<p>I am currently living in the UK taking A Levels in Geography, Economics, Maths and Further Maths. I would like to apply to the US and have looked particularly at Stanford, MIT, Columbia, UChicago and Brown. For all of the above with the exception of UChicago, I will need to sit at least two SAT II tests and looking at my A Level choices, I am finding myself in a bit of a problem. Math II is an obvious choice but I am not sure on the other. Any suggestions? </p>
<p>Goldfly</p>
<p>Ps I may have to swap out MIT for something else because it isn't likely that I will be able to take a subject test in one of the sciences :(</p>
<p>I might add that I have taken GCSEs in Chemistry, Physics, Biology, Maths, English Lit, English Language, Drama, Geography and Spanish. I will also be taking the ACT exams (what is this about some universities not requiring subject tests if you take the ACTs? Which universities have this requirement?).</p>
<p>You might want to try Spanish and Literature, based on your GCSEs. Spanish may be a bit more difficult than the GCSE, and Lit is about the same, though you might want to check out a prep book for that, since the style of the questions is different.
Some programs, however, require certain Subject Tests. It depends on what you’d like to study.
Oh, and most universities accept the ACT + Writing instead of SAT IIs.</p>
<p>Is the reason you can’t take a science SAT 2 because the dates don’t work, or because you have insufficient time to prepare?</p>
<p>MIT does accept Biology SAT 2 for science - might be more reasonable to self study for Biology E with the Barron’s book if you had to (assuming your heart is set on MIT).</p>
<p>Both Spanish and English are among my weaker subjects so if I was to self study a subject test, it would most likely be a science. </p>
<p>Did you do GCSEs because if you did, it would be a massive help to me if you could highlight the difficultly of the science subject tests compared to the GCSEs. </p>
<p>I would like to major in economics at one the the universities that I have specified. Do you know which of those don’t require subject tests? On the websites, they say that submitting subject tests are optional if you submit an ACT + Writing however would I be at a disadvantage if I don’t or if I only submit one (Math II)? I can’t afford to be at too much of a disadvantage as they are very selective and the fact that I am an international applicant already lowers my chances drastically!</p>
<p>This is not the reason that I am unable to sit a science subject test. You see, my A Level options limit me in terms of the subject tests that I can take as Geography or Economics isn’t an option. </p>
<p>I wouldn’t say that I have my heart set on MIT although it would probably be my first choice alongside Stanford. As I am doing a very rigorous math course in the UK, would you say that perhaps self studying Physics would be a better alternative? I received an A* in Physics GCSE and a low A* in Biology and Chemistry so Physics is clearly my strongest of the sciences. I wouldn’t have very much time to self study, perhaps only half an hour a day if that however there are a lot of mechanics modules in Further Math A Level that may benefit me. What do you think?</p>
<p>I am not sure whether I can comment on whether self study for the Sat 2 Physics is possible, but if it can be done, then someone on these forums has surely done it.</p>
<p>You probably know this, but there is a book of 20 sat subject tests available on amazon - perhaps you should look at the one on physics and decide whether it is within your skill set?</p>
<p>@Goldfly I actually took IGCSEs, which are apparently more difficult but I’m not too sure about the truth in that.
The main difference is that SAT Subject Tests are multiple choice only. That can be difficult if you’re not used to it. For example, I got an A on my A-Level Literature (A* on IGCSE) but only a score of 690 on the SAT Lit. While in the IGCSEs they expect you to analyze everything by yourself and write an elaborate essay, in the SAT they already have the potential analyses listed, you just have to pick the one that fits best. They also require you to know a lot of terminology.
I didn’t take Spanish, but French & German SAT IIs were mostly lots and lots of grammar and vocabulary. Yet not a very extensive vocabulary. I’d say 60% GCSE level, though you should be VERY familiar with when to use what tense.
In Math, well, it’s also multiple choice, and if you mess up, you get no points, in fact you get 1/4 of a point taken away. In the IGCSE, questions were very complex and they built on each other. Also, when I got the wrong answer but had the correct method, I still got points. I pretty much see SAT II Math as an attempt to include as many topics as possible, but you don’t need such a deep knowledge as in, e.g. A-Level Math. It’s just so they know you know how to do it, and then they move on.
As on the Sciences, I’m not an expert but based on what I’ve seen, they’re slightly more difficult than the GCSEs.
I’m not applying to the schools on your list, so I don’t really know much, but the Ivies I’m applying to are all fine with an ACT+Writing & no SAT IIs. As on MIT, all I can say, I know a girl who got in, and that year, she got the highest score in the world for A-Level Marine Science, but her SAT II Chemistry was in the lower 700s.
Hope this helps.
If you’ve got any questions, feel free to PM me. I’ll only be able to reply in about a week, though. :(</p>
<p>PS. I self-studied for all my IGCSEs and A-Levels, & got all As & A*s, and I did the same for the SATs & SAT IIs, along with attending another school. Everything turned out just fine. It’s not as bad as you think, especially if it’s only one subject.</p>
<p>Thank you very much both of you for all your help!</p>
<p>@ Layrasparks I am also doing the iGCSEs I guess I call them GCSEs because it’s shorter I have decided to self study the Physics Subject Test which I’m sure will be fine as my GCSE knowledge is pretty solid. It’s good to hear from someone who does A Levels as well as the SAT II tests as I have no idea what to expect in terms of the difficulty of the SAT IIs. </p>
<p>Good luck by the way on getting into the universities of your choice!</p>
I have decided to self study the Physics Subject Test which I’m sure will be fine as my GCSE knowledge is pretty solid. It’s good to hear from someone who does A Levels as well as the SAT II tests as I have no idea what to expect in terms of the difficulty of the SAT IIs. </p>