<p>If engineering is a possibility, she should take math level 2 and either physics or chemistry sat2. Biology is not acceptable for many engineering programs. Extra tests are a good idea if she isn’t sure about major or schools or just to show off an area of strength.</p>
<p>Even MIT just requires 1 Math and 1 Science subject test. Taking subject tests that are relevant to intended major would be a plus and mostly recommended. Most engineering schools would accept any science (including Biology) together with Math2 subject test scores. Some schools do have the preference for Chemistry or Physics. See the document linked below for a thorough list of subject test requirements:
<a href=“http://www.rtsd.org/cms/lib/PA01000218/Centricity/Domain/185/fall%202013%20schools%20that%20req%20or%20rec%20SAT%20Subject%20Tests.doc[/url]”>http://www.rtsd.org/cms/lib/PA01000218/Centricity/Domain/185/fall%202013%20schools%20that%20req%20or%20rec%20SAT%20Subject%20Tests.doc</a></p>
<p>Californiaaa – your summary of points listed above is correct except #3. #3 depends on what college you are applying to. If you google “percentiles SAT subject tests” you will see that a score of 700 for Math Level 2 is only the 52nd percentile!!! A score of 700 for Chemistry is only the 56nd percentile (plus or minus).</p>
<p>For schools that require (and sometimes recommend, like Stanford) – your subject test scores really need to be quite high for them to “make a difference”. This is because only a small number of very highly selective schools require subject tests, so the pool of students taking SAT subject tests tends to be the cream of the crop… PLUS since they can self-select what tests they take, students tend to take the tests for which they are most prepared.</p>
<p>On a personal note, based on my D’s experience with the subject tests, I would strongly recommend making sure that if your child takes three in one morning, that he or she leaves until last (third test) the test that he/she thinks he would score the lowest on – the tests are only an hour+ long but are exhausting … and many students that we know, including our daughter, scored much lower on their third test probably due to the fatigue factor. The good news is that the vast majority of schools that require subject tests require only two – so if your third is your lowest score, you can just ignore it.</p>
<p>There is no reason for a top student to take math level 1. Level 1 is designed for students who haven’t progressed far enough in their math program to take level 2.
Yes, MIT says level 1 is ok, but if they have 10,000 applicants with level 2, do you really want your application to stand out because you took a lower level test? And some top programs say they expect level 2. For example, Wharton. </p>
<p>I can’t recall now which schools required physical science and not biology, but when we looked around about 2 years ago, we did see that requirement and so my daughter opted to take chem rather than bio. Just make up a tentative college list and check the testing requirements. </p>
<p>I think it’s a bad idea to jeopardize your scores with test fatigue by trying to cram all 3 into one sitting. You can avoid the test fatigue problem by taking the math test earlier in junior year. You don’t need to have finished calculus to do the sat2. You can take the other tests at the end of whatever year you completed the coursework.</p>
<p>Looking at the list posted by Billscho (where do you get this stuff?) it may have been from Carnegie Mellon we got the idea that biology isn’t the best test for prospective engineers.</p>
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<p>Which is good, since PreCalc is the recommended requirement for Math 2 :)</p>
<p>However, it is always good to check with your precalc teacher for curriculum coverage in class relative to the exam. There are a couple of questions on the M2 about topic xx (I forgot the topic), which our school does not cover until June (school goes until the 3rd week of June). Thus, those taking the May exam – like my son – had not clue on that specific topic since he had not been exposed to the new concept. OTOH, the M2 has a generous ‘curve’ for that very reason.</p>
<p>Assuming the OP is a California resident (based on the sn), it is easy enough to take the June subject test (since most California high schools are still in session): 2 tests in May, and then a 3rd or (redo) in June.</p>
<p>Take them both.</p>
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<p>mathmom, would you mind clarifying what you mean here? What “school reports” would you be referring to? </p>
<p>My kid goes to one of those schools that stopped offering AP classes several years ago, preferring to choose their own curricula for their most advanced classes. I’ve often wondered how colleges not familiar with the school actually view those courses.</p>
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<p>Looks like Bill lives in my neck of the woods. The document is from Radnor Township School District (on Philadelphia’s Main Line).</p>
<p>School submits a school profile with counselor’s rec providing information about the strength of the applicant’s curriculum.</p>
<p>The profile discusses what is available at the school.</p>
<p>Got it, thanks. I knew about those, just thought maybe there was some objective report being referred to.</p>
<p>Thanks, everyone!</p>
<p>OK, she has to prepare for math 2 (that’s easy) and 2 additional SAT subjects.</p>
<p>Just skimming this thread, so not sure if this was already addressed. Are the sample tests you looked at for the new AP Bio test? The test changed last year to be more about making connections and less about memorizing. Results were disastrous, 5% of test-takers got 5s. Teachers this year scrambling to try to prepare kids better for this new test. If that makes any difference to your plans. All the old released AP Bio tests are no good. CB pulled them from the store. The online course description for the revamped bio has sample questions for the new test. Teachers also have online access to a practice test.</p>
<p>Your daughter should take the Math 2 test at the June sitting of the year she takes precalc. She’ll be prepared without any additional study, assuming she has done well in the course.</p>
<p>I disagree with this statement:</p>
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<p>Just so you know, I got a 770 on the biology-E subject test but only a 3 on the new AP exam. Although that could also be because of a bad test day, the percentage of 5’s was one of the lowest of any AP exam in history, regardless of subject and year. I did not study that much for either one.</p>
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<p>Depends on your HS. (Our large public HS covers basis stats in Alg II, and reviews them again in precalc.) Best to just ask the precalc teacher if there are any holes in the class curriculum by the time testing rolls around.</p>
<p>My D also learned probabilities in middle school. Anyway, you can miss a handful of questions in Math2 and still get 800.</p>
<p>celesteroberts,</p>
<p>Thanks! Your comment is very helpful. The tests are very different, indeed. Like two different “biologies”.</p>
<p>Massmomm </p>
<p>"Your daughter should take the Math 2 test at the June sitting of the year she takes precalc. "</p>
<p>Thanks-Thanks-Thanks!</p>
<p>Daddio3, bluebayou, and billcsho </p>
<p>Thank you. I have to check with my D’s school.</p>
<p>SteelTrapMindset , </p>
<p>“Just so you know, I got a 770 on the biology-E subject test but only a 3 on the new AP exam.” </p>
<p>I looked through the material - SAT biology E and AP biology look like different subjects. They clearly test very different sets of material.</p>