<p>I have no idea what they expect on SAT IIs. My son wanted to take Math 1 and 2 and Chem, but I thought they probably wouldn't look too kindly on the two maths and he took Math 2, Chem, and Physics. He took them in Nov. and is pretty sure he got an 800 in math 2, finished in 30 minutes, got 800 on two practice tests, got 800 on math Sat I, 36 on math ACT. Chem he felt really good about also, got a 760 on the practice, thought the actual test went better, and is hoping for about a 780. Physics he is not so confident about though. He got a 730 on practice test from CB, thought this was about the same, maybe did a little better than that. Assuming he got at least a 730 on physics, would that be better than taking math 1 and getting an 800? I'm not sure if I should sign him up before Nov. 8 for one more subject test and whether I should give him a crack at Physics again with more prep or just let him take math 1. Any thoughts? ACT is 36 composite, 36 math and science, 35 English and reading. SAT I is 800 math, 750 writing, 740 cr. He has taken SAT I only once and subject tests only in November. Being from the midwest, we just really don't have any idea what they are expecting on the subject tests. Thanks for any advice.</p>
<p>You can just sign up for math I right now (probably not good to take I and II) and if he didn't do too well on the Nov test, he can take physics and math I on the actual test date. Collegeboard will bill you for the additional $8. In fact, you can take any other two tests you want since CB gives you a booklet with all the subject tests in them.</p>
<p>I would definitely advise against a science student submitting SatII math I - it is SAT II ultra-lite, and the same content as SAT I Math and it doesn't strengthen his profile at all. His competition will be submitting 3 'real' SAT IIs - so he can sign up for whatever makes sense in Dec (as stupidkid says, they don't care what tests you sign up for vs what you actually take, the exceptions being languages with listening) but I don't advise a fallback that involves Math I as one of the 3 SATs.
If Physics isn't a good option for him, Lit, US history or any other subject he has taken to an advanced level are far better choices than Math I - they show command of another subject, while Math I would make him look limited.</p>
<p>You definitely wouldn't want to take two maths, so it's good he didn't. If he scored over 700 on all of the tests he's done. There may be some schools that might want to see a social science or humanities in addition to science, but I can't think of any. More often it's tech schools want to see a math and a science. If he is a junior and taking AP US History he might want to do the subject test in the spring, it covers all the same material. If he's a senior, nevermind!</p>
<p>Thank you all for your advice. He is a senior. I wish we had known more about SAT earlier, he didn't even think about taking them until he got a 232 PSAT. Then when he got a 36 ACT, he started looking at more slective schools and discovered the need for SAT IIs. He had two years of Biology, but hasn't taken it since a sophomore. He had a year of hs US History as a junior, and is in his fourth year of Spanish. Harvard is the only school he is applying to that needs three SAT IIs. His Math 2 and Chem will be enough for MIT and CalTech.</p>
<p>It is a good suggestion to just sign up for one in Dec. by Nov. 8. I think with late fees it will cost us about $50. I was kind of hoping that if he put up a 800 Math 2 and a 780 in Chem, around a 730 in Physics would be OK, but it sounds like that may not be the case. At least I hopefully did not steer him wrong in telling him not to take two math tests.</p>
<p>It is tempting to wait and see and then maybe retake in January, although I think the date may conflict with one of his favorite ECs in January. And part of me says Harvard is probably a long shot anyway. When I was a kid, senior year was fun, but for him it seems like endless homework, applications, essays, and standardized tests.</p>
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[quote]
It is a good suggestion to just sign up for one in Dec. by Nov. 8. I think with late fees it will cost us about $50. I was kind of hoping that if he put up a 800 Math 2 and a 780 in Chem, around a 730 in Physics would be OK, but it sounds like that may not be the case.
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Those would be fine scores. I really doubt that only having science or math would make or break an application.</p>
<p>Having science/math only certainly doesn't hurt (eg: Physics, Chem, Math II) - my point was only that Math I isn't a good 3rd SAT, so if he doesn't want his Physics score to be the 3ed one, I think it would be better to retake or do a different test. Sorry if I wasn't clear.</p>
<p>sucks your counselors did tell him at the end of his junior year he needed subject tests. i was in the same situation as him except mine told me. i took mathII, spanish, and USH at the end of junior year a couple months ago, and i was very happy with my results. i'm done. maybe talk to them about that for future classes.</p>
<p>My kid is at Harvard and took both Maths. However, she did take several other SAT IIs as well.</p>
<p>Thanks guys. The only other student at our rural public high school to take SAT IIs was last year, an all-state football player who couldn't get in to Harvard. Some suggested his 33 ACT may have hurt him by being too high, with coaches wanting him to get an academic scholarship. Anyway, the gc knows nothing about SAT IIs. Otherwise, he could have taken them right after completing the appropriate courses. This may be part of the problem colleges have in trying to diversify; some students just do not have the resources available to them to jump through all of the applicable hoops.</p>