<p>Actually I know several kids who have retaken subject tests in math and sciences. The first go were perfectly acceptable scores, but when you are applying to an engineering program for example you want to present the highest Math 2 score you can. If your problem was not necessarily getting the problems incorrect but running out of time, this may be something that practice will help and a higher score earned. It entirely depends on the student and how much else they have going on at the time as to if the additional test is worth the effort. Also, if the student clearly feels the score does not represent their ability they may choose to retest. It’s totally an individual choice.</p>
<p>I would assume the same would hold true with subject tests in humanities. I don’t have any experience or knowledge with students retaking those, so I won’t pretend I do! I am not in favor of having a student retesting time and time again simply to gain a few points. I think the stress is just too much, I just wanted to share I do know students who test twice on subject tests.</p>
<p>It’s a tough call here. My son got 760 on the Math II in 8th grade but they don’t know that, so I think a kid who’s had as much math as he has had ought to have an 800, and as he doesn’t mind math tests, he will take it over since he’s already registered for May. Now the 730 on literature is just something we’ll mull over.</p>
<p>Thanks for the link to the MIT admissions post-good food for thought.</p>
<p>Wait for her to mature a little and takethe SAT Subject Matter BIO after she takes AP BIO. You will only need two SAT Subject Matter tests. She has plenty of time and should wait.</p>
<p>@bovertine, that is funny, but nope, I’m a mom, so definitely not me!</p>
<p>@sbjdorlo, your thought process is going in the direction mine would–I should have added what I think would be a “consensus caveat” re: Math II. Yes, I think your son should retake his 8th grade 760 (wow!) because he clearly knows his stuff + the curve on Math II is so generous, something like 88-89% score 800, i.e., if you are presenting as a STEM major to any school, it is almost essential to have that 800 (and it is not hard for kids who are so inclined). Agreed, the Lit is where I might scratch my head.</p>
<p>My D took the Biology M test as a freshman after taking Living Environment. Her teacher recommended that the top 3 or 4 students in the class take the exam as an introduction to the Subject Tests, while warning them that the LE curriculum did not correlate well with the SAT II Bio exams. She did, however, run after-school study sessions on material not covered in the Regents curriculum for about a month before the exam. My D ended up with a 650. She took the Bio M exam again 2 years later after taking a SUNY dual enrollment Microbiology course and brought her SAT II score up 100 points. </p>
<p>I think, considering that biology is not your daughter’s strong suit and the NYS Regents curriculum does not mesh with either the SAT II Bio M or Bio E exams, that I would take a pass this year.</p>
<p>for your opinions. I really appreciate them.</p>
<p>In regards to the GC…I have to be honest and say I’m a little disappointed. At the beginning of the year at back to school night, the party-line seemed to be that the school did not advise 9th grade students in Living Environment to go for the SAT subject test this year. The GC said it to a group of parents and then the teacher said it that same night. And I went merrily on my way.</p>
<p>Then, I sent an email to the GC letting him know I’d like to sit in on discussions with dd for next year’s schedule and beyond. He replies that a meeting such as this will happen in the spring…the only thing I need to concern myself with right now is registering dd for the SAT and signing up for a review course. What??? So I called him out on it (in the nicest possible way) and he said he was not discouraging taking the test (not so!) at the beginning of the year, but trying to make people realize that it is difficult. So yes, I am now very concerned about this GC, despite having heard good things from two other parents (one with a child at Harvard, and one with a child accepted at Georgetown).</p>
<p>I don’t think I will have dd take the SAT subject test this year.</p>
<p>On a related note, do you have any recommendations for a basic book or two on this whole college prep/admissions process? As I said, since she is my first born I don’t want to be totally reliant on the GC and know the right questions to ask. Thanks again!</p>
<p>The SAT prep book S2 got the most mileage out of was the Big Blue Book. People have different preferences, but this is the only one that has actual College Board tests to practice on. This version is from 2009. I believe it is the most up to date version. I usually go with used ‘like new’ books. In this case a new version is your best bet so all the practice tests are available.</p>
<p>A 730 on SAT Literature is a very good score, 90th percentile on that test—and keep in mind that since it’s primarily a handful of elite colleges that require SAT Subject Tests, it tends to be a pretty elite group of students that take them. </p>
<p>According to the College Board, the students who take SAT Subject Tests score on average about 100 points per section higher on the SAT Reasoning Test (SAT I) than the average SAT-taker. That already puts the average SAT Subject Test-taker in the top 20% of all SAT-takers. To be in the top 10% of that elite pool is, well, pretty elite. </p>
<p>Not all SAT Subject Tests scale out that way, however. For US History, a 730 is 85th percentile; for World, 81st percentile; for Math II, 70th percentile; for Chemistry, 70th percentile; for Physics, 69th percentile; and for Chinese, 18th percentile, I’m guessing because a lot of native Mandarin speakers take the Chinese Subject Test and score perfect 800s (a perfect 800 is 57th percentile for the SAT Chinese subject Test). Colleges know this. I don’t think any 700+ Subject Test score will hurt you in college admissions. A 730 in Lit will help, probably quite a lot because top scores on that test are so rare. Would a 750 or 770 help more? Well, possibly, but only marginally. Frankly, I think the time is better spent studying for and nailing some other Subject Tests.</p>
<p>By the way, a few colleges require as many as 4 SAT Subject Tests from homeschoolers. Columbia, for example, requires 4 (2 required for all applicants, plus 2 additional if homeschooled).</p>
<p>Pink: in re: good books about the process. Publishers know that parental anxiety sells books. So keep that in mind. The most humane book about the process IMO is Jacques Steinberg’s The Gatekeepers. It is not a how-to book, but it does give a great deal of insight into the process. Another (less humane, but more how to) is Chuck Hughes What It Really Takes to get into the Iy League… and The New Rules of College Admissions by ten admissions officers.
Honestly, the best advice (and the most up to date) can be found on CC Ask the Dean and by searching threads when you have a specific question. There is a huge amount of collected information here.</p>
<p>Our public library has a good selection of books about college admissions. I recommend borrowing a few that are current to get an overview. My favorite college guide is the Fiske Guide to Colleges. </p>
<p>I started researching things when my older daughter was freshman also. I now realize that it was fine for me to get started early , but that she wasn’t ready to discuss things yet. I waited until the summer before Junior year with my D2, and she enjoyed the process more.</p>
<p>Another thought, and following up on TXArtemis’s mention of the MIT blog, there are a lot of really good admission blogs by Dean’s of Admissions at various universities. There are a couple that I have followed well before my student was in the process of applying. There is great information regarding the admission process even if your student isn’t applying to that particular school. It helps to take the mystery out, is reassuring, and can be really funny. It certainly doesn’t replace books, or the Fiske Guide, it just adds another layer of information. Some of these Deans also frequent cc and are very generous with information. There was a thread on this recently. Some of the cc members favorites mentioned were:</p>
<p>UVa (Dean J is amazing and you’ll fall in love with CavDog!)
Johns Hopkins (They had a really funny piece recently!)
MIT
Cornell
Oberlin
RIT
WPI</p>
<p>I’m sure there are others, these are simply the ones I remember. Many schools have student blogs as well that can give a good flavor of a student’s perspective. Some have twitter accounts. Following during admission/reading season will give you a very good perspective of what really stands out, both good and things to avoid. You’ll laugh a lot also! :)</p>
<p>I would say run, don’t walk, to the library and check out “The Gatekeepers”. In the book, a New York Times reporter follows an admissions officer and several applicants. I could not put it down!
And, this is old, but demystifying: “A is for Admission” by Michele Hernandez.
These are not college guides, but they are narratives that really, really helped me to understand the process.</p>
<p>I enjoyed reading the MIT blog. Picked up new term Magic 800, Spellbinding 700! I noticed the blog is from 2004. Any chance that Spellbinding in 2011 is more like 750 rather than 700?</p>