Im not from native English speaking country, but i was in AP English when i was in high school, then after i graduated i took 2 gap years without touching anything about academic English, then i took the SAT test last month, i got 1270. Is that bad, will taking courses for 3 months improve my score ? how much will i need to earn some scholarship ? many tks
How did you do in AP English? Did you take the test, and if so, with what result? You say you’ve avoided “academic” English for two years…what about other reading or writing? What was the language section score on that SAT you took? Where are you planning on applying?
SAT 1270 is pretty good, but you’ll have to check with individual colleges to see if it’s good enough for their admission requirements and their scholarships. Each school has different requirements, so don’t stress over the SAT so much. Your high school transcript, extra curriculars, college essays play and equally if not more important role in admissions.
Yes, you can improve the SAT score by practicing. But use real College Board SAT material. Khan Academy is a great resource for official test material. And CB released a book with 4 official practice tests (which you can get for free on the Khan Academy website).
And you may want to consider the ACT if your SAT score doesn’t improve much. Both tests are pretty similar. If anything, the SAT is a clone of the ACT. But consider taking a timed practice ACT test to see if it’s a better fit for you.
Don’t let anyone discourage you from achieving your goals. With a little hard work and studying, you can improve anything.
Tks for your replies.
_I did good in English when i was in high school. i got 300 in Reading, 260 in Writing and language , 710 in Math. Im planning to apply to FSU and Ohio State.
_What band score do it usually take to earn some scholarship ? i think i will stick to SAT since we dont have any ACT testing center here .
If you must have a scholarship, and you are international you might have a problem. There are not many colleges that give scholarships to internationals. Do not count on it. The colleges that do help internationals tend to be very selective and I am afraid your scores probably won’t work at those colleges.
OP, I think I misunderstood your original post.
You said you got 1270. Didn’t you say you took the SAT last month? The SAT is now on a 1600 pt scale. So 1270 is not bad IF you took it last month.
But now you’re adding that you got 300 on Reading and 260 on Writing. 710 Math. Does that mean you took the SAT before March? If you took it before March, then it was on a 2400 pt scale. Which means your R and W are seriously below average. 500 on each section was considered average.
If you’re planning to take the SAT again, you’ll need to put in some time studying for the test, especially since it’s a completely new format.
You can improve the score, but you better seriously look into the individual colleges you’re considering and see what their requirements are. The Math 710 will help you a lot. But some, if not all, may not accept the old SAT scores, especially if you took the test a few years ago. You might have no choice but to take the new SAT again. But don’t lose hope. With commitment and practice, you can boost the score.
Are you a resident or an international student? How’s your financial situation? If that score is in the 2400 scale you are in trouble as an international with need, without need you are ok. However, if it is in the 1600 scale, you have an opportunity to improve but you will need a good amount of time for getting ready.
I took the SAT last month so its the new SAT, im aiming at 1400 or higher