<p>Hi, My D will take 2 or 3 subject tests, not just because colleges might want them, but because she tends to do well on shorter tests, no matter how intense.
She was told by her teachers/GC that if she gets a higher math score on a subject test or a 4 or 5 on an AP test, it might offset a lower SAT score. She fades on long tests and like some other posters, doesn't want medication for just that (It was offered and declined)
So... if you do score for example a 600 on the SAT math and 670 or more on the SAT ll, will that be helpful?
I've only heard one admission counselor mention it before and they did say they would look at that along with their school grades and see a pattern. If only the SAT was lower, they would discount it.
Anyone have that happen to them, with inconsistent scores?</p>
<p>I"ve seen blogs where parents have said the same thing and I think it will show your daughter more clearly than the entire SAT.
This study from Univ. of CA,Berkeley seems to agree. This is it in part:
For over a decade, Mr. Geiser has been studying standardized tests, specifically related to subsequent performance by students enrolled at the University of California campuses. In a research paper released in July by the center at Berkeley, "Back to Basics: In Defense of Achievement (and Achievement Tests) in College Admissions," Mr. Geiser concluded that "admissions criteria that tap student mastery of curriculum content, such as high-school grades and performance on achievement tests, are stronger predictors of success in college and are fairer to low-income and minority applicants than tests of general reasoning such as the SAT." Geiser found that "achievement tests were consistently superior to the SAT in predicting college outcomes, including outcomes for poor and minority students."</p>
<pre><code>The NACAC committee’s common sense recommendations should cause colleges everywhere to re-examine how they are using the SAT I to evaluate applicants. Hopefully, many of those colleges will drop the SAT I requirement and rely more heavily on subject tests.
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<p>I don't think a subject test will "offset" a reasoning test.
A reasoning test forces the student to actually think on their toes and manipulate formulas while a subject tests only tests how well the student knows that topic.</p>
<p>Maybe it depends on the major or school. I know when my son's friend (who wanted to major in English or something similar) did very well on AP Lit tests, subject tests, but didn't do as well on the SAT, certain colleges,even if they weren't needed, said she could send those tests to help them see her as a whole. That along with her solid school record, recs, etc. got into honor colleges and she did very well. Again, certain colleges want to know you could master a subject, especially if that is your intended major. One test shouldn't be the only component and luckily for most colleges, it isn't.</p>