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

skieurope
Sat, 21 Dec 2019 17:39:54 +0000

Southoftheriver:

From what I’ve read, the Academic Index used by top-tier colleges gives equal weight to rank/grades, SAT/ACT score and subject test average. If this is true, wouldn’t working for the highest subject test score possible be very important? Seems like it could be easier to raise a subject test score than an SAT or ACT score?

The Academic Index is primarily, although not exclusively, used for recruited athletes, as well as to benchmark athletes vs non-recruits. And yes, in days of old, before the magma cooled, and before colleges changed standardized test requirements, the Subject Tests were a part of AI. Few colleges now require Subject Tests, so how those colleges now calculate AI is somewhat of a mystery, since few say publicly.

A 780 vs 800 on one Subject Test probably converts to a one point difference on the 240-point AI scale.

Regardless, an 800 with a crappy essay or lackluster ECs or lukewarm recs will not guarantee admission to Yale. Indeed, an 800 with a fabulous application will also not guarantee admission.