I am a current junior that is planning on taking SAT Subject Tests- mainly Math II, and either Biology, Physics, and Chemistry. The problem is, I haven’t actually taken any of them yet…and I probably should’ve taken at least one of them sophomore year. I am planning to take Math II and Bio at the end of this school year (June), but I’m not sure when I am going to take Physics or Chem. One of my top schools is Carnegie Mellon, and I want to apply to SCS or CIT, and I believe CIT requires a Physics or Chem subject test to be taken. However, I have not taken Physics since Freshman year, and I took Chemistry last year (Honors classes), and I heard that it is good to use AP courses to prepare for most of the SAT Subject Tests…
At this point, is my only option to self-study or get a tutor? Or should I just study during the summer and take in in September? Is it possible to get a high score by self-studying after not having practice with both subjects for more than a year? Additionally, would it be more optimal to take Physics or Chem SAT II at this point (how hard is each test respectively)?
SAT Physics is much more broad than SAT Chemistry - neither test allows you to use a calculator, so many questions are rather conceptual, but SAT Physics requires you to be familiar with a very wide range of physics topics (more than you are actually able to cover in the average physics class). However, the concepts themselves are not too difficult, especially if you find a good prep book or website and spend a decent chunk of time (at least a solid month, preferably more, depending on how much physics you remember) reviewing. The curve on the SAT Physics test is very lenient, so if you can answer the conceptual questions that many people miss simply because they are unfamiliar with the topic being tested, you have a very good chance of scoring well. SAT Chemistry is “easier” to cram for, especially if you’ve taken honors/AP chemistry, because their isn’t as much content being covered. However, the curve is much more strict - I think you can’t miss more than three or four to get an 800 - so you can’t make as many errors.
Depending on whether or not you’re planning to apply EA/ED, you should be fine with taking Math II and Bio in June and then either Chem or Physics in September, leaving you with October (and potentially November) to retake any tests (SAT or SAT subject tests) that you want to improve in time for EA/ED applications (and if you’re just doing regular decision, you’ll even have December to re-take as well).
I don’t believe that you need a tutor in order to do very well on subject tests. I would find some prep books for the subjects you plan on taking as soon as possible, so that you can look over the content (and maybe try some of College Board’s free practice questions) just to get a feel of whether or not you’d feel comfortable self-studying the material over the next few months.
@Sonya97 Do you recommend any prep books that would be good for preparing for Chemistry? I think I’m probably just going to self study for that one because I am more familiar/comfortable with it.
@blue1artic I can’t really give you a book recommendation because I only used the Princeton Review book and the sparknotes website, so I don’t know whether Barrons or some other review book is better than PR. However, I will say that when I took the SAT Chemistry subject test, everything that I encountered on the test I had already seen either in the PR book or on the sparknotes website. The only exceptions to this were some questions regarding the products formed from specific reactions, such as the products formed in the reaction between water and an alkali metal. I think you’ll be fine with the PR book, but it can’t hurt to look at some other options - you can usually find prep books for free at your local library.
First, I Want to commend you for thinking this out in a timely manner. This type of planning ahead and inquiry will prepare you well in your academic life. I am going to respond to your questions based on my experiences helping my students and what we have learned. In regards to preparing, study your old class material, review often with your subject teacher, get a hold of AP or subject test prep books - usually from the quidance office, and maybe some study flash cards. As far as the timing to take these tests you want the results to arrive at the school at least a month before the application decisions are made. I would not worry so much that you didn’t the take a subject test in sophomore year - your learning now what you need to do. Take what you are comfortable with and will do well on. Good luck!