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I was wondering if the schools that require 3 Sat 2s will only see your top 3. If I take 4, will the lowest one not really be taken under consideration? Would you then recommend only taking your 3 strongest? Would taking more than 3 and doing well on them all show well roundedness? Which ones are the most impressive? Thanks.

By Firebird12637 (Firebird12637) on Monday, September 01, 2003 - 03:09 pm: Edit

they see all ur scores...good and bad...

By Takingiteasy (Takingiteasy) on Monday, September 01, 2003 - 03:31 pm: Edit

So if i take 5 SAT II's then they'll see the lowest 2 even if they ask for only 3? My top 3 are high 750-800 but i had to take 2 other ones that i didn't plan to and got a 690. How will that affect me?

By Ageorgis (Ageorgis) on Monday, September 01, 2003 - 04:23 pm: Edit

Takingiteasy, well if you plan on entering the Institution and majoring in something that is related to the tests you scored 750+ in, I don't think your 2 low scores will really matter. 690 is high enough to show colleges that you can handle subjects that aren't your strong point above average, but the 750+ scores also show that you can accel to the top in what your strong points are.

By Fee12345 (Fee12345) on Monday, September 01, 2003 - 04:25 pm: Edit

isnt is excell?

By Vigo (Vigo) on Monday, September 01, 2003 - 04:29 pm: Edit

No, it's excel.

By Fee12345 (Fee12345) on Monday, September 01, 2003 - 04:30 pm: Edit

ouch... hheehe

By Ageorgis (Ageorgis) on Monday, September 01, 2003 - 04:41 pm: Edit

That's what I get for thinking ahead of myself Too much on my mind, school starts tomorrow!

By Thenarrator (Thenarrator) on Monday, September 01, 2003 - 05:15 pm: Edit

They see all 5, but they should only take the 3 you wrote on the application into consideration. Unless the oher 2 scores are extremely low (and your's isn't), it shouldn't have much affect on you application.

By Soozievt (Soozievt) on Monday, September 01, 2003 - 05:48 pm: Edit

My daughter is putting down all the scores she got on her five SAT2s. I would not just write three down if you took more cause they do get the score report from the Collegeboard and they will see all scores anyway. Also she took the SATI twice. On the application ,they ask for test scores and dates. She is putting down both sets of scores from both dates even though the second time was 100 points higher. Afterall, again the adcoms will get the score report which lists all scores taken anyway. HOWEVER, in considering your app, as most would agree, the adcoms look at your highest SATI score. And with SAT2s, I think they mostly consider your top three scores. If you read the book, A is for Admission by Hernandez, she explains how top tier schools figure what is called the Academic Index for each applicant. This "score" or index is compiled by a formula that uses your class rank, your SATI scores, and your top three SAT2 scores. So, while your app should include all scores since your official score report will anyway, I think when considering your stats, they will look at your best SATI score and your top three SAT2 scores. That is how her book explains it.

Susan

By Jamimom (Jamimom) on Monday, September 01, 2003 - 07:22 pm: Edit

Most schools have their first readers summarize your file. The test score section is based on your 3 top Sat2s and your top SAT verbal and math.Everyone does not look at everything in your file everytime. However if it come to a close exam of your file, they will look at all of those SAT2s. If you want to be a science major and your bio score is very low, well, it can have an effect. My child's school is recommending that you take practice tests first and not to take a test if you do not score satisfactorily, Especially if it is a subject related to your field of interest. Now that score choice is obliterated those tests are there for anyone to see if it comes to that. On the other hand a low Math score for an English major or a low Lit score for an Engineering major is not going to hurt.

By Zingares (Zingares) on Monday, September 01, 2003 - 08:10 pm: Edit

The sat IIs are weighted right? I heard that for the math IIC you can get around 10 wrong and still get close to 800, if not 800. Is this true for all the tests? Do you think having taken the course at an AP level and doing well (above 90) in that course would have you prepared for the satIIs?

By Soozievt (Soozievt) on Monday, September 01, 2003 - 11:03 pm: Edit

I think taking challenging math courses and doing well in them help prepare you for the SAT2s. However, I think you still need to practice the SAT2 math tests cause each kind of test is different. The type of questions may differ, or the format. Just as an example along the lines of what you just asked....
My daughter has accelerated in math beyond what anyone normally can do at our high school. She completed Calculus as a junior (I realize this can be done elsewhere but is not normal at our school). We do not have AP here. However, their final exam was an old AP test. On that she got a 5 (only counted for her school grade, not official AP). She also was the top calculus student in the school and won math awards and women in engineering awards, etc. etc.She took the AP exam for Calculus AB even though our school's course is not an AP course. She got a 4 on it. She is taking Calc. BC through Johns Hopkins this year as there are no math courses left to take in our high school. In May, on the SATI in math, she got a 780. She took the SAT2 Math IIc in June but did not have time to prepare with all the final projects and exams for school at that time of year, plus a full load of ECs. She got a 690 on it. While that is a respectable score, it is not in keeping as much with the 780 on the SAT or the AP score of 4. So, she is retaking the SAT 2 Math IIc this Oct.

So, whether she is normal or not, this is an example of how yes, on the one hand your AP course will help you understand the math for Math IIc, it would still help to practice the SAT2 exam to be familiar with it and so forth. Hope that helps a bit.
Susan

By Zorro5280 (Zorro5280) on Tuesday, September 02, 2003 - 03:23 pm: Edit

Here's a spin...has anyone heard if putting down both Math IC & Math IIC is bogus? I took them both & did very well. They represent two of my top three SAT II scores. But does listing these two, as opposed to tossing one out on the app (yes, I know when they get the transcript from the Colege Board it will list everything) and replacing it with my #4 best, make me look limited?

By Soozievt (Soozievt) on Tuesday, September 02, 2003 - 04:52 pm: Edit

I still think you should list all SAT2 scores taken. My daughter is on her early app and I see there are lines to allow for all five of the SAT2 test scores she took. I think to just list your best scores is not what the question is asking.Same with SAT1s. I mean even for that test, they do not give you one blank on the app but allow for about three test dates. I think to not list it all is not answering the question and is a moot point anyway since all scores appear on the official report. Also when the reader reads your file, they usually consider the top scores you took. So, that person will note it. No, I do not think putting down just the MATH I and IIc will show limitations of you. It really does not matter. List them all and they will see you are strong in math. I think your decision of which to list is quite moot as they will see all the scores anyway. If I were an adcom, and someone just listed some of their scores, I would think they were not trying to be complete. Why don't you list the top SAT2 tests you took first, and then on down? My daughter did that and noted the dates.
Susan

By Soozievt (Soozievt) on Tuesday, September 02, 2003 - 04:54 pm: Edit

What I meant above is the question asks you to list all tests taken and scores and dates, NOT list your best three SAT2 tests. Just like it does not ask for your top SAT1 score but to list all tests and dates. Do not worry, as they likely will take your best three when configuring your academic index.
Susan

By Texas137 (Texas137) on Tuesday, September 02, 2003 - 05:24 pm: Edit

Most schools want a particular 3 SAT II scores - maybe something like 1 math, 1 science, 1 humanities/writing. So if all 3 of your highest scores are science,say, you'll still need 2 more.

Students planning to take calculus in high school should try to take the math SAT II before they start calculus. The math SAT II's cover only topics from courses prior to calculus. So calculus will not help you, and may hurt you because you will be further away from the algebra, geometry, trig, etc. which is on the exam.

By Takingiteasy (Takingiteasy) on Tuesday, September 02, 2003 - 11:15 pm: Edit

Hmm thanks a lot for all the ppl's input. Well the two i scored low in were world hist and physics so i guess it'll be okay since i got writing and math and chem.

By Soozievt (Soozievt) on Tuesday, September 02, 2003 - 11:43 pm: Edit

Texas, you make a good point about the math SATII for kids who already have studied calculus. I am wondering if that scenario affected my daughter somewhat. She excels in math and has accerated beyond what normally can be done at our high school, and so finished Calculus junior year. She did well on the SATI Math (780) and on AP exam, though our course is not called AP. Then in June at the end of junior year she took the SATII MATH IIC and got 690 which is not really bad but just not really in keeping with her other math stats. I am wondering if some of that can be attributed to that the material covered was from so long ago for her. Things like algebra and geometry were back in middle school. Also, honestly she did not get to prepare as the exam was in the midst of finals and projects and all that end of year stuff. She has decided to retake it this Oct. and take some practice tests to just get back into whatever it is that SATII covers in math.

Susan

By Soozievt (Soozievt) on Tuesday, September 02, 2003 - 11:46 pm: Edit

Oops...it is late and I was just responding to Texas' point/suggestion regarding taking SATII in math once you have taken calculus. I did not realize that I had posted earlier about my daughter's math scores in this regard and am sorry to have repeated it on this thread. I only read the latest post and did not go back and review this thread. My bad.
Susan

By Zorro5280 (Zorro5280) on Wednesday, September 03, 2003 - 10:27 am: Edit

I have seen a few apps that only appear to have room for three SAT II score listings. Isn't that how this thread got started? If you're filling it out my hand, OK; but if you're trying for a PDF/type-in type thing, will one be able to type in more than 3? I'm totally fine with listing all I've taken (6).

By Julydreamz (Julydreamz) on Sunday, April 25, 2004 - 04:06 pm: Edit

Hi, I'm the oldest in my family and I'm not sure if I what I plan on doing is ok. I already took the chem sat 2 at the end of 10th grade and only got 670. I don't know if I should take AP chem when I'm a senior, but if I did do you think I should retake the sat 2 in the fall? I'm not too sure because I want to go for pre-med in college and I know I have to take organic chemistry, so do you think that low score will turn me away? In June, I also plan to take the English writing, the Math 2C and the Physics. I was wondering if you think I should hold off on the math until the fall of my senior year so I should take something else like US History. Thank-you.