DS will likely apply to schools that do not require subject tests, but recommend them. Is it absolutely necessary that he take two subject tests to be competitive? He took the US History subject test this past spring and scored a 750. His achilles heel is math and science so he is reluctant to take Math level 2 or one of science exams. English Lit would be the only alternative, and he panicked when he noticed that it covered poetry which he absolutely hates. Also, I understand the English Lit subject test is extremely tough with a very low average. For the record, he scored a 5 on the AP English language exam and a 700 (old SAT) in Critical Reasoning .
When it comes to the whole not-required-but-recommended thing, I think that sending scores is usually only necessary when your stats are largely below average.
I never took the subject tests so I have no idea if a 750 is good or not, but if your son’s stats are a little low, then maybe taking the subject tests is a good idea. I see no reason for him to take the math and science ones unless he wants to go into those things (which I’m assuming is not the case).
Find some subject tests he can take. But if his stats are within the range for most of his schools, don’t worry about it too much.
Look to see if the school considers the ACT to be an acceptable alternative to Subject Tests.
If a STEM major and they are recommended, that is saying TAKE THEM. For example engineering at UCLA or UCB, to be at all competitive, you need to submit a science and math 2. But since you said math and science aren’t their strong subjects, I would assume that means they are not going that direction? I wouldn’t be scared to take the Eng Lit test, especially if he got a 5 on the AP English test, but only if they are applying to a school that requires 2 tests or “strongly recommends” them. (Georgetown requires 3, but very few have that requirement.) Otherwise that AP 5 serves as evidence of strong English skills, so I would only take it if you need an additional test. btw, 750 is a great score.
I would say if recommended, they want to see them. No need, though, to do math or science. You could ask the colleges’ adcoms for your school if you really don’t want to pursue but I think he could help himself by taking another.
Also, AP scores are self reported whereas subject tests are official. The 5 was on language whereas the subject test is literature. With the scores your son has (which are good, btw) he could probably do fine if he bought a review book and spent a little time with it. It is different, though, from the CR part of the SAT and the AP he has taken.
When the schools say recommended, my opinion is that they want to see them for all applicants except hooked athletes and economically disadvantaged applicants. How about a subject test in a foreign language?
We lived in the Midwest when my kids went thru the application process, and SATs were not very common where we lived. Both my kids just took the ACT with writing. There were only a couple schools that required SAT subject tests and they did not apply to those schools. They were not math/science kids. They were both admitted to top LACs.
That’s a bit different. Even when some of top schools required Subject Tests, it was phrased “ACT with writing or SAT + 2 (or however many) Subject Tests.”
Since it looks like OP’s kid took the SAT, this does not really apply.
Anyhow, with a 750, I would suggest another subject test. It does not have to be STEM, if that’s not what’s in his wheelhouse. The Lit test is really a misnomer, IMO; it’s more like CR on steroids, so he should not be afraid of the poetry.
My younger son did very well in US History and Bio. (Which he took the year he was in AP Bio) but got only a 610 in Math 2. Back then Georgetown required 3 tests. He had done very well in CR on the main SAT and it looked like the one subject test he could take with minimal studying. He doesn’t like poetry either and hated English classes in school though he is actually very interested in how novels are structured and took creative writing in college. He took a practice Lit test, and decided he do pretty well. He got over a 700 with no prep besides taking the practice test.
I hate most poetry too but it sounds like he handles it well enough. The SAT subject test is mercifully short (or merciless depending on your POV). Why not take a practice English Lit subject test to see how he does. Risk free way to tell if that is a good one for him.
sleeplessmom1 - I posted this back in June on another thread - but I think it applies here too:
My son applied to Northwestern Engineering, where SAT 2s are “recommended not required”, but he called the Admissions Dept about them (he didn’t want to take any more tests!) and was told that the SAT 2s are for students that would like to show strength in an area that is not reflected in their grades and/or AP Tests. Since he had a 4.0 GPA and scored all 5s on his APs - he did not take any SAT 2s and was admitted ED.
E-mail admissions and ask them.
My middle son had no problem getting accepted to schools where Subject Tests were recommended and he had none. He had a couple nice AP scores and DE A’s. We were told that (and his ACT score) were sufficient. Apparently, they were correct. He was homeschooled from 7th grade on too.
Emory is the only school he had interest in that said he would need Subject Tests in spite of his other accomplishments. Instead, he opted to not visit Emory over it (even though we were going right past Atlanta). Their loss. He has done extremely well in college having ended up at the University of Rochester.
If he can get a 5 on the AP Lit exam, he should be fine on the subject test. I didn’t study at all for the subject test and got a 790–the questions are essentially just multiple choice reading comprehension questions. I think the reason the Lit subject test appears harder is because the students who take the Math/Science test tend to be a narrower, self-selected range of high scorers.
As of now, he is mainly interested in California schools (UCs, USC, etc). He has no interest in STEM and will likely apply undeclared or major in business. He hates standardized testing so we didn’t push him to do more this past spring. He’s taken the old SAT twice, and will likely try the new SAT in Oct and maybe the ACT in Sept. His SAT scores are ok - (1st -590/590/720 m/cr/wr), (2nd - 660/700/680). The first time he took the test, he was too nervous so hardly slept. Hence, the poor performance. Just wondering if an additional subject test will help him in the admissions or if he could just forgo a second subject test.
He also took the AP US History test and scored a 4.
You’re right to not mess with Math Level 2 . . . my son is a STEM kid and we were trying to bolster his ACT math score (which was OK but nothing to write home about) and Math 2 is tough. Didn’t help much.
I would do an English Lit practice test and see where he nets out. The 750 on US Hx is nice!
This is just me, and we are not dealing with the California schools, but I think the SAT subject tests are a little over-the-top if you’ve got a kid with decent stats and a solid academic record, and who isn’t looking to go to an Ivy or elite school. [with all due respect!]
ETA: Homeschooling family here, and I can see why some schools want more from homeschoolers in the way of subject tests. Helps to validate their learning. Still . . . wasn’t thrilled with all the testing.
He took the AP English language test and not AP English Lit. I’m not sure if that will make a difference in how well he scores on the English subject test.
He probably is ok with just one
What about taking the Subject Test in his foreign language?
They’re not easy tests, but it’s another option to consider.
Also, 750 is a very good score in US History. I hope he’s pleased.
Nope. No AP class is needed to do well on any Subject Test. None. Regardless, the vast majority (~90%) of students who take AP Lit take it as a senior, so that offers no help for the Subject Test.