SAT II Math 2 Score

[Anonymous]

For a student looking at top colleges, does one need an 800 on the Math 2 Subject Test, or is 750+ considered competitive? (Wondering whether to retake.) Thanks!

[Anonymous]

take the 750 unless DC is looking at engineering. If so, try again to raise it.

[Anonymous]

750 is the 79th percentile rank. Around 8 percent of test takers score 800. So it depends on the major. For a really competitive college majoring in STEM I would redo a 750. Did your kid take AMC?

[Anonymous]

Its just fine. Believe it or not they look at the whole kid and 50 points doesn't matter. Worry about the essay, and other aspects of his application.

[Anonymous]

Its just fine. Believe it or not they look at the whole kid and 50 points doesn't matter. Worry about the essay, and other aspects of his application.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:750 is the 79th percentile rank. Around 8 percent of test takers score 800. So it depends on the major. For a really competitive college majoring in STEM I would redo a 750. Did your kid take AMC?

When I looked at the most recent College Board data, the number of kids getting 800s on Mayh II was more like 20 percent and a 750 was a mod-60s percentile. Are you sure you were looking at Math II and not Math I?

[Anonymous]

Good feedback - thanks! I will look at percentiles on the College Board's web site. DC is likely not an engineering major, but possibly a math major.

DC knew coming out of the test that it had not gone as desired, and feels a re-take would improve the score, but I think there are other subject tests to try and also junior year is stressful enough without worrying about re-doing this.

The kid otherwise is a candidate for a top school - admissions at which seem to be almost lotteries nowadays - so I don't want to cut off that possibility.

Thanks again.

[Anonymous]

If he's a junior and wants to retake, I'd let him. If money's an issue, investigate fee waivers. Most schools require 2 SAT IIs and College Board lets you take 3 at a sitting, so there's no scheduling conflict wrt other subject tests. Math II won't involve study so much as a bit of practice. And if he hasn't already taken (or plans to retake) the regular SAT, this kind of practice that is likely to have positive spillover effects.

Conversely, if the kid didn't want to retake, I wouldn't push him. I agree that those 50 points are unlikely to be a dealbreaker. But college admissions is a process where kids don't feel they have a lot of control and where many fear, initially (at least), that they are likely to be judged and found wanting. So in a situation where the kid feels there's low-hanging fruit, it's less stressful to let him harvest it than to insist that other things are more important -- especially at a time when essays and such aren't due soon.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If he's a junior and wants to retake, I'd let him. If money's an issue, investigate fee waivers. Most schools require 2 SAT IIs and College Board lets you take 3 at a sitting, so there's no scheduling conflict wrt other subject tests. Math II won't involve study so much as a bit of practice. And if he hasn't already taken (or plans to retake) the regular SAT, this kind of practice that is likely to have positive spillover effects.

Conversely, if the kid didn't want to retake, I wouldn't push him. I agree that those 50 points are unlikely to be a dealbreaker. But college admissions is a process where kids don't feel they have a lot of control and where many fear, initially (at least), that they are likely to be judged and found wanting. So in a situation where the kid feels there's low-hanging fruit, it's less stressful to let him harvest it than to insist that other things are more important -- especially at a time when essays and such aren't due soon.

This is a wise and thoughtful analysis - thank you! The regular SAT is done and cost isn't an issue: I was concerned about the stress of preparing (again) for this subject test while also planning for one more. However, your point is very good that feeling a sense of control could be a good thing, and as a junior, it won't come at the expense of essays.

Thanks again!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If he's a junior and wants to retake, I'd let him. If money's an issue, investigate fee waivers. Most schools require 2 SAT IIs and College Board lets you take 3 at a sitting, so there's no scheduling conflict wrt other subject tests. Math II won't involve study so much as a bit of practice. And if he hasn't already taken (or plans to retake) the regular SAT, this kind of practice that is likely to have positive spillover effects.

Conversely, if the kid didn't want to retake, I wouldn't push him. I agree that those 50 points are unlikely to be a dealbreaker. But college admissions is a process where kids don't feel they have a lot of control and where many fear, initially (at least), that they are likely to be judged and found wanting. So in a situation where the kid feels there's low-hanging fruit, it's less stressful to let him harvest it than to insist that other things are more important -- especially at a time when essays and such aren't due soon.

Absent an of the DC to dive into a Chemical engineer major etc. SAT Subject Math II score as you have noted is in no way going to be deal breaker/maker in the admissions process. DC will need to have a lot of other pluses for that type of major (if that's DC's intent and if its not then the score is fine). Avoid the stress of a retake.