My son is trying to decide which math/science SAT 2 test to take, and is leaning towards Chemistry. He hasn’t done biology since last year, and won’t take physics until next year. He’s taking college algebra and trig this year and has a solid A, but his standardized math scores on the ACT are always about a point or two lower than he’d like. So he’s not super-confident about taking the math subject exam.
He is taking regular chemistry right now (not honors or AP), and he is trying to figure out if that’s enough to get mid 700’s. He is a strong test-taker, and has a great memory - so chemistry seems like a test that might work for him since it seems like there is a lot of information to memorize (a bit different than math that way). He finds his chemistry class very, very easy…but I’m not sure if that’s due to the class itself or what!
Thanks for any feedback!
My kid was in a similar situation in that biology was not fresh, had not yet taken physics and so took the chemistry SAT II exam. Despite being in AP chemistry at the time, my kid maxed out on Chem II at a 690, while was able to get in the 700s on math I and math II. My suggestion is to leave as much time as possible to repeat exams as needed. Also, consider writing one of the math exams at the same time as a science (which ever he chooses). Since you can select exactly which scores to send to which schools, a poor score does not need to be shown. And you don’t know which subject your son will do best in (math or science).
Thank you, very helpful. Would you mind sharing how your student scored on AP Chem? Well, some schools do require that you do submit ALL scores, and can’t hide any of them. So that kinda stinks.
SAT subject tests cover material that should be in regular high school level courses (not AP level material). So, in theory, completion of high school chemistry should be good preparation for the SAT subject test in chemistry.
Unfortunately, many high schools do not have high quality regular high school level (or even AP) courses. Here are some practice questions he can try to see how well he knows the material by SAT subject test standards:
https://subjecttestspractice.collegeboard.org/practice/sat-subject-test-preparation/chemistry
More information about the test:
https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/sat-subject-tests/subjects/science/chemistry
@collegework, my kid won’t take the AP Chem test until May, so I don’t have a score to share. I don’t think our local high school’s chem program has been particularly strong. But I think you are mostly, if not entirely wrong about schools requiring you to show all SAT II scores. I believe Stanford wants to see all SAT I or ACT scores you take, and they are very much the outlier among schools. But, I don’t think that even Stanford requires you to show every SAT II test you took. Review the policy at the schools your son plans to apply and then decide. I really do recommend taking both a math and a chem test to see which score is higher. Also, multiple tests can really help. I think my kid’s highest SAT II score was literature (780) which was achieved the second try out of three as I remember it. Taking the test more than once can help.
Thanks to both of you, and Sam-I-Am I will investigate the SAT 2 reporting to schools that I thought required ALL tests, but maybe that just means SAT 1 and ACT. I sure hope I’m wrong! Yes, I’m thinking of Stanford. Appreciate the input.