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Is a 1440 SAT not enough for a major in aerospace engineering?

I am a junior, and I just received my SAT score of 1440 on my second try for March (math: 730 and reading: 710). My first try was 1410 back in September (math: 750 and reading: 660). I have been studying for at least the past three months, every day for 1 hour, alternating between reading, grammar, and math. I have also been focusing on the skills in which I have been making mistakes. I feel that I may be leveling out on my score. I would like to get to the 1500s, but now I wonder if that is possible. My parents have offered me one more chance to take the SAT to get a 1500, and I am wondering whether that is possible and what would happen if this were my highest SAT score. I understand that this is a score many people look forward to, but for me, and especially my parents, it is not enough. This has me a bit worried, as my standing in school is not excellent either (I have received 2 Cs so far). Please let me know what you think about this matter and any changes or fixes I can make.

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Thank you comment icon A 1440 SAT is a strong achievement, but for competitive Aerospace Engineering programs, your superscore of 1480 (750 Math, 730 Reading) is even better. Since engineering admissions prioritize high math scores, your 750 puts you in a solid position for many top-tier state schools. However, to offset your two Cs and meet your parents' expectations, reaching the 1500s is a worthy and attainable goal. To break your plateau, shift from general review to targeted intensity. Focus exclusively on the hardest Math "Level 4" problems to push that 750 toward an 800. For Reading, analyze the logic behind every missed "Evidence" question. Since you have one more shot, use timed, full-length practice tests to build stamina. Clarence
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Kim’s Answer

Annie,

The SAT does not penalize you for guessing, so, you need to answer every question. I suggest you go ahead and take the test again. Here's the way to boost your score (in addition to studying!)

The objective is to "win" without cheating. So:
1. Eat a good meal (protein), hydrate, and get a good night's sleep the night before.
2. Eat a decent breakfast.
3. Walk into that test knowing there WILL be questions on it you cannot answer. You are human. Accept it.
4. On all questions, try to eliminate at least some of the answers. This increases the chances that your guess will be correct.
5. How to guess, part I: Walk into the exam with a letter in your head. Today I choose "B." For every question I do not know, I will pick B. If there are 10 such questions, there's a good chance 2 will now be correct. If you randomly guess, you can miss them all.
6. How to guess, part II. Prior to starting the test, choose "left" or "right." Today I choose "left." For every question where you have narrowed down the possibilities, we cannot tell ahead of time what those possibilities will be. If "B" is one of them (see #5), by all means, stay with B. If B is not one of them, go with whatever letter (of the narrowed down possibilities) is furthest to the left. Could be "A" or "C". Just pick it and move on.
7. Following these steps reduces your stress and frees up time for working on questions that you DO know.
8. If you run out of time: Before the time ends, mark every unanswered question with a B. Again, it's about the odds. A few will likely be correct.

I know this sounds insane, but, it works. I helped someone with a military entrance test. He was also on his third try. His score increased so much they made him take it again, and fingerprinted him for positive ID! He still got the high score on the 4th try.

Please ask your parents for one more try. You can do this! AND, please come back and tell us how you did. Of course, keep studying. BUT, stop stressing!!!
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Carolina’s Answer

A 1440 is a great score, especially with a 730 in math. This shows you have strong skills for something like aerospace engineering.

If you have another chance to take the test, it might be worth it. Many schools use superscoring, which means they combine your best math and reading scores from different tests. You could pair your 750 math score from your first test with a better reading score from a future test.

Remember, the SAT is just one part of your application. Schools also consider your grades, the difficulty of your courses, extracurricular activities, and any engineering-related projects or interests.

If you aim for aerospace engineering, focus on improving your grades, building a strong math and science background, and getting involved in activities like robotics or engineering clubs. These can be just as important as a few extra SAT points.

So, go ahead and try again if you want, but don’t stress about reaching a 1500. A well-rounded application will help you more than just a test score.
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