Should I retake my Math II subject test (again?)

socaldad2002
Sat, 21 Dec 2019 19:21:13 +0000

Mwfan1921:

Some on CC think percentiles on subject tests don’t matter when you score in the 700s but I disagree with them.

When you have repeatedly heard from different admissions officers at different schools that percentiles matter, then people will be more likely to agree with you.

For example a 800 on Math II is “only” 78th percentile meaning that thousands of test takers are getting “perfect” scores on this exam.

As we know, students who are very good at math tend to take the math 2 subject test.

If the top score was 95th percentile than getting a 780 would be a lot more respectable amongst this high performing group.

What is the basis for this statement?

Let me ask you this. How do you know a 780 is a good score? What benchmark are you using to determine if this is a “good” score?

If there are 100 test takers and 40 score higher than you, is that a good score? Percentiles matter otherwise you could make the test pass or fail. Once you reach a certain threshold, you are “good”.

By the way, why does the college board even list percentiles if they are not important? Their schedules always show percentiles right next to each subject test and corresponding score achieved.