Just how important are Test Scores?

Art.Perea

5-Year Member
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Nov 21, 2011
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So, I did not do very well on my SAT, Math 620 Reading 580 Writing 490 (Really don't like that score in particular) for a grand total of 1690 :( I took the first SAT test of the school year, which is why they are so poor. Because of these scores I have been hesitant to send in any letters for my nominations until I can take my ACT in April, which I'm confident I will do much better on. But at the same time, I do not want to be behind the curve. So how important are these factors when it comes to noms? I believe everything else on my application looks good, but what should I do? Should I wait for my ACT, or just send it in and then send in my improved scores once I retake it?
 
Noms are not rolling admissions like the academy, so don't feel so rushed to finish it. I waited until the beginning of my senior year to send everything in because I wanted to make sure I included as much as possible.

I also went to the interviews with updated information.
 
So, can I periodically send in info to be updated? or do they do it all at once?
 
My MOC's allowed for updates but I just sent in one giant manila envelope with everything, then some minor updates during the interview.
 
Okay, so then I think I will research to see if they will allow me to update info. as well, thank you for your help!
 
So, I did not do very well on my SAT, Math 620 Reading 580 Writing 490 (Really don't like that score in particular) for a grand total of 1690 :( I took the first SAT test of the school year, which is why they are so poor. Because of these scores I have been hesitant to send in any letters for my nominations until I can take my ACT in April, which I'm confident I will do much better on. But at the same time, I do not want to be behind the curve. So how important are these factors when it comes to noms? I believe everything else on my application looks good, but what should I do? Should I wait for my ACT, or just send it in and then send in my improved scores once I retake it?

My test scores were a bit higher (Math-680, Reading-580, Writing-520) but not good enough for an appointment. ( I took SAT's 3 times) My ACT was 28. I received a nomination from our Senator, top 10 in my class-GPA = 94.5, I took ALL honors and AP classes, a 3 sport Varsity athlete-11 varsity letters, Captain 5 times, NHS, Girls State Delegate, School Officer, 300+ hrs community service, numerous school & state accolades etc...USMA will look at ALL of your scores. I was considered an "academic risk" based on my test scores.
 
Test scores are very important in regards to West Point admissions. The academic portion of your Whole Candidate Scores is comprised of your test scores and your rank in your class.
IOW - test scores are half of your academic evaluation!
Test scores are also a large component of the LOA evaluation.

As far as how important they are for noms - that depends on your MOC. Every MOC has their own way of evaluating candidates.

Every candidate to West Point should make very effort to make the highest score they can on the SAT and ACT. Take both. Some people do better on one than the other. WP will evaluate you on the test that you do the best on so you are not penalized for taking both.
Also, WP superscores your test scores, so there is no reason not to take each test as many times as you can.

Test scores are VERY important!
Take this part of your application very seriously.
If need be - take test prep classes. Buy a test prep book. Go to the test web sites and follow their suggestions.
www.march2success.com is a FREE online test prep site sponsored by the Army - no strings attached.
Use all the resources you have at your disposal to do the best that you can do on these tests.
Your scores can be the determining factor on whether you get the TWE or the BFE.
They are THAT important!
 
buff, what if your test scores differ wildly even after superscoring? For example for the sake of argument super score math 33, reading 34, science 31 but english 25 ? If your composite is a 31 but you have one low score will that rule you out? are all subscores created equal? does the composite score count more than the individual sub scores?
 
Test scores are very important in regards to West Point admissions. The academic portion of your Whole Candidate Scores is comprised of your test scores and your rank in your class.
IOW - test scores are half of your academic evaluation!
Test scores are also a large component of the LOA evaluation.

As far as how important they are for noms - that depends on your MOC. Every MOC has their own way of evaluating candidates.

Every candidate to West Point should make very effort to make the highest score they can on the SAT and ACT. Take both. Some people do better on one than the other. WP will evaluate you on the test that you do the best on so you are not penalized for taking both.
Also, WP superscores your test scores, so there is no reason not to take each test as many times as you can.

Test scores are VERY important!
Take this part of your application very seriously.
If need be - take test prep classes. Buy a test prep book. Go to the test web sites and follow their suggestions.
www.march2success.com is a FREE online test prep site sponsored by the Army - no strings attached.
Use all the resources you have at your disposal to do the best that you can do on these tests.
Your scores can be the determining factor on whether you get the TWE or the BFE.
They are THAT important!

If class rank really pulls that much, how do they evaluate homeschoolers there? I have good SAT scores from the beginning of junior year (720 Math, 690 Reading and 680 writing) and am taking them again this spring, but that worries me a little.
 
buff, what if your test scores differ wildly even after superscoring? For example for the sake of argument super score math 33, reading 34, science 31 but english 25 ? If your composite is a 31 but you have one low score will that rule you out? are all subscores created equal? does the composite score count more than the individual sub scores?

On ACT - all of your subscores are equally important.
On SAT - the Math and CR are the most important.

When Admissions talks about test scores, it is in terms of the scores of each section and not the composite.

You are not considered an academic risk unless:
- on ACT, scores in any subsection are below a 24.
- on SAT, scores below a 560 in Math or CR

But to be truly competitive, your scores need to be way above the risk level.

Advise - keep taking the ACT and raise that score that is below the others. Focus your prep on that section that is the low one.
Also, take the SAT. :thumb:
 
If class rank really pulls that much, how do they evaluate homeschoolers there? I have good SAT scores from the beginning of junior year (720 Math, 690 Reading and 680 writing) and am taking them again this spring, but that worries me a little.

Great question!

The academic evaluation for Homeschoolers is based solely on your ACT/SAT scores.

So - for those of you that are homeschooled - your test scores are even more important!

Your username implies you are applying to USAFA.
What I just said about how homeschoolers are evaluated academically is what WP does.
You need to ask this same question of a USAFA admissions rep. :thumb:
 
Just keep improving on the scores.

I got a 1880 on my SATs and still got in.

Given, my other areas of the application carried the load, it is doable.

My advice: Shoot for a 2000+

FYI: My weighted GPA was a 3.64 so that definately did not carry the load haha
 
FYI: My weighted GPA was a 3.64 so that definately did not carry the load haha

As far as I understand, GPA is not considered for WCS- CLASS RANK is (because GPA can be inflated and whatnot... Class Rank evaluates you compared to your classmates).
 
Class rank to a point.

My son's high school did not rank students, so only GPA was provided. In the schools history of over 125 years, there were only 2 or 3 4.0 GPA graduates.

Recommendations from teachers are surely important.

What was of interest to the region commander and to the admissions board was the fact that everyone was college bound, and the school profile provided information as to the caliber of the curriculum, the distribution of grades and test scores, and the colleges that the school's graduates were admitted to and attended. The school positions itself as a private, college-prep high school.

So, do the best you can. GPA and class rank are but pieces of the puzzle.
 
On ACT - all of your subscores are equally important.
On SAT - the Math and CR are the most important.

When Admissions talks about test scores, it is in terms of the scores of each section and not the composite.

You are not considered an academic risk unless:
- on ACT, scores in any subsection are below a 24.
- on SAT, scores below a 560 in Math or CR

But to be truly competitive, your scores need to be way above the risk level.

Advise - keep taking the ACT and raise that score that is below the others. Focus your prep on that section that is the low one.
Also, take the SAT. :thumb:

Ds's 2nd set of sat scores just came back. (4th set of sat/act and signed up for two more before the end of the school year) He has very fragmented scores. For WP, as of right now, what scores would they take? Math/English/writing higher in act, Reading higher in SAT. I am assuming the dont 'mix and match' between tests.
ACT:
English: 34
Math: 33
Science: 30
Reading;25
Writing: 11/12

SAT:
Critical Reading: 630
Math: 730
Writing: 620
 
@Vista - from my experience, I'd say almost definitely they'd take the ACT scores, but the Reading will be close to a flagged score. The other scores are great, so I'd recommend on the future tests to strictly focus on improving that section since they will superscore. They don't mix and match between the texts - actually, if your son is in contact with his MALO/FFR, they should be able to look at their database and tell him which is being used currently.
 
I am assuming the dont 'mix and match' between tests.
Interesting issue. In Army ROTC, 2011 applications, I distinctly remember both SAT and ACT (only Math and CR for SAT) scores listed on the application and then on the ROTC application Status website for my daughter. The ACT Reading and Math had been converted to SAT, and the highest score was listed as the score being reviewed, whether from ACT or SAT, for each of the two sections.
 
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