My goal is to go into top 30 colleges (notre dame specifically). Whenever I look at people who got into good colleges, they took at least 1 sat subject test. i heard some schools require sat 2 but I don’t think the school I want to go does. So my question is does sat 2 raise the admission chance? If it does by how much do you think? (I know this isnt really a good question)
It is a fine question. Some top schools want them. Georgetown used to want three (not sure if that is still the case). Others want 2. Some schools say they will look at them if you send them, but don’t require them. You can do fine at schools that don’t require them without taking them. If you do take them and do well, it could strengthen your app, though. My D2 took Math II and Lit, and scored 800 on both. I think having two widely varied subjects with perfect scores helped her apps a lot, even at schools that did not require the tests. But even without that variety, strong scores can’t hurt.
If you take them, a few things to note:
- Look up the percentiles online before sending them in. Scores tend to be high, and the percentiles drop off sharply on some of them.
- Taking a test in a foreign language you speak at home is a waste of time, and seen as lazy by colleges. Just don’t do it.
- Every subject is not offered on every test date. Make sure the ones you want are offered on the date you sign up for.
Can you clarify your first point about percentiles? Thx.
What she means is that for example, a 750 in Lit is in the 92nd percentile. But if you look at Math II, a 750 is in the 68th percentile. Obviously, you would send in the Lit score but not send in the Math II score unless it is required or Score Choice isn’t allowed.
@millie210 People who take subject tests are very qualified, so it’s important to earn high scores on them so you don’t end up in a low percentile even with a decent score like 700-750.
Different subject tests range in difficulty, so the same score for two subject tests may not represent the same percentiles.
I think the score matters more than the percentile.
We go around on this often on CC, but I maintain that (for example) a low 700s math score at a top tech school (MIT, Mudd, CalTech) WILL hurt you. Your competition is mostly going to be 800s (which is only 85th percentile!). There are those who will say 700 hundred or better, go ahead and send it in. I contend that you should Google to find the latest tables published by college board and send them. I personally would be reluctant to send scores under the 75th percentile (although sometimes schools require all scores, or a certain number of subject tests, and you gotta send what you have in that case). But anyone who thinks admissions is NOT aware of those percentiles and that somehow it doesn’t matter is dreaming.
Just want to clarify two things that have been mentioned above.
- Last time I checked, there is no schools (but certain programs) in the US required 3 SAT2 scores anymore.
- Even for schools that want all scores, SAT2 is often not part of it.
Most colleges do not use subject tests to determine admission even if you submit them. As to those that do, they break down into a small grroup that requires them (all of which require two), an equally small group that specifically “recommends” them (usually two but Georgetown three), and then there is a little larger group that neither requires nor recommends subject tests but will give some consideration to them if sent. Notre Dame is in that last group and considers them only if it helps you, and thus if you have a couple of good scores it can be worth sending them but you do not have to take them to apply. For a good list of colleges that require, recommend or consider subject tests go here http://www.■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■/subject-test-requirements-and-recommendations/
Scores mean nothing without percentiles.
I got a 43 on my last crim test. What does that tell you? Nothing. It’s just a number. When I say it was out of 46 and the top person got a 46, that puts it into perspective: good enough for an A but not perfect.
@bodangles, you will find people out here who claim anything above a 700 should be sent.
I think more colleges moved from “required” to “recommended” recently to cut slack for internationals and low income students who may not have the same opportunities for taking the tests or good counseling to recommend that they do so. If they are recommended and you can take them, I sure would.
@intparent Oh yeah, I’ve seen it. I’m just agreeing with you. Especially on Math 2.
A bit of difference of opinion here. 
Remember that the applicants who actually take an SAT Subject Test are very self-selecting. So a 700+ may be a low percentile, but I would not read too much into it. No AO is going to cross-reference scores with percentiles. 700+ on any subject test is an accomplishment.
There is a definite trend of schools moving away from requiring standardized tests in general (see the growing number of test optional schools) and SAT subject tests in particular. I think a few years ago, several schools required 3 tests, then many of the top 50 schools went to requiring 2 and now some suggest 2. One of D’s high school teachers said that he thought that in a few years, schools would not require them at all. But I don’t see much evidence of that. I think there is some truth to the fact that, as @intparent wrote, very high scores on subject tests in different disciplines will strengthen your application. They won’t make up for a low GPA or low SAT/ACT. D is a good test taker so it was not that big of a deal for her take 5 subject tests. Her scores ranged from 770 (on Latin) to 800 (Math 2 and Chem).
I can’t understand the thought that “no AO will cross reference scores with percentiles”. My daughter works with a higher education consulting firm, and she finds that idea laughable. CB publishes the percentages, and many admissions offices surely do look at them.
While your typical AO may not have a table of percentiles for 20 subject tests handy at his/her desk, I’m inclined to believe AOs are aware of score distributions in general terms. They know an 800 on Math II could mean top 1% or top 15% abilities*, they know there are tests (e.g. Korean) where 790 is below-average, and they know that 800s in literature go to 1-2% of test-takers.
*Relative to the very competitive pool of students who take the SAT II.
Anecdotally, when decisions arrived, my 800 in lit seemed to help a lot more than 800s in math II and/or languages for some of my classmates. Small sample size, known unknowns like essays and recommendations, different ECs, and all the usual caveats apply.
In a way the percentile matter as they are comparing applicants. They don’t really need to look up the percentile for each subject, but simply look at the scores among applicants.