<p>Are AP classes needed to score near 800 on SAT II Chem or Bio? Thanks for your suggestions.</p>
<p>I’m interested in this for my son too.</p>
<p>He doesn’t want to double up on science classes which means he wouldn’t take an AP science class until senior year - too late for SAT II.</p>
<p>I scored a 780 on Biology E without AP Biology so it is definitely possible. I would recommend using Barron’s as a study guide.</p>
<p>I’ll be able to answer this “for sure” in about 4 weeks, after my son’s Jan 23rd Chemistry Subject Test results are in. So far, he’s scoring 780’s to 800’s on all the practice tests in REA, Princeton, and Barron’s. Hopefully, that will continue on the real test. He’s a junior. He finished Pre-AP Chemistry a full year ago (January, sophomore year) and will not take AP Chemistry until senior year. That’s his school’s normal progression for AP kids. So if he was to take the Chemistry test and have it count for college apps, it had to be prior to the AP course, like Longhaul’s son. His first diagnostic test from Barron’s, with no review, was something like a 650 or a 680. Then, over the winter break he studied the review books. Since mid-break, after reading the books, he’s been in the 780-800 range on every test – about 5 in a row.</p>
<p>So, so far, I would say that you wouldn’t have to take AP Chemistry prior to the Chemistry test. But my son did put in quite a bit of studying over the break … about an hour or two a day maybe, including taking all those practice tests and reviewing his missed answers.</p>
<p>Good luck!!</p>
<p>Thanks for replies. </p>
<p>SimpleLife: Keep me posted about your S real SAT II score. Hope he gets 800!</p>
<p>Okay, dragonboy. We’ll be sure to return here after his test results come back. The scores for the January 23rd test won’t be available until February 11th though. Until then!</p>
<p>I got an 800 on the Chemistry exam after taking AP Chemistry (my second year of chemistry) and I got a 740 on the Physics exam after taking one year of honors physics. I would say that having the AP definitely helps, but it’s possible to do well without taking the AP class because I was a dumbass and didn’t study at all for either exam.</p>
<p>I would not say that the AP Classes are necessary. Only take the AP Classes because you are really interested in the subject not for a test.</p>
<p>I got an 800 on the Chemistry exam taking an Honors Chem class three years before and I got a 780 on Physics while I was subsequently taking AP Physics C. AP Physics C didn’t go over a lot of the B topics that we did the year before, so I wasn’t completely prepared for those.</p>
<p>I say use Barrons, study like crazy, and you will do fine.</p>
<p>Congrats on both of you of getting 800. The important point that SAT II testing subjects are mostly covered by the non-AP Chemistry course according your experience. My S will not be able to take AP Chem due to schedule conflicting, but likes to take SAT II Chem.</p>
<p>I’m also interested in this thread. Is there any problem with taking the Bio subject test in after taking Honors Bio in 9th grade. My D probably will not take AP Bio until her senior year.</p>
<p>The SAT Subject tests are designed to be taken after a HS course. The only real advantage of taking an AP course before the SAT is that it provides a second year of preparation and it may be taught by a more experienced teacher. Nice, but not necessary.</p>
<p>770+ on bio and chem without AP. but i did self-study a fair bit…</p>
<p>@BigIs,
Actually, BigIs, the collegeboard website recommends a one-year college preparatory (i.e. AP) course before all the science subject tests. I’m pretty sure the old website also recommended a college-prep course before the World History test, but the new site no longer says that for World History, just Bio, Chem, and Physics. And the advantage of taking the AP course is that the material is (hopefully) taught at a higher and more in-depth level. You are right that students can be successful on the test without the college prep course, but the tests are designed to be taken after a college-prep (or AP) course.</p>
<p>This school year (Sep 2009 -> Jun 2010 for me), my classes are expected to be covering the material required for AP Calculus AB (though I’m studying the additional material for the BC on my own), AP Chemistry and and AP Physics C. Prior to this, I had only covered Chem/Math/Phys up to O-level. I took the SAT II in Oct 2009 and got 3 x 800.</p>
<p>I think a good background in chemistry is certainly helpful, but it’s not absolutely necessary to have completed an AP Chem course before taking the SAT. Just make sure you study from something (Princeton/Barrons/SparkNotes/w/e), so you know what they’re going to ask you.</p>
<p>@dragonboy,
As promised, I’m getting back to you on my son’s SAT II Chemistry results. He got an 800! He’s so glad. Like your son, he was not able to take AP Chem prior to the test. He did have Pre-AP Chemistry in fall of sophomore year, and he studied the Princeton Review books and a little bit of the Barron’s book over this past Christmas break. </p>
<p>Good luck to your son!</p>
<p>I took one year of Honors Chem in 10th grade (last year) and took the Chem SAT II in October. I used PR and stuff to just refresh myself and I got an 800 after being out of the class for 5 months. The whole trick to the test to make sure you understand the concepts and can do mental math. The time constraint is killer on that one.</p>
<p>Oh yeah, Remote’s post reminds me …</p>
<p>My post wasn’t exactly clear, perhaps. My son is a junior. So he finished pre-AP Chem in January of 2009, refreshed his knowledge with the PR and Barron’s books in December 2009 (11 months later), and got the 800 in Jan 2010.</p>
<p>So, yes, the 800’s are achievable without AP Chem and even after a long break. But the review books were essential!</p>
<p>800 with IB chem junior year</p>
<p>Bio E 760</p>
<p>2 weeks self-study w/ Barrons</p>
<p>800 is definitely possible, you’ll just need a bit more time and you’ll want to use more than one source.</p>
<p>I took the SAT Chemistry after nearly completing AP Chemistry (early May administration). I am currently self-studying for AP Biology so by natural extension, I decided to register for the Biology (M) test. I received an 800 in both. </p>
<p>Overall, it is safe to assume that there is a general positive correlation between scores and course level.</p>