Hi, I’ve taken the SAT Subject Test Math Level 2 and have gotten 800.
Now, I’m thinking about my other two subject tests.
Originally, I had planned to do Math Level 2, Physics, and Chemistry (because I’m great at that kind of stuff and my school teaches these subjects extremely thoroughly and well). I am fairly confident that with some decent studying and preparation, I can manage 800s on Physics and Chemistry also.
But I also want to apply to colleges like Yale where Math Level 2, Physics, and Literature is probably more impressive than Math Level 2, Physics, and Chemistry (I would choose Physics over Chemistry because of the more generous curve).
Would taking Literature over Chemistry be a good idea if I want to apply to some more balanced colleges like Harvard and Yale as opposed to engineering schools like MIT? Either way, I will definitely not major in the liberal arts/humanities, favoring something in math or science. I don’t “suck” at literature, but it would definitely be significantly harder for me. I still want to look the best I can for colleges though.
Take Chemistry. It is much easier to prepare for and you have stated it is your stronger subject. If you can take it and get a high score, it will be much better than taking another test and getting a lower score. You can demonstrate your mastery of humanities in other ways, such as doing well in those courses or getting a solid teacher recommendation, all of which will mean more than a subject test in literature.
The literature subject test is completely arbitrary and varies in difficulty. I consider myself to be a strong literature and english student. I had previously scored 800 on the critical reading section twice. The first time I took the SAT literature exam I got a 630. The second time I took it I got a 760. There was literally no difference in studying, aka minimal, and the exam is known for its harder curves and more difficult content. I would recommend chemistry because it is much more knowledge based and easier to study for
Thank you so much for your response! Congratulations on your high CR and literature score! I think I may just end up taking Chemistry, as it would be much easier for me. I was just worried that I wouldn’t be able to demonstrate my mastery of humanities, like you said, because the APs I will be taking (sophomore/junior year with scores) are Phys C: Mechanics, Phys C: E+M, Calc BC, and Comp Sci A. I will then be taking AP Bio and AP Chem senior year, but wouldn’t have scores by college app time. For humanities, I will have IB World Literature HL, IB Spanish HL, and IB History of the Americas HL, but because they are two-year courses (both junior year and senior year), I won’t have scores for those either by the time I’m applying for college. I’m just worried, because although my school is well recognized, that I won’t have any standardized or official scores/proof of my mastery in the humanities. As you mentioned, I will do well in those courses, and try to get a teachers’ recommendation from one of my humanities teachers. What other ways do you think I can show my aptitude in the humanities?
Perhaps you could enter some creative writing competitions, poetry slams, national language competitions, join a literature magazine or newspaper, or find something else within the humanities that you enjoy. Overall I would not worry about it. You will still have the grades and the recommendations from your teachers and you will have a strong record in the sciences, which is what you will be majoring in I am assuming. The schools will evaluate you by what you have not what you do not have.The test scores don’t matter as much as showing aptitude in those courses imo, so I think you are more than fine.