SAT Chem Subject Score

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
22:41 again. Several engineering programs require the SAT II in Math and either Chem or Physics as well. That's why DC took Physics and retook it to get the higher score, after not doing as well on the Chem test (and not wanting to retake it). DC took Bio after freshman year because that was recommended by teacher at the school, and did so with an eye toward taking what we thought was the first of two SAT IIs DC would need. But then the engineering programs DC started to look at didn't allow Bio as one of the tests.

PP, this latest trend of taking online classes is so crazy. Seems like this has been creeping up with the way high school students do summer school programs at colleges they want to attend, but the idea of doing an actual online class along with all the high school courses -- wow, that is nuts. But again, as with the arms race in APs in the public schools, students feel like they have to keep up with their peers because colleges will ask, is the student taking the most demanding course offered at the school? Now I guess they will also ask, and what about outside the school?

DC attends a well known private school in D.C. that does not offer a lot if AP courses. However, there are many rigorous standard classes that prepare adequately to sit for AP exams. When DC graduates, it will be with four AP classes and two honors classes. Because of the reputation of the rigorous curriculum and the school's reputation, DC will not be at a disadvantage. The school sent several students to Yale this year, and nobody took 10 AP classes because that number doesn't exist.

Now if DC bombs on the SAT or ACT, that's a different story. However, I don't think that's going to happen.

If P is so confident that DC won't be at a disadvantage please post here next year advising what school(s) DC was accepted and will attend. 10 to 1 says DC WILL be disadvantaged. Regardless of what well known school DC is a graduate of unless the courses taken are of heavy rigor.

Not the PP but what part of 'rigorous curriculum' did you miss? 10 to 1, DC attends Sidwell Friends who is known for not having tons of AP courses. Sidwell doesn't appear to have colleges slamming their door in its face.

[Anonymous]

Indeed, Sidwell had 10 student admitted last year to Yale (or Yale-National University of Singapore) out of a class of 125 or so.

[Anonymous]

Bumping this thread. Is a 670 chemistry score a deal breaker if you have a B+ in honors chem? My DC refuses to retake the chemistry subject test.

[Anonymous]

Chemistry teacher here: Honors chem is not intended to prepare a kid for the SAT II in chem. AP chem is better, but AP chem is taught to the AP chem exam standards. It's not that there is conflict, there just isn't alignment. FWIW, I've seen the curricula at a few of the top and middle tier privates and there is a good amount of variability in content.

[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.

The school doesn’t teach to the test. To score high on these you need to get a practice book and practice. P.S. 670 isn’t that bad of a score.

[Anonymous]

Other than MIT and other high tech programs that require subject test in math and science, most colleges will take any two subject tests and some colleges make it optional or 'recommended.' Recommended IMHO means they want tests no matter how much they whitewash it.

[Anonymous]

I think you have to study separately for these tests. Private schools tend not to teach in a standardized way, so the curriculum will not always match up. I know someone who got a 570 on the chem test after As in chem at a Big 3. Maybe a bad test taker?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think you have to study separately for these tests. Private schools tend not to teach in a standardized way, so the curriculum will not always match up. I know someone who got a 570 on the chem test after As in chem at a Big 3. Maybe a bad test taker?

If public schools are teaching in the 'standardized way' (and privates are not per you) then why aren't the majority of students scoring high in ALL subject tests including the SAT?

If the test were so standardized the prep companies wouldn't be making millions off private AND public students.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Princeton and Yale both require four.

According to the links they recommend, but do not require, 2. In fact it's pretty soft language.

No, it's "strongly recommended" for Princeton. And if you are applying for engineering or the hard sciences, they want to see Chemistry and Math II.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Princeton and Yale both require four.

According to the links they recommend, but do not require, 2. In fact it's pretty soft language.

No, it's "strongly recommended" for Princeton. And if you are applying for engineering or the hard sciences, they want to see Chemistry and Math II.

Any time you see 'recommended', I take that as code for the schools wants it. I hate college double talk. If you don't want it then be explicit and say so even if you have to say 'we will NOT accept subject tests.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Princeton and Yale both require four.

According to the links they recommend, but do not require, 2. In fact it's pretty soft language.

No, it's "strongly recommended" for Princeton. And if you are applying for engineering or the hard sciences, they want to see Chemistry and Math II.

Any time you see 'recommended', I take that as code for the schools wants it. I hate college double talk. If you don't want it then be explicit and say so even if you have to say 'we will NOT accept subject tests.

Yes, my point when I said "No, it's strongly recommended" was exactly that - they say "strongly recommended" but if you are applying against 27,000 other kids from around the world who are supplying those tests, you had better do it. The reason they don't "require" it is because the cost of applying to colleges has become prohibitive. Some families just can't afford the endless testing and tutoring and the colleges understand that. But if you are serious about applying there, then, yes, you had better supply at least two, preferably above 700.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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).

YEs, a number of them require Chem is you are applying for the Bachelor of Science degree, like Princeton. Then you are asked to submit Chem and Math II.