About SAT II subjects...

<p>Do seniors right now in High School have to take three SAT II subject tests or two?
And this may seem like a stupid question, but...
If three, would you consider Spanish, English Lit and Math IC a good plan? (the reason I'm asking is because there's two languages.. and I heard somewhere that you shouldn't take two things of the same subject like math (I & II)</p>

<p>Well, it depends on the school. For Princeton you have to take 3. Lit doesn't count as a language, so you're fine. If you're good at math, I would take the IIC instead of the IC.</p>

<p>The math IIC has a beautiful curve! 7 wrong = perfect score...well I guess you would have to adjeust for the guessing penalty</p>

<p>Anyone know how greatly Princeton looks at Subject Tests? That is, in comparison to the SAT I.</p>

<p>Those three sound great, though obviously if (say) you're listing yourself as a future physics major you should take that SAT. Lit is HARD and has a brutal curve, so doing well on it is impressive. </p>

<p>Pessimism, I'm purely speculating when I say that Subject Tests are important but not as much so as the SATI. The Reasoning test measures some eldritch mixture of your sheer natural intelligence, how well-read you are and your writing skills (though prep can certainly skew the results). You might call it your raw academic ability independent of the circumstances of your particular high school education - and obviously Princeton wants to measure this ability. </p>

<p>The Subject tests function more as confirmations of what should be already indicated on your transcript - bad scores raise eyebrows but very good ones are almost par for the course.</p>

<p>How important are they, if you already have a decent SAT score? I have a 2040, and it looks like I'm gonna get about a 750 math, but a 600 Litareature and French (judging from practice tests)</p>

<p>Actually I think SATII's have meaning because for most of it you actually need to know something about the subject. </p>

<p>But OP, take them seriously and do as well as you can.</p>

<p>Jose - your SAT IIs are fine. Spanish is Language while English is...English. They come under different categories, in any case.</p>

<p>Although I'm not Princeton (I wish...), I think I'd care more about SAT IIs than SATs, if simply because (a) most people don't get test prep for that, and (b) it reflects, on an objective scale, how much you learned in school.</p>

<p>Problem becomes that a lot of strong applicants have SAT IIs around the same range. Is a 800 Chemistry really <em>that</em> different from a 790 Chemistry? I doubt it.</p>

<p>From what I have been told by college admission counselors the SAT II Writing is probably the most important.</p>

<p>Why is this the case? I'm particularly worried because on the SATs, I have 790M, 800CR, but only 710W. Although I got an 11/12 on the essay, I got a 67/80 on the multiple choice. Looking at someone else's work and picking out mistakes has never been my strength...</p>

<p>Isn't the fact that I have strong english grades, 800CR, and a 5 on the AP English Language exam enough to show that I have a solid grasp of writing? </p>

<p>I'm also nervous because I was scheduled to retake the SATs this Saturday, but decided (today, as a matter of fact) against it. My parents say that right now, all my other scores on SAT Is and SAT IIs are solid, and are worried a dip in scores will be seen as a bad trend. I too, share this concern; I haven't been able to study much as a result of classwork + ECs + university work.</p>

<p>Essentially, my question is very simple: should I go ahead and take the test?</p>

<p>No you're absolutely fine, taking it again will only stress you out and hurt you in the long run. Take this saturday to relax, and watch Penn State destroy Ohio State.</p>

<p>I think (or at least hope) that nopoisonivy was being sarcastic....there is no more SAT II writing. I wouldn't stress out about the writing score b/c it is much less important than the other sections and you are right that your english grades, 5 on AP Lang and 800CR will overshadow the lower writing score. </p>

<p>I wouldn't recommend taking the test again if you feel you will do worse (a 1590 for the sections that matter is AWESOME and will be hard to redo unless you truly feel prepared).</p>

<p>is the lit curve really that brutal?</p>