Testing Strategy
02 Testing Strategy
Carmen, your current 1390 SAT demonstrates solid college readiness. For many universities this score would be comfortably competitive. However, the schools on your list—Northwestern, Columbia, and Boston University—tend to receive applications from students whose testing profiles often extend higher, particularly at the most selective end of the group. Because of that, testing decisions become less about whether your score is “good” and more about whether submitting it strengthens your academic signal relative to the applicant pool.
This means your testing strategy should revolve around two possible paths: a focused final retake aimed at a clear score improvement, or a carefully considered test‑optional approach. With senior-year timelines already underway, the key is making a fast, deliberate choice and executing it cleanly.
Current Score Positioning
| School | How a 1390 Functions in Context | Strategic Implication |
|---|---|---|
| Northwestern University | Below the typical range seen among many admitted applicants | A higher score could strengthen academic signaling; otherwise consider test‑optional |
| Columbia University | Also below the level that typically strengthens an application | Retesting or withholding the score are both reasonable strategies |
| Boston University | Closer to the competitive range compared with the other two schools | Submission may still be viable depending on section breakdowns |
The committee highlighted that a score around 1480 or higher would represent a meaningful improvement and materially strengthen your testing profile for Northwestern and Columbia. That does not mean anything below that is unusable, but a modest increase (for example, 20–40 points) is unlikely to significantly change how admissions officers interpret the score.
Step One: Examine Your Section Breakdown
You have not provided your SAT section scores yet. This detail matters, especially for a journalism‑oriented applicant.
If your Evidence‑Based Reading and Writing score is substantially stronger than your math score, submitting the test may still reinforce an academic strength aligned with your intended field. Admissions readers evaluating journalism applicants often pay attention to signals of analytical reading and writing ability.
Before deciding whether to retake or go test‑optional, review:
- Your Reading and Writing score
- Your Math score
- Whether one section clearly limits the overall composite
If the score distribution shows a clear imbalance, targeted prep focused on the weaker section is often the fastest path to a significant composite jump.
Should You Retake the SAT?
A retake is worth considering only if you can realistically pursue a substantial improvement. With application deadlines approaching, this should be treated as a short, high‑intensity effort rather than a long study program.
The goal would be to move from 1390 → approximately 1480+. That range would meaningfully strengthen your testing profile for the most selective schools on your list.
Consider retesting if:
- Your practice tests already land in the mid‑1400s or higher
- You know exactly which section held your score back
- You can dedicate focused prep time over the next few weeks
If practice scores stay near your current result, the return on investment may be limited given the short timeline.
Test‑Optional Strategy
Because each of your target universities offers test‑optional review, you have a viable alternative strategy if a retake does not produce a significant increase.
If you apply test‑optional, admissions officers will rely more heavily on:
- Your transcript and course rigor
- Your essays (see §06 Essay Strategy)
- Your extracurricular profile
- Teacher recommendations
The committee noted that withholding the 1390 may be strategically preferable in some circumstances, particularly at the most selective schools on your list. This choice depends heavily on the broader academic context of your application.
For Boston University, the decision could be more flexible. A 1390 may still function as a positive academic indicator there depending on the rest of the application.
Recommended Decision Framework
| Scenario | Recommended Action |
|---|---|
| Practice tests reaching 1450–1500 range | Register for one final SAT retake and aim for ~1480+ |
| Practice scores staying near 1390–1420 | Shift to a test‑optional strategy for Northwestern and Columbia |
| Strong Reading/Writing section score | Consider submitting to Boston University |
| Section scores unknown | Retrieve score report immediately before deciding |
The most important principle here is clarity. A strong score helps. A weak score can distract from the rest of your profile. If your testing does not clearly help your candidacy, the test‑optional route exists precisely for that reason.
Final SAT Preparation Approach (If Retesting)
If you decide to pursue one more attempt, keep preparation highly targeted:
- Focus practice on the weaker section identified in your score report.
- Complete multiple full-length digital SAT practice tests under timed conditions.
- Review missed questions carefully to identify recurring patterns.
At this stage, the goal is not mastering entirely new content. Instead, it is reducing avoidable errors and improving pacing.
Testing Timeline (Senior Fall)
| Month | Key Actions | Outcome Goal |
|---|---|---|
| September |
|
Determine whether a 1480+ target is realistic |
| October |
|
Attempt score improvement before major deadlines |
| November |
|
Finalize testing strategy before remaining deadlines |
| December |
|
Complete applications with clear testing strategy |
In short: your current SAT score is respectable, but for the most selective schools on your list it sits in a gray zone where it may not significantly strengthen your application. If a final retake can realistically push you toward the high‑1400s range, it is worth the attempt. If not, using a strategic test‑optional approach—especially at Northwestern and Columbia—may allow the rest of your application to carry the narrative.
Before making that call, the most important next step is simple: review and share your SAT section breakdown. That detail will determine which path gives you the strongest positioning.