Should I retake the SAT or just take a subject test?

Math II is actually quite difficult, more advanced than the SAT test math. You take it at the end of your pre-Calculus class, and you also should study with a Math II prep book. My son said it's on the difficult side, and he's a math wiz, scored 800. It is very tough to get a high score on the Math II, because so many kids score high on it, but not because the test is easy, the students that take it are very well prepared, you can't miss as many as you can on the other Subject tests to get a decent score.

You should retake the SAT, if you think you can do better (didn't study much, etc), and your score is below the 75% or maybe the 50% of the accepted freshman SAT average at that college. The info should be on their website.

Most top colleges want to see SAT Subject tests, they may even give them more weight than the SAT. (My dh participates in the admissions process for his Ivy alma mater.) However, if they are not required for the colleges you are applying to, and it's not a top college, then spend your time with other studying.

Good luck!

The Math II test isn't easy, it's just that the curve on it makes it so that it's easy to get a high score. First of all, I would note that scoring well on the SAT Math II doesn't compensate for a lower score on the SAT Math section, not to mention that the tests are pretty similar, so it wouldn't really make sense for you to do significantly better on one versus the other.

With this decision, you have to evaluate it based upon what you need. Do the colleges that you want to apply to require the subject tests? If so, then you should take the Math II test, but if not, then that gives you more flexibility. If you think that you can improve your score, then you should, because your SAT Reasoning score has a big role in determining the caliber of school that you can apply to. But also consider that if your colleges don't require subject tests, submitting one and doing well on it can make you really stand out in the applicant pool. Either way, you have 3 more SAT test dates before most colleges make the cutoff for test score reporting (regular decision), so you do have time and options.

Most colleges don't care about the subject tests. It's not easy, it just has a high average. Colleges don't look at the score value, they look at the percentiles, which are different for the subject tests. Anything below a 700 is not a particularly good score for the Math 2 test. Part of the reason the scores are so high is because it's mostly high-ranked schools that require the subject tests. So only the people who do well on the regular SAT take them.

I do not think it makes sense to take math II unless it is required by the colleges you are applying. Most kids who take math II have completed Honors Pre Calculus and are applying to top universities that require math II for majors such as engineering/ science etc. Their average SAT Reasoning math score is in the high 600s, same as their math II score.

You can always take a timed practice test in the official SAT subject test guide and see how you do compared to SAT math reasoning score to verify what I am saying. Good luck.

A subject test will be better than retaking SAT I