<p>So far these are my grades on the subject tests:
Physics: 770 (as a freshman)
Math I: 750 (going to take Math II)
In June this year, I will take Math II, Chemistry, and World History... If I don't do well on World History, I'll take U.S. History next June. I'm also taking English 11 AP next year, so should I take the Literature SAT II; I've heard its very very hard...</p>
<p>You may want to take Literature if you don’t do well on World History, or if you want to major in English or Literature or Creative Writing (which I doubt, if the two you’ve already taken are a math and science).</p>
<p>There are three key areas in SAT Subject Tests (Science, Mathematics, Humanities). You don’t need to take a test in each (only one school requires three anyway), but if you already have a good score in each, there’s little point in taking another, unless it reflects your major.</p>
<p>That said, Literature is a fairly difficult test. The curve is harsh, and it’s about as rare (percentile-wise) to get an 800 on it as on Math I. After a couple of college literature classes, I took it without studying, getting a 720. It took studying (and luck, I think) to get it up to 790 the next time. Even sub-800 scores can be 99th percentile. (790 always is). While World History is something a lot of people can wing and get an 800 (I did, a year and a half after the AP, with just a couple practice tests to make sure I would do well), Literature meets that description far less often.</p>
<p>Here’s a table of the SAT Subject Test percentiles for 2010: <a href=“http://professionals.collegeboard.com/profdownload/2010-sat-subject-test-percentile-ranks.pdf[/url]”>http://professionals.collegeboard.com/profdownload/2010-sat-subject-test-percentile-ranks.pdf</a></p>
<p>thanks, but I believe that no schools require 3 anymore… harvard, princeton, and georgetown switched to 2</p>
<p>No, Georgetown remained at 3.</p>
<p>My D is leaning towards taking the Lit test this year (junior) in order to have results on hand for the college application process. However, she will not be taking the AP Lit & Comp class until next year (senior.) So, my question is this – will her chances of doing well on the SAT II Lit. test be significantly lower without the AP Lit class experience? Thanks!</p>
<p>I did well without the AP class. Make sure you get at least one prep book. I used Princeton Review, and it was good (one correction: on the list of literary terms you need to know, they leave out apostrophe). I don’t know how good the others are. Just by going through the book completely, understanding how to read the work and what the questions are asking, a good score won’t be too far off.</p>
<p>A lot of people think that “Literature” will just be a repeat of the Critical Reading section and don’t study. I found that studying wasn’t necessary for some subject tests (history), but it is necessary for Literature.</p>
<p>Not at all. The AP Lit. class certainly does help with preparation, but not to the extent where the difference will be severe. I took the subject test at the end of my sophomore year and scored a perfect 800. If you purchase the Barron’s study guide and have her master all of the literary skills for the test, she will be guaranteed a score of excellence. Make sure she really gets a feel with the poems.</p>
<p>That’s very helpful – thanks!</p>
<p>Hmm. I don’t think the SAT 2 Lit is as bad as some people are making it to be. I just looked through the Barron’s book and took it in 8th grade just to test it out and got a good score. Just know the literary terms, I guess? If you read frequently from a variety of genres you should be fine.</p>
<p>Thanks guys… but the thing is, I don’t read much and actually wish that I did more. I don’t like reading, but want to get into it more. Do you guys recommend any specific books or magazines/newspapers that would be good to read to help critical reading, because that is basically what I am lacking? I know that Collegeboard has a list, but I want to know if you guys have any specifics.</p>