<p>Okay, so I basically didn't even know that subject tests existed until a short while ago, and now I'm freaking out over which to take. Let's just say that where I'm from, the majority of people--while they're smart enough to get into better colleges--choose to go to the in-state universities that only ask for SAT or ACT. When I previously saw something written about "Subject Tests", I naively thought they were only talking about AP tests. I suppose I'm lucky in the sense that I have an entire summer to prepare, but despite this, I know absolutely nothing about these tests... This is where you (hopefully) will be able to help me. When SAT begins administering tests again after summer ends, I'll already be into my senior year and I'll only have a couple chances to score highly. I need to take three different tests.</p>
<ol>
<li><p>I feel like I'm going to take Literature. I took AP Lang this past year and got a 36 English and a 34 Reading for the ACT.
Q: Is this very indicative of how well I would preform on the Lit subject test?</p></li>
<li><p>For sake of diversity (and necessity), I will take a Math as well...... I am pretty good in math and have taken Precal/Trig. I've heard that Math IC is easier than Math IIC (but not by much), and also that MathIIC has a better curve and more people score highly.
Q: To your knowledge, is this true? </p></li>
</ol>
<p>3... Now, here is where I run into problems. After taking Literature and a Math, I don't know what else to take. I have the option of taking either Chemistry, Physics, or US History. I've taken 1 year of honors Chemistry (junior year), 0 years of Physics (but somehow placed into AP Physics for next year), and 1 year of honors USH (junior year). Which do you think I should take for the best results? I tried my hand at a US practice test the other day after reviewing and got a 630, but I need to do much better than that (~730). Ahhhh! I'm just so confused.
Q: Which has the best curve? Would it be easier to study for a History (fact based test) or a Science (seemingly more conceptual)? Should I not even consider Physics because I've never taken an actual course in it? Which is the easiest to self-study???</p>
<p>I definitely would think that literature would be a very good choice. The first is that I believe the 36 and 34 on english and reading would absolutely mean you have many of the skills necessary to do well on the subject test. I believe the lit subject test also requires the least memorizing/assimiliation of concepts from a prep book, so little time needs to be spent doing that. Be warned though that everyone says that the lit test is by no means just as easy as sat cr, so I would assume that also holds true for the ACT english/reading as well. And of course you definitely need a prep book of some sort to brush up on the few things you need to know, and more importantly the practice tests.</p>
<p>For math, I believe the general consensus is that if you have taken precalc/trig, definitely take math ii. I know i personally agree with this. As you have said, it is definitely true that the questions on the math i are easier, and don’t test as many topics. However, its curve is extremely strict, and all it takes is a couple of careless errors on test day to bring your score down 30 or so points. The ridiculous amount of leniency the math ii curve gives, in my opinion, makes up for the harder questions/concepts, and the fact that the level 2 test is (i believe in some/many cases) better respected gives you another reason to go for this test. I think if you go through a prep book to make sure you have mastered the concepts, a high score shouldn’t be too hard for you. Having reread your question now I see that you didn’t ask for an arguement as to which one you should take, but as I’ve said, yes math ii has a better curve, but math i has easier questions. That doesn’t mean it’s easier to score high on math i. Do more people score highly on math 2? I don’t know. Certainly percentiles for a score such as 750 would be much lower on math 2 (i think 78?) than on math i. However, maybe this is because more “math savvy” students choose to take this one, I don’t know.</p>
<p>Other than physics (which I has a very lenient curve) I’m not entirely sure how the rest of the test curves compare to each other, except that chemistry is more lenient than biology. Never having studied for a history subject test, I’m not sure which would be better. Certainly though, I would narrow your choice dowb to chemistry or ush and not consider physics at all, although some would say it’s not impossible to score well just from self studying. I also wouldn’t be at all alarmed by a 630 on your first practice test if you haven’t even opened a reveiw book. Although it might not be what people want to hear, I think you should just choose whichever one you’re better at, and that will be the easier one. I believe that if you are one of those people who is able to absorb scientific concepts well, then absolutely chemistry would be easier to prepare for. If you aren’t, however, you can still guarantee yourself a good score in ush simply through lots of hard work and memorization.</p>
<p>Don’t panic. To my knowledge, no school requires more than 3 SAT Subject tests, and many very good schools require only two. Very few people score well on the Lit subject test 6% score 750+, 17% score 700+), but if this is a strength, you may be able to get a good score with limited prep. It basically rewards people who have done a ton of reading in various genres, styles, and eras, and who are good at interpreting difficult texts. Not something you can cram for; either you’ll be good at it or not based on native abilities and a lifetime of practice, though you should familiarize yourself with some basic literary terms and concepts. </p>
<p>Math is similar in a way, though it does test knowledge of and ability to use specific mathematical concepts. But basically, if you’re strong on math and have mastered the subject through pre-calc, you should be able to do well on Math 2 with limited prep. Math 1 tests less advanced math but has a much harsher curve, and many people who take both find they score higher on Math 2 simply because the Math 1 curve is so unforgiving. And a far higher percentage of test-takers get high scores on Math 2 (23% taking Math 2 score 750+, compared to only 5% scoring 750+ on Math 1), partially because of the way the scores are scaled. That leaves one more Subject Test you need to study for. If you enjoy history, you can get yourself up to speed rather easily with an appropriate time for prep and the right study aids. As for sciences, I don’t know, but some on CC have suggested Bio is a subject that can quickly be absorbed by a mind attuned to the subject and willing to put in an appropriate amount of prep time.</p>
<p>I think the third subject test you take depends on what you are better at, Chem or History. Personally, I would take history because I struggled in my honors chemistry class and find history much easier. If you are good at the concepts in Chem, you CAN take that, but if you use AMSCO AP book ([Amazon.com:</a> United States History: Preparing for the Advanced Placement Examination: John J. Newman: Books](<a href=“http://www.amazon.com/United-States-History-Preparing-Examination/dp/1567656609/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1246109607&sr=8-1]Amazon.com:”>http://www.amazon.com/United-States-History-Preparing-Examination/dp/1567656609/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1246109607&sr=8-1)) and Crash Course, I PROMISE that you will get a good score on US History. AMSCO does such a good job of teaching you all that you need to know without teaching you too much, and Crash Course does a good job of highlighting important facts and details. Then just take two or three practice tests on Spark Notes.
You are in really good shape because you have so many strengths to choose from! Don’t freak out, you can do it :). I would take three tests, but REMEMBER that most colleges only require/suggest two, so you can use your third as a backup. Good luck!</p>
<p>Take a Lit practice test, take a Math I practice test, take a Math II practice test, and take a Chem practice test. Then figure out not only which one you did better on but which one you felt most comfortable on (it’s possible, for example, that you did better on Chem than on U.S. History but think you can brush up on the facts of History more easily).</p>
<p>There are only 3 or 4 schools that require 3 SAT IIs. Many very selective ones only require 2. What’s your college list looking like right now?</p>