Thread: SAT Scores

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    SAT Scores

    Ok, I finally got my SAT scores back. I got a 1290 composite - 680 math / 610 verbal.

    I have NO IDEA what is good or bad or average for this test. Can somebody offer some insight for me?

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    C++ Witch laserlight's Avatar
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    Dont they say by providing percentiles in your result slip?
    Quote Originally Posted by Bjarne Stroustrup (2000-10-14)
    I get maybe two dozen requests for help with some sort of programming or design problem every day. Most have more sense than to send me hundreds of lines of code. If they do, I ask them to find the smallest example that exhibits the problem and send me that. Mostly, they then find the error themselves. "Finding the smallest program that demonstrates the error" is a powerful debugging tool.
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    Just one more wrong move. -KEN-'s Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by holden
    Ok, I finally got my SAT scores back. I got a 1290 composite - 680 math / 610 verbal.

    I have NO IDEA what is good or bad or average for this test. Can somebody offer some insight for me?

    That's above average, for sure. The majority of people get low/mid 1200s, high 1100s. I'd take it again if I were you, though. You could easily bring that up.

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    C++ Witch laserlight's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by -KEN-
    That's above average, for sure. The majority of people get low/mid 1200s, high 1100s. I'd take it again if I were you, though. You could easily bring that up.
    well, hard to say, I think.

    From what I see of the percentiles, you're probably right, but it also depends on what you plan to use the SAT score for.
    I mean, trying to apply to MIT with a SAT score that's less than 1500 seems silly, according to a certain list my junior college (equivalent of high school?) had displayed.

    In Singapore 1290 would probably be about average, but then one could also argue that those below average probably didnt bother taking the test.
    Quote Originally Posted by Bjarne Stroustrup (2000-10-14)
    I get maybe two dozen requests for help with some sort of programming or design problem every day. Most have more sense than to send me hundreds of lines of code. If they do, I ask them to find the smallest example that exhibits the problem and send me that. Mostly, they then find the error themselves. "Finding the smallest program that demonstrates the error" is a powerful debugging tool.
    Look up a C++ Reference and learn How To Ask Questions The Smart Way

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    The Defective GRAPE Lurker's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by holden
    I have NO IDEA what is good or bad or average for this test.
    Freshman? First test?
    Senior? Third test?
    What?
    Do not make direct eye contact with me.

  6. #6
    geek SilentStrike's Avatar
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    The SAT is normalized so 1000 is average. College bound seniors end up getting something like 1020 on average.

    My sister just pulled off a "fake" 1600. 800 math on one test, 800 verbal on another, pretty crazy.
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    i got 640M + 610V.. i think colleges are looking for a solid SAT score (1300+), great essays, and an overall well rounded person (variety of activities).

    with a 1250, i got into the university of washington and university of southern california

  8. #8
    5|-|1+|-|34|) ober's Avatar
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    I took it twice. I got an 1150 both times. I was accepted to every college/university I applied to. (Kettering University, Virginia Tech, Penn State, Hofstra, Pittsburgh). Those tests are crap. Most schools take a lot more into account.

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    I visited colleges with my older brother during the summer. Pretty much all of them said the same thing: SAT scores are the single most irrelevant thing in a submission.

    They want to know who you are. GPA is the biggest academic thing, but they also want to see community service, extracurricular activities reflecting a well-rounded person, and an essay that separates you from the competition (doesn't just restate the rest of your submission).

    Of course, this varies from college to college.

    1290 is well above-average, I believe. A 1250 is about 83 percentile I think. So I wouldn't sweat it. It may look bad to MIT though...

    I actually took the actual thing in 7th grade as part of a Johns Hopkins University program, but it's not going to be sent to colleges of course. I have a respect for the thing.

  10. #10
    The Defective GRAPE Lurker's Avatar
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    I have to wait a while - college board says the results are mailed out April 19, so I might get it by end of next week. I'm planning for low 900's altogether .
    Do not make direct eye contact with me.

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    If you score low, don't feel bad... Most of the people on my baseball team scored below 1000

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    I got 1330. I swear I did better than that, sorta like 1400+. Thing is at my school competition for SAT scores are enourmous. Last year like 2-5 people got 1600s, many got higher than 1500. Still the average at my school is 1200 so I did better than that...

    Colleges I've talked to, such as CMU, use the SAT as a final resource. Its not very important.

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    The trick about the SAT is that 800 math should be a given if u are going towards a science and technology career. As long as you practice enough, the hardest math questions are simply gemoetry questions. As for verbal, u have to work really hard to bring up vocabulary which takes a long long time. The writing thing thats coming in 2005 is fked up tho

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    Speedy, just out of curiosity, what school do you go to?

  15. #15
    Toaster Zach L.'s Avatar
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    I had a 1500 when I took it. But really, don't worry too much about what your score is -- take it again if necessary. Colleges, especially the more selective ones seem to look at a lot of different factors aside from test scores -- essays and recommendations are among them (be sure to choose people who really know you well to write your recommendations).

    Even places like MIT and other really competitive schools look at much more than test scores. One of the essays on CalTech's application asked for you to describe a passion specifically not science or math. They also had a mandatory place to put "something that was important to you", which I think they supposed would most likely be a picture or piece of creative writing or something of that nature.

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