SAT 2 dilemma

dlfghldyd · 10-29-2009, 12:49 PM

math 2 790
biology 710
lit 630

So far these are my scores. I've registered for a subject test next Saturday. Which test should i take?

I think I have a fair chance of improving my bio score (aiming for 750+), but that would require additional studying.

Because my lit score is too low, I'm tempted to retake it. But I'm not sure if I can get a high score (aiming for around 680~700)

Since Yale only requires 2 test scores, would they take the highest two (math 2 + biology) and ignore my lit score? In that case, should I just retake bio?

Bio or Lit? Or Both? :S

(I am doing SCEA to Yale)

bluewatermelon · 10-29-2009, 08:06 PM

I'm having the same problem as you....... i don't know whether to self-report all of my scores or only my two highest

aniram518 · 10-29-2009, 08:49 PM

Yale requires you to send ALL scores. so there's no point trying to figure which ones to send. But I'm sure they'll only look at the highest two scores of the ones that they do get.

kvmpk · 10-29-2009, 09:46 PM

My understanding about Yale not accepting score choice is that if you take the same test multiple times they need all the scores pertaining to that test. So multiple SAT Is need to be reported. Similarly, say I took Math II twice, then they need both the scores. However if I took 3,4,5 etc. different subject SATs (each only once) they only need two of those. I got this reply from the Yale help e-mail (one of the current Yale students replied).

This makes sense to me -- what do other people think?

dlfghldyd · 10-30-2009, 06:38 AM

I think Yale requires all scores regardless of how many different subject tests you take. But I may be wrong.

So it would be better for me to retake bio? Would my 640 lit score have no negative impact?

kvmpk · 10-30-2009, 03:21 PM

You are right about Yale requiring all scores. Just got off the phone with a Yale admission officer, discussing this topic and he confirmed it. He also said that they take the two highest or the two most relevant in the context of your application, but they want to see all scores to verify that students are not taking multiple tests just to run up their scores -- I did not like that reasoning but it is there for whatever it is worth.

entomom · 10-30-2009, 04:48 PM

Here's something related:

Yale Daily News - No choice on scores

Quote:

When asked whether Yale looks only at a student’s best standardized testing scores, Brenzel said in an e-mail: “We do give primary consideration to the top scores attained. It can be helpful, though, to know how many times it took to achieve those scores.”

He added that a large number of testing sittings will not necessarily have a positive or negative impact on a student’s application. Rather, each piece of information in an applicant’s file is considered in the context of all other information about him or her, Brenzel said.

Stupefy · 10-30-2009, 06:07 PM

I self-reported all my scores but just curious- would they be able to tell if you used score choice (against their instructions?)