SAT subject tests--questions

[Anonymous]

First time parent of high schooler here. How many, when, do kids need to prep or is their coursework prep enough? Can/should they retake if they don't do well or just try a different subject test the next time? How much do they matter? What kinds of scores are selective schools (not necessarily HYP) looking for? TIA.

[Anonymous]

They can retake the same test, or move on to another subject. It's probably a good idea to get one of the SAT subject test prep books, even though it puts (even more) money in the hands of the College Board test people. With a book your kid can familiarize himself/herself with the types of questions, and judge whether classwork covered all the issue areas, because unlike the AP, HS classes aren't geared towards the SAT II subject tests.

[Anonymous]

Another tip: have your student take the test at the end of the year she or he is taking the relevant class. For example, if she's taking AP World history during the tenth grade year, she should take the class at the end of that year.

[Anonymous]

Sorry, I meant she should take the test at the end of that year.

[Anonymous]

DS took the SAT in 8th grade through Johns Hopkins the same day I took the LSAT. They provided free SAT test prepartion. I was prepared for the LSAT through my college's pre-law club.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DS took the SAT in 8th grade through Johns Hopkins the same day I took the LSAT. They provided free SAT test prepartion. I was prepared for the LSAT through my college's pre-law club.

SAT is different from the SAT subject tests that OP is asking about. The SAT subject tests are a new and cruel addition to the panoply of tests your kid will need to take if applying to a selective college - many high selective colleges require two SAT subject tests.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Another tip: have your student take the test at the end of the year she or he is taking the relevant class. For example, if she's taking AP World history during the tenth grade year, she should take the class at the end of that year.

Excellent advice. I wish we had known about this with DC1, but we're going to make sure this happens with DC2. That way, your kid will have the requisite 2-3 SAT subject tests racked up before senior year, when there is so much else to think about.

[Anonymous]

You need 2 unless you are applying to Georgetown in which case you need 3. Many colleges don't require any. They are only 1 hour each and you can take 1-3 at one sitting. They aren't offered on every test date. Best to finish them at the end of jr year (they are offered in may and June. Definitely prep. You will find the percentiles are on a totally different scale than the regular SAT since only kids applying to the most competitive colleges are taking them.

[Anonymous]

Take as many as possible as early as possible, i.e. 10th grade, if do well great to have out of the way before the craziness hits spring of 11th. Most any kid in algebra by 8th grade will be able to take math SAT2 end of 10th, no higher math than algebra 2/trig on the test. Often can take chemistry in 10th. If taking AP history, take the US history the same year, will be ready for sure after AP. The review books are useful, at least skimming and concentrating on sections that seem unfamiliar, but no prep beyond that is usually required.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DS took the SAT in 8th grade through Johns Hopkins the same day I took the LSAT. They provided free SAT test prepartion. I was prepared for the LSAT through my college's pre-law club.

SAT is different from the SAT subject tests that OP is asking about. The SAT subject tests are a new and cruel addition to the panoply of tests your kid will need to take if applying to a selective college - many high selective colleges require two SAT subject tests.

And some, such as Georgetown, require 3. Test flexible colleges, Middlebury and Colby come to mind, also permit students to submit 3 subject tests instead of the SAT or the ACT.

[Anonymous]

^^
Test Flexible usually means:

College Board SAT Reasoning Test or
American College Test (ACT)* or
SAT Subject Tests in three different subject areas

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You need 2 unless you are applying to Georgetown in which case you need 3. Many colleges don't require any. They are only 1 hour each and you can take 1-3 at one sitting. They aren't offered on every test date. Best to finish them at the end of jr year (they are offered in may and June. Definitely prep. You will find the percentiles are on a totally different scale than the regular SAT since only kids applying to the most competitive colleges are taking them.

This is so true - my DS got 700s on two SAT subject tests last year and was only in about the 83rd percentile - but got 5s on the AP tests in the same subjects. Go figure. I heartily agree with the recommendation to take the subject test at the end of the year in which you take the course.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You need 2 unless you are applying to Georgetown in which case you need 3. Many colleges don't require any. They are only 1 hour each and you can take 1-3 at one sitting. They aren't offered on every test date. Best to finish them at the end of jr year (they are offered in may and June. Definitely prep. You will find the percentiles are on a totally different scale than the regular SAT since only kids applying to the most competitive colleges are taking them.

This is so true - my DS got 700s on two SAT subject tests last year and was only in about the 83rd percentile - but got 5s on the AP tests in the same subjects. Go figure. I heartily agree with the recommendation to take the subject test at the end of the year in which you take the course.

Some test-flexible schools have also started accepting AP scores as part of the standardized testing requirement. Bryn Mawr is one I can think of offhand.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DS took the SAT in 8th grade through Johns Hopkins the same day I took the LSAT. They provided free SAT test prepartion. I was prepared for the LSAT through my college's pre-law club.

SAT is different from the SAT subject tests that OP is asking about. The SAT subject tests are a new and cruel addition to the panoply of tests your kid will need to take if applying to a selective college - many high selective colleges require two SAT subject tests.

Are they really so new? I thought the SAT subject tests were the old Achievement tests we took in HS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DS took the SAT in 8th grade through Johns Hopkins the same day I took the LSAT. They provided free SAT test prepartion. I was prepared for the LSAT through my college's pre-law club.

SAT is different from the SAT subject tests that OP is asking about. The SAT subject tests are a new and cruel addition to the panoply of tests your kid will need to take if applying to a selective college - many high selective colleges require two SAT subject tests.

Are they really so new? I thought the SAT subject tests were the old Achievement tests we took in HS.

They are the same. The College Board keeps renaming them. They were the achievement tests, then they were the SAT IIs, now they are the SAT subject test. They correlate much better with college success than the actual SAT which was originally designed to measure aptitude, not achievement. The main benefit to them is they are designed to be used in admissions decisions, unlike the AP.

The ACT just passed the SAT in popularity, so expect lots of changes as the College Board panics and people continue to question the relevance of this entire testing business.