<p>I'm doing the SAT Math II. I also need to do the Biology, Chemistry, Literature, and either World History or US History exams, this year, since I'm homeschooled and I don't yet have any qualifications in those subjects (I have two Maths A levels and a Physics A level). </p>
<p>The problem is that I hardly know anything about those subjects; in order, which Subject Tests contain material that can be learnt quickest? And which books on the subject would you recommend?</p>
<p>I need to know which tests to take when, you see; I'm doing the Math II ASAP, and was considering doing Literature at the same time (I had a look at the Literature practise paper in the Preparation Booklet, and I think I should be able to learn that pretty quickly. I read, and write fiction, quite a lot.)</p>
<p>I'd be grateful for any advice. Thanks. :)</p>
<p>P.S. Which is hardest, World History or US History?</p>
<p>It depends. If you’re a math/science person, then you will think biology and chemistry are easy. If you’re a history/literature person, then you will found those tests easy. </p>
<p>For me, I think literature is the hardest because I am horrible at languages.</p>
<p>The histories and biology. Math is usually just a brush up of misc. topics too.</p>
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<p>US History - AMSCO
World History - Barrons AP World
Biology - Barrons/Cliffs
Math II - Barrons
Chem - Barrons/PR
Lit - ?</p>
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<p>Pretty subjective. US covers a much shorter time period and area but it’s more detailed. World covers, as you might expect, the whole world but it’s less detailed.</p>
<p>So, if I’m starting off with no knowledge of these subjects (I’m fine with Maths), I should do World History and Biology first, and then stuff like Chemistry? How about Literature - how easy is that to learn?</p>
<p>Are you British? (the British school system is the only one I know with “A” levels). Are you trying to get into a college in the US?</p>
<p>I guess a lot depends on your natural bent as manatee mentioned. I think you would probably do well on the Lit one though it seems to trip up a lot of people.</p>
<p>Yes, I’m British and applying to most of the top US colleges. How long does it take to prepare for stuff like Biology and Chemistry if you hardly have any knowledge of the subjects beforehand?</p>
<p>Chemistry is difficult to prepare for if you hardly have any knowledge beforehand. Bio should be easier than chem because it’s more about memorization. I would say you should give at least half a year to learn chem or bio. Also, if you are trying to learn the subjects, I would recommend using a textbook with a test prep book. Prep books are good, but they are made to “review”. </p>
<p>Princeton Review is usually good for test prep books.</p>
<p>Oh, right. I’m not going to take the tests till October at the earliest, so I’ve got time on my side, luckily. Which textbooks are the best if you need to learn quickly.</p>
<p>For the literature subject test, I found the princeton review to be the best and kaplan to be the worst. For both math 1C and IIC, I found it helpful to buy the barron books, but to also sit in the book store and look through those from other publishers. Each publisher has their own strengths and weaknesses.</p>
<p>If you read a lot and are good at analysing then Literature shouldn’t be too bad.</p>
<p>Of the sciences, with no knowledge biology is easiest, then chemistry and then physics.</p>
<p>World History is marginally easier than US History but the WH test dates are limited so if you want to apply EA to Princeton then you’ll probably have to do USH in October so you get the results in time :)</p>
<p>Definitely try out literature, just to see how difficult it is - you might already have the ability to score 750+ without preparation.</p>
<p>If you want to do history, World is probably better because you will probably know a lot more of the material to begin with (including info on the UK!).</p>
<p>Make sure you have all of the test dates worked out ahead of time if you are applying early. You can only take 3 subject tests on one date (which is already a lot). Princeton has no early plan, but Stanford and Yale have SCEA and MIT has regular EA.</p>
<p>the chem test is definitely not as comprehensive as the ap test in my opinion, but i wouldnt let that keep you from studying hard. it takes much more than memorization, so i would be very thorough in your preparation.</p>
<p>Do not take world if you have choice to choose. Just don’t. lol. I got 800 on US, BIO, Chem, Math II but 740 on World despite the fact that I took most time on preparing for World. ITS HARD!!</p>
<p>A good book for lit would be Kaplan or PR. Barron’s does a really horrible job for this subject imo.</p>
<p>And bradyfanatic, it depends on what type of person you are xP as someone mentioned earlier, if you’re a math/science person or an English/history person. It’s true that the curves for the history tests are much nicer, but the questions on USH are oddly phrased and confusing to most of my friends.</p>