to do better. None of my kids or their friends talk about grades or SAT scores. But, they're normal and not super nerds, so maybe that's why.

Or, they are just speaking with friends about what is going on in their lives. Testing and college admissions is a big part of senior year. No reason to assume they are trying to make people feel badly. Your response is obnoxious.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Kids know whether their close friends care about this discussion or not. My son and his friends talked about scores. They have all different levels of abilities and different talents, and he said his friends' scores ranged from 1100 to 1600. They are not threatened by each others abilities, and they support each other, and are helping each other through the application process. They attend six different high schools and are sharing resources and information. It isn't a competition. They are friends.

+1