Retake with a low 700 on math?

Test Preparation
1

Let’s say I get a low 700 on math, but near-perfect on writing and critical reading, should I take the new SAT instead? Would a low 700 on math lower my chances for HYPSM?

2

No. Once you reach a certain SAT score (people assume 2250+) you don’t need to worry about your score. You will not be rejected because of your SAT score.

3

Bump

4

HYPSM are looking for 750+ in each section, so yes it will hurt you. Their mid-50% ranges are usually around 710-790 or 720-800.

5

Can anybody confirm this? Would a ~2260-2310, but a low math (700-740), hurt my chances for getting into HYPSM?

6

Hi,

You were looking for confirmation. I just wanted to let you know that I am the head of the Stanford admission committee (plus I read for Harvard, Yale, Princeton and MIT). I can confirm that everything that has been said on this thread is absolutely true.

Glad to be of service.

7

@thshadow However, goldenbear2020 and CaliCash offered two somewhat different points of view. Which one do you think I should consider more?

8

I’m just busting your chops. You’re asking for “confirmation” - which is impossible for anyone here to provide.

I can give you some data about MIT:
http://mitadmissions.org/apply/process/stats

From there, 700 - 740 on Math was only slightly less likely to get accepted than 750 - 800. (And obviously lower test scores are probably at least somewhat correlated with weaknesses elsewhere in the application, so if everyone in the 700-740 group magically replaced their math score with a 780, it’s quite possible that those acceptance rates would still be the same.)

Also, I believe that @MITChris (who unlike me actually does have something to do with admissions) has stated something to the effect of “raising a math score from 730 to 770 will have almost no effect on your chances of admissions”.

Are you a junior? How many times have you taken the SAT already? Assuming there are no hardships involved, I imagine taking it one more time at the end of junior year or beginning of senior year would be logical. If nothing else, you’ll feel like you’ve given it your best shot.

9

@thshadow I took the old SAT for the second time this past Saturday. I am a junior, and my school is requiring all students to take the new SAT on March 2nd. However, since I do not think that I will be able to prepare in 10 days, I am going to most likely cancel my scores.

10

How did you do on the PSAT in October? Isn’t the math more “wordy” so that high scorers in CR might score higher math on the new SAT?