DD bombed the two SAT subject tests she took

[Krista in LA]

I heard that some colleges require all scores be sent from the SAT or ACT, but do they also require all scores from the subject tests? She actually will be graduating from a public school, so I know most colleges don't require the subject tests at all, but I don't want to have to send these scores to anybody - they were that bad.

[Musicmom]

Here are some thoughts:

 

1. Most colleges now accept either the SAT or the ACT--you don't have to send both (though you can if you want to.) If a college requires you send "all" scores, they mean all your SAT scores, OR all your ACT scores. So, if your dd is looking at colleges that don't require those SAT Subject Tests, then she could just send her ACT scores. (ETA: To specifically answer your question--if you send "all" SAT scores (which is the default unless you use score choice), then yes, the Subject Test scores get sent as well.)

 

2. If however, your dd is looking at colleges that require SAT Subject Tests, then she'll have to send her SAT scores (all of them if the college does not allow score choice.) The best thing to do in that case is to get some good test prep books, have your dd study hard and have her retake those two Subject Tests--hopefully getting better scores. This will look fine to colleges--they only consider the highest score. Even if they see the initial low scores, it will show them that your dd cared enough to retake the tests--and improvement in her scores would tend to indicate that the bad ones were a fluke (bad day, illness...whatever) rather than an accurate indication of her ability. Make sense?

Edited February 16, 2012 by Musicmom

[Krista in LA]

Thanks Musicmom. She took the SAT and the ACT and did better on the ACT so she plans to stick with that. She just took the subject tests because Emory said it was helpful but not required. Well her scores would not be helpful! All the colleges she's looking at will accept either the SAT or ACT so I guess I won't worry about it. Thanks!

[Leonor]

If the school requires you send all the scores, the SAT will send all scores including subject tests.

 

Some schools require you send all scores even though they use the highest score from each section to make their decision.

 

Some schools allow you to use score choice. When sending scores, the collegeboard is programmed based on the school. If you select all scores, it includes the subject tests. At least, it did for me today.

 

I thought there was a way to only choose SAT scores even if it is all scores. I didn't see it. You should look into it.

 

Otherwise, just stick to the ACT.

[Brenda in MA]

Here is a link to a document from the college board that lists the SAT score reporting requirements for each particular college.

 

http://professionals.collegeboard.com/profdownload/sat-score-use-practices-list.pdf

 

It looks like Emory does not require the reporting of all scores, but since she did better on the ACT, I'd suggest sticking with that.

 

Brenda

[Krista in LA]

Thanks Leonor and Brenda. I really had no clue how all that works. The link was helpful too. Since she really only has one more test date that she can make, we aren't going to mess with the SAT anymore. Glad we don't have to send any of those scores if we send the ACT scores instead.