Individual SAT section scores vs. composite

kates1422
Wed, 08 Jun 2005 00:07:06 +0000

I’m MIT Class of 2009, and from my experience it seems as if they honestly do look at the entire application in context… my SAT I was 800 Verbal 760 Math, but for the SAT IIs I only had a 680 MathIIc and 700 Bio M (740 Writing). Make sure your scores are around the 700 range at least, higher is best, but you really shouldn’t worry about the difference between an 800 and a 750. The scores are there to make sure you can handle the material. Believe me, an 800 math/science SAT II score will NOT impress an engineering school like MIT, Caltech, or Olin; they’re just too common. I don’t mean to scare you with that last statement, only to reassure you that the SATs are not the most important things they look at. If your scores are 700 range (again, higher is of course, better), then I’m pretty confident that the admissions committee will then more seriously consider the more nuanced portions of the application.

Basically, high test scores will not make up for a a complete, effective application. They’re definitely important, but if you score in the competitive range they’re not something that will make or break your application on their own.