SAT Chem Subject Score

[Anonymous]

For the life of me, I can't understand how one can take honors chemistry for an entire year, take a one hour subject test, and then have a return score of 670.

DC finished the school year with an A- in honors chemistry and attends an excellent private school known for its academic strengths.

I would love to hear insight from people who have a similar experience.and how colleges will view this score. There will be no retake but DC will be taking AP biology for junior year. There is no fuss about this score and DC knows how proud we are. But we all are scratching our heads.

[Anonymous]

What was DC's practice test scores? How many SAT IIs DC plans to take? Keep in mind, SAT II test takes are self-selecting group of kids (i.e., mostly top tier schools require SAT IIs) so that will explain DC's low percentile (670 is like 50%tile??) but not why your DC scored 670.

[Anonymous]

By the book, have him take the practice tests and retake it in the fall. My DC did the same thing with MathII because he got cocky and didn't do the practice tests so that he was familiar with the types of questions and layout. He added over 100 points to his score just by doing that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Buy the book, have him take the practice tests and retake it in the fall. My DC did the same thing with MathII because he got cocky and didn't do the practice tests so that he was familiar with the types of questions and layout. He added over 100 points to his score just by doing that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For the life of me, I can't understand how one can take honors chemistry for an entire year, take a one hour subject test, and then have a return score of 670.

DC finished the school year with an A- in honors chemistry and attends an excellent private school known for its academic strengths.

I would love to hear insight from people who have a similar experience.and how colleges will view this score. There will be no retake but DC will be taking AP biology for junior year. There is no fuss about this score and DC knows how proud we are. But we all are scratching our heads.

FWIW, my DC, after stellar grades in two years of Chem (second year was AP) at a big 3, decided not to take the SAT II in Chem. Practice tests showed serious time pressure and a radical disconnect between how they were taught and what SAT II was testing. DC didn't have the same reaction to any of the other SAT subject tests or to the AP Chem test. I think there's just something off about the Chem SAT II.

Colleges probably won't view this score. What we're seeing is that those who do want SAT IIs only want two of them, so generally you'd just send the best scores. Exception is some programs want MATH2. But I haven't seen any that require CHEM specifically and I've been looking at STEM programs (though more bio-focussed -- then again, no one's requiring BIO either).

[Anonymous]

My kid had the same experience a few years back. I think the reason was the disconnect between what is taught at Big 3 honors chem class and what the SAT II tests. The kid had perfect scores in three other subject tests.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kid had the same experience a few years back. I think the reason was the disconnect between what is taught at Big 3 honors chem class and what the SAT II tests. The kid had perfect scores in three other subject tests.

Would you mind, if you're comfortable, sharing what other subject tests your DC took? My DC took Big 3 honors chem and experienced the same disconnect. We are now encouraging the foreign language or US history along with math 2. If DC doesn't have to, the Chem score (670 as OP) will not be submitted.

[Anonymous]

Many students these days take the science SAT IIs after taking an AP class. Honors/regular classes -- whether public or private -- don't prepare kids to do well. There is too much material they don't learn in the high school class. Even attending supplementary classes offered at the school before the test are not going to make up the difference. The problem seems worst in chem and bio. I think it is easier to self-study and catch up on physics if you are a good science/math student.

[Anonymous]

If you don't prep for the exam, you won't do well even after APs. The margin of error at the top of the curve is very small. One or two mistakes, you are off the top tier.

[Anonymous]

12:41 here. The other three were Math II, Physics, and Biology. It took two tries to get the 800 in Physics.

Practice tests make all the difference on the SAT IIs. Also, take the tests ASAP after completing the courses so that the content is still fresh. If you want to raise the odds of doing well even higher, find a test prep service that has people who are very familiar with the individual tests and has a bank of LOTs of practice tests. Alternatively, find out about the pros and cons of the test prep books that are out there -- college confidential has detailed threads and advice on this, including which guides have the best practice tests, which are best for conveying the substantive knowledge on the test, etc. And finally, increase the odds of doing well by having your student prepare for and take the SAT IIs one at a time, rather than doing multiple subjects in each sitting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
12:41 here. The other three were Math II, Physics, and Biology. It took two tries to get the 800 in Physics.

Practice tests make all the difference on the SAT IIs. Also, take the tests ASAP after completing the courses so that the content is still fresh. If you want to raise the odds of doing well even higher, find a test prep service that has people who are very familiar with the individual tests and has a bank of LOTs of practice tests. Alternatively, find out about the pros and cons of the test prep books that are out there -- college confidential has detailed threads and advice on this, including which guides have the best practice tests, which are best for conveying the substantive knowledge on the test, etc. And finally, increase the odds of doing well by having your student prepare for and take the SAT IIs one at a time, rather than doing multiple subjects in each sitting.

Thanks for the great info. Looks like the SAT IIs follow the same advice to get to Carnegie Hall....practice, practice, practice.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for posting this. My dd did the same. Her scores were so low she voided the test she said that most people using the chem test were taking ap

[Anonymous]

DC just got 700 in Bio E SAT with same issue / concerns. DC did study and was scoring higher on practice tests.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DC just got 700 in Bio E SAT with same issue / concerns. DC did study and was scoring higher on practice tests.

A 700 is not too shabby!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DC just got 700 in Bio E SAT with same issue / concerns. DC did study and was scoring higher on practice tests.

A 700 is not too shabby!

about 70 %tile.