jyhan1001

My first score was in the 1900s, so I thought, I better study!
The second one was not bad but still pretty low for good colleges.
The third one which I took this October was pretty satisfactory for me, and if I
super score all the scores I have
CR 690 M 800 W 690...
I signed up for the December Essay to get over 2200, but some people say
that colleges that look at all the scores might not like a student who took the SAT
too many times (like, more than three...).
So, what should I do?
Retake, or cancel?
Oh, and if I should cancel the test, how do I do that?
I looked through Collegeboard website, but I only saw how to cancel the scores and not
the actual test... Do I have to take it and then cancel it or something?

arcadefire1027

Nope, I don't think you should take it more than 3 times. I definitely feel like it would reflect negatively on your application to schools that want to see all results.

pumpkins

I think you have to cancel by phone

Duke99

I think if u cancel before the test, some of the money will be refunded

bclintonk

If I were you, I'd retake. You're very, very close to breaking into the 700s in CR and W, and any number that starts with a "7" is going to look far better than any number that begins with a "6." Your 800 M is impressive, your CR+M of 1490 is very good, and so is your CR+M+W of 2180. But these are "lopsided" scores, suggesting you're much stronger in math than in anything on the verbal side, and that will jump out at adcoms as they review your scores, meaning you may have a tough time getting into any of the small handful of elite colleges that require you to report all scores anyway. You should be aware that high M scores are much more common than high CR scores---there are nearly twice as many M 800s as CR 800s, and 60% more M 750+ as CR 750+; so high math scores are not exactly at a premium at the msot selective schools. This doesn't apply to engineering and other technical disciplines, however, where the M score is going to weigh more heavily.

You're not likely to get up into the 750+ CR range. But having your CR and W scores start with a "7" instead of a "6" will at least soften the perceived imbalance. There's a trade-off here and it's a close call, but in my judgment the benefit of potentially strengthening your applications to colleges that let you use Score Choice outweighs the marginal harm at schools that require you to submit all scores, as the latter are going to see all those scores beginning in "6" anyway. Of course, that assumes you think you really can break the 700 barrier in CR and/or W.

monstor344

Agreed with bclintonk. If you can boost the CR to the 700s then it is absolutely worth retaking a fourth time. What types of schools are you applying to? Highly selective I assume, but are you looking at engineering programs?

appdad

A difference of 10 points is worthless! Adcoms read hundreds of applications I do not think they consider a 690 to be any better or worse than a 700. Are your scores in the middle 50% of the majority of the schools on your list?

jyhan1001

I'm applying to most of the top 20 schools, and for some of the schools I am in the middle 50%....I think I can get more than 700 for writing, but I'm not so sure about critical reading. I want to major in biology not engineering, and I'm not still sure whether I should take the December SAT. I applied early to Brown, and I'm applying to Notre Dame, Northwestern, Johns Hopkins, Rice, UC Berkeley, and some other schools in that level. Should I just turn the computer off now and start delving into the blue book?

monstor344

^ I'd go for it, if you think you can raise your CR score. A Writing score increase is nice but a CR score increase is crucial. CR is the one schools care about more.

silverturtle

"Adcoms read hundreds of applications I do not think they consider a 690 to be any better or worse than a 700."

The psychological divide between a 690 and a 700 should not be underestimated.

Princess'Dad

NO!!! Adcoms like only 2 - 3 times and prefer only 2.

Take the ACT with writing. That is very accepted as some kids "test better" on one than the other. If you do well on it, they will ignore the SAT.

How were your SAT subject tests?

jyhan1001

I got 790 Math II 730 Chem 720 Bio and 800 Korean (I'm not sending this since I'm Korean...people told me that it would look bad.)
I registered for the December ACT...should I just study for the ACT then, and cancel
the December SAT?

silverturtle

"NO!!! Adcoms like only 2 - 3 times and prefer only 2."

Don't generalize; many schools' officers say the number of times is irrelevant.

monstor344

jyhan1001, any subject test with an 800 score can't possibly look bad. Native language or not it is still an accomplishment.

jyhan1001

okay...ah I just can't make up my mind!!!!!!!
retake, or not?