<p>Hi All. My oldest is a HS freshman so this is all so new to me and I could really use some guidance.</p>
<p>We are trying to decide whether or not to register her for the SAT bio exam. A little background: She is a good student -- her 2nd qtr grades are all above 90. She is in honors: English, Italian, Global, and Living Environment. She dropped down from honors Math to regular Math and is doing very well. Her "borderline" class is Living Environment. Although she got a 93 in the 2nd Qtr, her midterm was an 83. And she really averages in the high 80s low 90s. She has to work much harder in sci/math, whereas she can easily keep her grades up in Eng/Global/Italian.</p>
<p>Her guidance counselor is encouraging her to take the SAT bio exam. Her LE teacher is discouraging her (and everyone, actually) from taking it. Apparently, the cirriculum is really teaching to the state's regents exam...not the SAT subject exam. Sooooo, studying for the SAT subject requires alot of extra studying/tutoring just to learn new material which will appear in the exam.</p>
<p>My first inclination is for her NOT to take it. Why have that additional stress in a subject that does not play to her strengths? She really has no desire to pursue a major in sci/math in college. On the other hand, if colleges are looking for 2-3 SAT subject scores and she can pull off a decent score, then she gets one out of the way in her freshman year. And if she does poorly, as I understand it, we don't need to submit the grade.</p>
<p>Soooooooooooooooo, if you've stuck with me so far - Thank You! And if you can offer any advice on what to do, I would really appreciate it. I just feel so clueless...I have so much to learn.</p>
<p>First of all, only the most selective colleges require the SAT subject tests. I know that it’s hard to know what schools a freshman will be considering in 3 years, but it’s possible that she won’t need the tests at all.</p>
<p>Because only the most selective schools require the subject tests, only the most able students take them. The curves are pretty tought. At your HS, kids only do well on the science subject tests after a year of honors and another year of an Advanced Placement course in the subject. I think that if the teacher is not encouraging the students to take the test, than it’s probably not a good idea. </p>
<p>I don’t think it’s worth the stress to have your daughter take this test. If she needs Subject tests later on, she can take them in her better subjects. Good luck.</p>
<p>The NY state bio regents class does not cover most of the material on the subject test. My DD’s bio teacher also told her it was not a good idea to take the subject test until after taking AP Bio.</p>
<p>The only college I know that still requires 3 subject tests is Georgetown so unless she is planning on applying there, she only needs 2 subject tests. </p>
<p>There is plenty of time to fit in the subject tests and it makes more sense to take the subject tests in her strongest classes. I also think most freshmen are not ready to focus on college testing- they just started high school!</p>
<p>Your daughter could try taking a practice test in The Official Study Guide for All SAT Subject Tests put out by College Board and see how she does. She might be able to see right away whether or not she should take the subject test.</p>
<p>For what it’s worth, currently Georgetown is the only school that requires three subject tests. This may very well change by the time your student applies, however as it stands now two is the norm for the most selective schools. </p>
<p>As a freshman I would not push it if she’s not comfortable and you’re being advised against it by instructors. There are some schools that require all tests be sent so yes, it may come back to bite her if she doesn’t do well. Logically a college will see she was a freshman and not even consider the score if it isn’t up to par and well under other tests scores. She will be upset if she doesn’t do well and has to send it, weather or not it is considered. </p>
<p>My rule of thumb is to have my kids take subject tests the June after an AP exam in an AP class they’ve done well in. The information is fresh and the AP test prep is generally good prep for the subject test. There’s no reason to rush if she’s not ready. </p>
<p>Our D had two years of biology and there were still sections that were on the SAT Subject test that weren’t covered in her school classes. Agree with Deborah T that you should buy the Official Study Guide.</p>
<p>[The</a> Official Study Guide for all SAT Subject Tests](<a href=“Store App”>Store App)</p>
<p>You’ll know pretty quit how much backing and filling she’ll need to do to be prepared to take the test. I’d be very surprised if freshman biology covered the required topics in enough depth.</p>
<p>Agree with previous poster, she should wait to take the SAT subject test AFTER she’s already prepped and has taken the AP BIO exam. That’s what my S has done and since you now will be sending all scores when she is applying to colleges in a few years, you shouldn’t take the risk of sending a “so-so score” on an SAT II test. She could take the practice tests (lots of books for SAT II exams at Barnes and Noble), and IF she does score very well, then maybe it’s worth it to knock one off the list early. But my tendency is to tell you to ignore the advice to have her take it now (more risky than worth it if she gets a low score that will be sent to all colleges her Senior year). </p>
<p>Also, my S applied to Ivy’s as well as top tier LAC, you need 2-3 if that’s the direction she’s going. A lot of people get nuts and take loads of unecessary SAT II’s --just have her take the 3 and in subjects that she’s already strong in (or prepped for AP exams in ;). But hold off until Junior and Senior year when she stands a better chance of earning higher scores (720-800 for top schools).</p>
<p>I agree with the other posters here that it’s not really sounding like this is one your daughter should be taking this year. One reason I suggested the practice exam is because that’s a way for your daughter to be able to start making determinations like this for herself and take ownership of the process.</p>
<p>I see no need to take the exam. I know from my sons’ classes those students who took the Bio SAT after Living Environment often had that as their lowest score. My youngest waited till after he took AP Bio and did very well. My older son did the SAT in physics instead (which he did when he took AP Physics C having already take Regents Physics as well.) Math and one other SAT is all most students will ever need. If they don’t like their math score there are lots of other possible tests, both my kids had their highest scores in US History after taking APUSH. Both took exams spring junior year.</p>
<p>Since the OP asked a question about subject tests, I’d like to ask another one, too. </p>
<p>Oh but first, to the OP, I think it depends on how passionate your d is about bio. My son, now a junior, took both the physics SAT II and the Math II in 8th grade and got an 800 and 760 respectively. (He will retake the Math II in May and we’ll assume he’ll get an 800 since he’s had a ton more math since then) If your d is very serious about biology, and she’s taken some practice exams and done very well, I’d say go ahead and have her take it.</p>
<p>My question: My son just got his Lit score and it was a 730. This is a good score and he’s happy with it but I was thinking a 750 would be the target because he’s looking at several Ivy League schools (as well as other less selective ones). Should he retake or go for a 4th subject test or just let it ride? His general stats:</p>
<p>2320 on SAT I (800 M, 790 CR, 730 W)</p>
<p>Has some national stuff like physics olympiad semi-finals, chess ranking for his age, AIME, AP Scholar with Distinction; music is his biggest EC with some professional work locally and lots of performances; he’s a varsity catcher on a small team (we homeschool); he’s done about 50 units of college and math through real analysis, lots of physics college classes. He’s also 1/2 Puerto Rican.</p>
<p>Thanks. I think this is my first post to the parent’s forum so I apologize if I hijacked the thread!</p>
<p>Yep-along with other posters, D took Bio subject test after Living Environment in 9 and Bio in 10. It worked out fine, and because she took the ACT, she never ended up needing the SAT II.</p>
<p>sbjdorlo I wouldn’t bother to retake that Lit score or take another SAT subject test. The only school in the country that I know of that still prefers three subject tests is Georgetown. Your son has already shown that he’s well rounded as well as being stellar in math and science. Especially given his other activities and awards I think he’s in very good shape. Scores aren’t going to make any difference. He should spend time on good essays.</p>
<p>Just realized you are homeschoolers. I’d modify my comments a little. It would depend a little bit on what sort of evidence he has for doing typical high school course work. Has he taken humanities or social science classes at a community college where he would have a transcript to submit? If not, I’d suggest taking a couple of SAT subject tests to show his achievement in those areas such as US history or World History. I still wouldn’t retake the Lit test.</p>
<p>Have her look at a practice test. If she is fine with that, have her take the SAT subject test. Very few schools REQUIRE them, but many schools WELCOME them. And, they are much easier than the AP tests, so , generally, a strong high school level course can be sufficient prep. It’s very nice for a student to have some SAT subject scores in their pocket before the stress of PSAT/regular SAT/APs/etc sets in.</p>
<p>Thank-you for the feedback, mathmom. I just know that schools sometimes expect more documentation from homeschoolers and I have known some homeschoolers shooting for Ivies that take 4 or more subject tests. I’d rather let my son just be who he is (a passionate learner with lots of interests) and not have to worry about him jumping through one more hoop, but I really wasn’t sure. Thank-you for the reassurance. Yes, that’s a great suggestion to turn the focus to the essays now.</p>
<p>The teacher, who presumably knows his/her own curriculum, and how it compares to what is tested by CB, actively discourages taking the test. End of discussion.</p>
<p>sbJ: a 730 should be good enough for everyone particularly with a 2300+ SAT. But for homeschoolers, the more high tests the better. What about USHistory or World?</p>
<p>My D. took all her SAT II’s close to her AP exams in the same subjects. This way, they do not need to spend time preparing. Freshmen year is way too early. However, I might have this opinion because D’s HS did not allow to take any AP before Junior year. So, my suggestion is to take SAT II close to AP exam in the same subject. D. never took any practice SAT II tests. I do not know anybody who took SAT II in the same subject twice. But again, D. took both ACT and SAT only once also. She does not like to take them more than once. Some kids are into taking tests many times. SAT II’s are not that important, but they are required by some programs (like some combined bs/md as an example).</p>
<p>Perhaps not in your state, but absolutely incorrect for highly selective colleges. Georgetown required three ST’s for a reason. Heck, up until this year, ST’s were extremely important for admission to the UC flagship(s) for unhooked candidates.</p>
<p>Bluebayou, well, er, you found my son’s weakest area: history! He could spend the summer studying world history since that’s what he’s had the most of. I had been thinking of the chem subject exam because he’ll be self-studying AP chem next year and I think it would be pretty doable and easy (not sure, though!). I’m just not sure I want to force him to study for a history subject test. He had a lousy online class that turned him off; his area of history interest is Islam rather than US or World. He’d much rather retake the lit because he loves reading and writing and he’s gotten incrementally better on literature analysis over the last year just by working hard in his honors lit class.</p>
<p>Well, we’ll chew on this for a while since he’s got some time. Thanks for the feedback.</p>
<p>OP, is it possible your GC is a little “green?” I might take this as a red flag to stay on my toes where he/she is concerned. As you can see, conventional wisdom is, subject tests should be taken at the conclusion of AP-level coursework, in your strongest subjects, and if you have any question or concern about test readiness, an experienced teacher is the best guide. It is great when kids are “ripe” to take one at the end of sophomore year because it means one less test for junior year. In that same vein, it is a bummer when kids have to take during senior year on top of everything else and when the material’s not fresh, so it’s ideal to have a tentative college list at the end of junior year so you can know their subject test requirements (if any). A few have specific requirements, e.g., one liberal arts and one math/science, or if you submit math, it must be math 2, etc.</p>
j/k</p>