SAT score good or bad?

So I just got my SAT scores back, and was wondering if they're good or bad or...what. So here they are:

Reading: 610
Math: 660
Writing: 540

I intend to take it again in January, because my writing was mis-administrated. Basically, I have this thing called a Code 504, which means I have to use some sort of typing utensil whenever I do something really important like this. I have to do this because I have extraordinarily bad handwriting, and cannot write cursive either. Anyway the administrator started the timer before she turned on the computer I typed my essay on, so I didn't get to start it until 5 minutes had passed, which makes a huge difference on an essay I had 25 minutes to write. As a result, I ended up with the third paragraph half-finished, and no conclusion, which is why the writing is so low.

I have no doubt if I was allowed to re-take the writing portion that I would score well over a 600, possibly into the 670 range.



But thats besides the point. Are these scores good enough to get into a decent college? would they be if the writing was higher? how good is my score?

it depends on what kind of school. plus rotc has sort of low standards at first glance but those are minimums and it is a competitive scholarship most people have very good scores. I had a like 2070 i think. I took it twice. I had (this is the best scores of the two) 760 verbal, a 680, and a 630 writing. They let me go where I wanted. You have to look at where you want to go and how much you want to pay when you get there. For instance I got into Uni of Chicago which is a fantastic school but did not get enough money in scholarships and did not get ROTC there because it was a stretch school and i didnt want to waste a spot on a school i wasnt likely to get into.

It is all about where you want to be. But for a first time they are very good scores and most people would kill to have them honestly.

Edit: also dont worry about wrting. Some schools dont even look at it focus on cr and math.

As Centurion said, dont worry about the Writing. Everything else looks fine. I got into University of Maryland, which I believe is harder than your average state school to get in with a 670 Reading, 590 Math, and 610 Writing (yeah, I know Im bad at standardized tests, no need to remind me). Granted, I didnt get any academic scholarships nor get into the Honors program, but I did get in. And I had friends who got in with much lower scores.

Also the SATs are one factor that colleges look at. Your background, grades in school, the courses you take, and your resume all count for something. So if you have really bad SAT scores and a great resume, you will get in. No you wont get into Ivy-League schools, but then again, they are pretty overrated, IMO.

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Originally Posted by Hooahguy

As Centurion said, dont worry about the Writing. Everything else looks fine. I got into University of Maryland, which I believe is harder than your average state school to get in with a 670 Reading, 590 Math, and 610 Writing (yeah, I know Im bad at standardized tests, no need to remind me). Granted, I didnt get any academic scholarships nor get into the Honors program, but I did get in. And I had friends who got in with much lower scores.

Also the SATs are one factor that colleges look at. Your background, grades in school, the courses you take, and your resume all count for something. So if you have really bad SAT scores and a great resume, you will get in. No you wont get into Ivy-League schools, but then again, they are pretty overrated, IMO.

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A. College park is a fantastic school! Their engineering school is top tier.

B. about the moniez its a state school its hard to get moniez for a state school even in your state.

C. Those scores are surprisingly low for umd you must have one hell of a resume! -jealous-

my scores aren't that much higher, yet here I am riding on scholarships. :shrug:

though the main difference was that the math score was low (average), the rest were above average. (like 60% of the country).

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Originally Posted by Ibrahim

my scores aren't that much higher, yet here I am riding on scholarships. :shrug:

though the main difference was that the math score was low (average), the rest were above average. (like 60% of the country).

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I checked the percentile things, and it said mine was, except for writing, in like the top 89 percentile, and the writing even was like the top 80 percentile. so hopefully i'll be as lucky as you

You can probably do better; I'd retake it. My first time I got a 1790 (forget the breakdown), and my second time I fared much better with a 710 in math, 570 in reading (my reading comprehension skills have improved greatly thanks to college), and 650 in writing totaling 1930.

No offence, but the SATs are hella easy compared to the exams they make us sit to pass high school. You have to write what 1 essay in 25 minutes for English? I had to write 3 essays in 120 minutes, encompassing 3 different topics, and 12 different individual texts (novels, plays, poetry, etc). So you can probably do better...

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Originally Posted by Psychonaut

No offence, but the SATs are hella easy compared to the exams they make us sit to pass high school. You have to write what 1 essay in 25 minutes for English? I had to write 3 essays in 120 minutes, encompassing 3 different topics, and 12 different individual texts (novels, plays, poetry, etc). So you can probably do better...

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I agree, I found it to be fairly easy myself, far easier than most of the quizzes that I've had this year. I thought the writing portion was very simple, straight forward, and easy as well, I simply didn't have the time required to complete it. Except for some of the grammar and vocabulary, the reading was the easiest I've seen in years.

So trust me, I agree with you that compared to most other tests and exams, it is very low-level and easy subject matter.

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Originally Posted by Centurion1

C. Those scores are surprisingly low for umd you must have one hell of a resume! -jealous-

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Uh, thanks? :shrug:

My resume isnt that great. A bunch of awards, mostly Judaic in nature, National Honor Society, and kinda elaborated some of my job experiences. Like when I worked as a janitor over the summer for my old school, I put it down as "interior design assistant."
:2thumbsup:

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Originally Posted by Hooahguy

Like when I worked as a janitor over the summer for my old school, I put it down as "interior design assistant."

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Custodial Engineer was always my favorite.

@Prussian: What grade are you in? I took the test twice, once as a junior and again as a senior. I improved on my score some the second time, and every little bit helps. I also took the ACT for grins.

I pity you young ones, in my day we only had Math and Verbal on the SAT, no essay needed.

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Originally Posted by drone

Custodial Engineer was always my favorite.

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Yeah but thats kinda obvious that you worked as a janitor.
Mines much more vague. :yes:

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Originally Posted by Prussian to the Iron

I agree, I found it to be fairly easy myself, far easier than most of the quizzes that I've had this year. I thought the writing portion was very simple, straight forward, and easy as well, I simply didn't have the time required to complete it. Except for some of the grammar and vocabulary, the reading was the easiest I've seen in years.

So trust me, I agree with you that compared to most other tests and exams, it is very low-level and easy subject matter.

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I hear you whipper snappers get to use calculators on the ACT math sections now LOL WTFZ. Oh well, thaty makes my scores all the more awesome

2180 combined, 1490 math and verbal. I only took it once. It was the only thing that got me into American University since my grades left a lot to be desired. Your grades are probably better than mine were, so I'd take it again. Nothing to lose, really.

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Originally Posted by Major Robert Dump

I hear you whipper snappers get to use calculators on the ACT math sections now LOL WTFZ. Oh well, thaty makes my scores all the more awesome

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Yeah I did have a calculator, but I barely used it. Most of my math questions were algebra or pre-algebra level so i only used it for big multiplication or little division problems. didnt need it though :)


@ drone: This fall I will be a senior so I took it in the last month of my junior year. i think youre limited as to how many times you can take it, correct?

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Originally Posted by Prussian to the Iron

Yeah I did have a calculator, but I barely used it. Most of my math questions were algebra or pre-algebra level so i only used it for big multiplication or little division problems. didnt need it though :)


@ drone: This fall I will be a senior so I took it in the last month of my junior year. i think youre limited as to how many times you can take it, correct?

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false you can take it as often as you want.

I took the ACT so I can only compare percentiles but I got accepted by University of Wisconsin-Madison (which I chose not to go to) with a 94 percentile score (not including writing). If your grades and other stuff are good you should be able to get into pretty good schools with an 89 percentile score. Your writing percentile was much better than mine as well....Much much better. I think the others are right when they say the writing score doesn't matter that much.

i only used it for big multiplication or little division problems.

Doing that stuff by hand takes time. The test is timed. Calculator is teh cheat

I still have to add and subtract with my fingers.