<p>I'm going to be a senior and I had been planning to take the Lit. subject test in October, since I've only taken one other subject test (Chem, which I scored a 710 on.) I've always liked/have been strong in English.</p>
<p>But now I'm reading everywhere that the Lit test is very difficult and it's super hard to get a good score. I would take another test but I don't think I'm strong in any other subject. My only other option would probably be math, but since it's been two months since my pre-calc class, I really don't remember much, and I'm not strong in math to begin with.</p>
<p>I'm just worried because October is my last chance, seeing as I'm applying early action to some schools.</p>
<p>Can anyone share their experience with the literature test? Is it as difficult as everyone says it is, and can preparation help assure a high score or is it sort of something you just have to be good at?</p>
<p>The Lit test is pretty difficult, but if you consider English your strong suit then you shouldn’t freak out too much. You should try some of the practice questions on the collegeboard site to get a feel of the test. If that’s not a good indicator then you should try and get a practice test online. </p>
<p>The thing about Lit is, like world history it spans a pretty lengthy time period. In my English Lit class at school, we worked with some amount of poetry but most of them were 20th century pieces. On the test there was poetry from hundreds of years before anything we’d learned. The important thing is possessing the skills to do the test properly so even if you don’t recognize a familiar style or period you still have your analytical skills from your English class.</p>
<p>P.S it’s a bit like the critical reading section of the SAT I but longer and more intense, I would say your CR would help you indicate what your lit. score may be. (but that’s just a suggestion)</p>
<p>I went in cold, without studying. I took the online 10 question sampler and got 10/10, so I thought I might as well give it a go. I got a 730. If you’ve taken AP English (either Lit or Lang–both apply), you’ll find the SAT II Lit is an easier (not by a lot) version of the AP test in that it asks you to analyze what you read on a fairly high level.
Mostly you had to read some interesting poems/passages and answer questions.</p>
<p>Not necessarily. Go back and read the cc archives about a LOT of students who pull a 5 on the Lit/Lang AP test but score <600 on Lit Subject Test.</p>
<p>I’d recommend giving it a shot. It was the easiest of the subject tests for me by far. I think I got a 740.
English/Language Arts has always been relatively natural for me, though. As always, I’d suggest going over the practice questions on the college board website to get a better idea.</p>
<p>It’s like advanced critical reading, with some poems thrown it. Relatively hard, and you can’t cram for it, but if it’s a strong area for you go for it.</p>
<p>I took it cold and got a 790, but I also got an 800 on CR without studying.
I think it has to be something you’re naturally good at. You’re basically doing the same thing you do on CR (looking at the tone of the piece, what it’s about, the symbolism, whatever) but with much harder literature samples. I know that my test had some Moby Dick on it and some 17th century poetry, which some people would find difficult.
If you’re good at English then you might as well give it a try. Maybe look online to see some example questions and see if they seem difficult to you.</p>
<p>I got 780 with no studying. (I actually got a 730 on CR… ironic, huh?) English is definitely one of my strong suits, and so for me it wasn’t super difficult. You’re analyzing on a deeper level, but for me the hardest part was just awkward or unusual syntax inherent in some non-modern stuff. Like, as sanxie said, 17th century poetry. But the mc questions sort of coach you along, if you aren’t sure what a piece is about the mc can give some clues. I’d recommend taking it, esp. if there is no other subject on which you think you’d do better. Another advantage is that you don’t really have to do anything to study. : D</p>
<p>I got a 780 also with minimal studying, BUT I am really an English-type person. I read a lot regularly (though mostly teen fiction books, not ancient poetry); and I’m really good at analyzing works of writing since English is my favorite subject. Other people I know got much lower scores despite being more avid readers than I am. I guess critical reading is a skill that you either have or you don’t. I recommend getting a prep book though and seeing how you do on a practice test.</p>
<p>Some of what people are saying here is definitely right-- the Lit test, more than any other I feel, relies a lot on how good you are with English. If you just have a natural talent with the subject, you will have an easier time. </p>
<p>However, studying shouldn’t be discounted. While I’m pretty good at English, it has never been my favorite or best subject. So I bought a study book. Brush up on rhetorical terms. Get accustomed to 17th and 18th century diction. Get used to reading poetry. I did all this and got an 800.</p>
<p>I would say, however, that studying only gets you so far. If you are simply hopeless at English and/or hate it, do NOT attempt the Lit subject test, because a lot of doing well has to do with natural talent. But if you didn’t score a 750 + on your SAT CR, don’t sweat it. You can still ace the Lit test with proper studying.</p>
<p>If you do decide to purchase a study book, I highly recommend Barron’s. It is very comprehensive, and the practice tests are insanely difficult (I never scored above a 710 or so on the practice tests but got an 800 on the actual test). After you study with this book, the actual test is a breeze.</p>
<p>dang most of you people got >700?! smarties. I’d be happy to get anything 600+ but thats iffy. I got a 4 on English (I think it was lang not lit) but I think its irrelevant b/c even on the 10 questions online I think I got like 6/10 right…man.</p>
<p>My son got a 700 on CR and a 790 on writing, but has taken lit twice with a 590 as his highest score. Just not happening for him. He is a rigorous East Coast prep school and is excelling in his AP English course. Just can’t handle that test.</p>