5 on AP Exam; 680 on SAT II Subject Test

<p>My son just completed the 10th grade and he took both the AP and SAT II Subject Test for World History back in May and June. He received a 5 on the AP examination; however, he only received a 680 on the SAT II Subject Test. </p>

<p>The schools he is interested in applying to require at least two SAT Subject Tests scores in addition to either the SAT or ACT test score. He's considering retaking the SAT II Subject Test for World History in December. </p>

<p>My question here is, how do college admissions committees weigh AP exam scores relative to SAT II Subject scores in the same subjects? After taking the PSAT earlier this year as a 10 grader, my son started to receive letters from the likes of Rice University, Vanderbilt, Columbia, and the University of Chicago. He's potentially interested in Rice University, which is right in our backyard in the Houston area. I'm unfamiliar with the application process for these type of highly selectively schools as I personally attended our state's flagship public university.</p>

<p>Any advice is greatly appreciated.</p>

<p>AP scores play little to no role in the college admissions process. Your son may earn college credit for his 5, and having an AP class on his schedule will show rigor, but that’s about it.</p>

<p>@skieurope thanks for your response above. Am I correct in assuming then that you would see no utility in spending the $15 bucks per score report to submit the AP scores to the schools at this point? I assume that info is only relevant post-admission to determine course credit?</p>

<p>In my experience SAT II’s are significantly harder than AP tests (granted I did not study that hard for the specific SAT test and it’s format, I assumed having taken the AP class was enough in itself). I received all 5’s in AP US History, Literature, and Chemistry but a 770, 720, and 670 on the SAT II’s respectively. Have him try again in a new subject or have him study specifically for the SAT II World History (get a practice book) since he clearly knows the material. Otherwise just send the scores he has. His 5 will help even it out.</p>

<p>@kickemoff thanks for your reply. I think your suggestion is a good one regarding re-taking the test. My son received an A in the class and a 5 on the AP exam; however, he stated to me that he did not study as hard for the SAT Subject Test. I think he assumed his mastery of the coursework and how well he did on the AP exam would automatically carry over to the SAT Subject Test. He wants to major in History so I think retaking the test (with the proper prep) is the best thing here.</p>

<p>@texlaker, incidentally, don’t let correspondence from those schools affect you. Before you’re done, you’ll have more than you can handle, and it’s nothing but marketing – a brochure and a token will take you uptown. That said, my son wears the free UChicago t-shirt to the gym :-)</p>

<p>Save your money and don’t send score reports. AP scores are self-reported on the Common App. I think if you’re using them for placement purposes, the school might want an official score, but cross that bridge when you get to it. </p>

<p>My S16 has the same issue: 5 on APUSH and 690 on the US Hist SAT II while he got a 4 on the AP Bio exam and a 720 on the SAT II in Bio. I feel like we won’t be able to use the SATII in history and the BIo SAT II is marginal. He is going to take SAT Math II next winter (I really hope he will prep for it as he is pretty good in math and should be well prepared generally) and depending on how that goes can take Chemistry in May or June (and then maybe he won’t use the Bio or the US history SAT IIs).</p>

<p>I know the conventional wisdom says that AP scores don’t matter for admissions (and certainly don’t send the score reports as AP scores can be self reported on the Common Application and some high schools even include them on the transcript). However, in my experience having strong AP scores can only help support/confirm the grades on the transcript for AP courses and may perhaps “balance” out slightly weaker SAT II scores in the same subjects. Is he going to take any other SAT IIs next year? Perhaps the take away should be that the format/material on the SAT IIs and the APs is different and the tests need to be prepared for specfically (i.e. study the types of questions and content that are going to be on the respective tests). May not be worth retaking World History rather than studying for next SAT IIs for courses that he will be taking next year. YMMV</p>

<p>@lxnayBob, yeah I conducted a lot of research on college student search and learned that its really a marketing program intended to attract additional applicants. Initially, my son was impressed by receiving mail from Duke, Columbia, Cornell…after a while however the novelty wore off. I do believe that it was helpful for him to receive this info as a sophmore because it has helped to motivate him. He started volunteering at our local county library and got a summer job because he realized that staying home watching the World Cup this summer would not look good to these selective colleges.</p>

<p>As others have said, only send the scores into the college he will be attending, and self-report the score on the common app. He should definitely retake the SAT II after going through a review book. Don’t get overly excited about the mailings; they are a marketing ploy. If it helps him discover a heretofore unknown school, great. Best of luck on the endeavor.</p>

<p>@texlaker‌ , if it motivated him, great! And, fwiw, there is nothing wrong with marketing. I do have a minor issue when it appears that the recipient was singled out; I was impressed that Case Western would let DS apply for free until I found out that everyone gets to apply for free. Also, while emails are essentially free, the money spent on snail mail and brochures could have probably been put to better use. </p>

<p>Good luck to your son. My recommendation is to worry more about essay ideas that a few points on this test or another. Who knows what goes on in the admissions committee meetings, but our regional Adcom remembered my son’s essay and mentioned it to him when they met. That might have been some marketing to get him to accept, but I didn’t get that impression. </p>

<p>Great advice guys, I truly appreciate everyones comments. This forum has been a great find and very helpful.</p>

<p>Save the money and don’t send any AP score until matriculated. You may find out which school you will go to by the time you register for the AP exam in senior that you can use that free report for the college that would include all previous AP scores as well. My D paid nothing to submit her AP scores and she got the AP credits shown up on her unofficial college transcript last week already.</p>

<p>@billcsho that’s great money saving advice.</p>