<p>A student of mine wants to know. Also, does it look bad if a student studies hard for one section of the SAT and bombs the other two, but then studies hard for another section, takes the test a second time and does well in that section and then does the same for the third section? And sends in all three scores. It makes it obvious to schools what is going on, does it hurt a students chances?</p>
<p>If she studies hard for one section on the first test, studies hard for a different section on a second test, and studies hard for a 3rd section on the third test, by the third test she should be getting a good score in all three sections. now you need not be worried about score choice!</p>
<p>if by the third test the student gets a good grade on all three sections, he/she should be fine! but they cant take three tests and each one focuses on one subject and then try to combine the scores (f you know what I mean).</p>
<p>If the college superscores using multiple test dates should not hurt (unless it’s an large number of tries). As far as focusing on one test at the expense of the other two, I’ve seen posters say this would hurt, but haven’t seen any real evidence of that.</p>
<p>Agree with Erin’s Dad. I think generally colleges, including Ivies, like super scoring because it elevates more students into test ranges they like to report to USNWR etc and then they can admit these students based on a variety of other factors, including who is most interesting and best fits their class needs. I do suspect, but have no proof, that for certain groups of students (like Asians) at least some of the Ivies use all of the test scores to break close calls between high testing students and would particularly frown on totally unbalanced scores on different sections of different tests. But I suspect for most other colleges, even if they know all those scores, they are happy to report the top ones to USNWR and will just consider the best ones.</p>
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<p>A couple years ago, an adcom of an Ivy told me in no uncertain terms she tossed an app from someone who did just that. The applicant submitted an 800/600 and then an 550/800. (Forgot the writing score.) The point to the adcom was clear – the student was not competing fairly, and was obviously resting during certain sections (or worse).</p>
<p>Interesting to see some real info on that. It’s probably the way I would respond if I were on a selection committee.</p>
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Right–that kind of difference is going to raise a red flag. If the difference were less (i.e., 800/750 and 750/800), I don’t think it would hurt at all.</p>
<p>^^Agreed hunt, but IMO, a 750 does not equate to “bomb” the other section, as the OP intimated. (or, maybe only on cc, a 750 is a bomb of a score – hahahaha)</p>