With high school shuttered due to virus fears, I am looking for a Math I Subject Test guide to order for my son. He has not taken pre-calc yet and will just be finishing up Algebra II in time for the June 6, 2020 SAT test date. Does anyone with experience have an opinion on which brand book to buy? And what about “SAT Math: Master Guide to Hard Problems vol. I”? I assume that book is more for the general SAT which my son has not yet taken either. I have not seen “Master Guide” for sale before today. Is that a worthwhile book to pick up as well? Many thanks!
Not many people take the Math Level I, as most people taking subject tests have had honors precalculus and top 50 colleges and engineering programs generally want the Level II.
The Official Guide with 4 reals tests and Barrons are good for most subject tests. Princeton Review is also good, and Dr. Chung’s and Dr. Jiang’s are often used for math subject tests.
What schools is your student targeting?
Mwfan1921, my son is a freshman in high school. By the end of this semester he will be done with high school chemistry honors and Algebra II Honors. Thus he will have completed what he needs for the SAT Chemistry Subject Test and the Math I. I realize that he may have to take the Math II Subject Test at some point in his high school career since he will be targeting top 50 schools and possibly engineering programs. However, I have read that you take the subject test right after you have completed the high school course. So that meant June…but that date has been pushed back due to COVID. In any event, since he plans to sit for the chemistry test, the math test is only a few dollars more. MIT recently accepted the Math I test, but I now see that they won’t consider either the Math I or the Math II. I suspect they and other schools don’t want to add hurdles to applications and so are dropping subject test requirements. I really don’t see where he can even use a good Math I score with his college applications anymore. But maybe by taking Math I, he will gain experience for when he has finished precalc and trig and takes the Math II.
Sattut, thank you for recommending those guides.
If he will take precalculus next year, he can take math level 2 next year. Math level 1 will be redundant.
Also, if he is in algebra 2 in 9th grade, he is two grade levels ahead in math. Such students typically do well on math SAT subject tests without additional preparation beyond earning a A in the math course.
ucbalumnus, thanks. However, he will take the Math I since he will be sitting for the chemistry test anyway. I think the cost difference is less than $30.00. The bulk of the College Board cost involves registration. In other words, he may as well take a second test. And if he is going to take a test, then he may as well practice for it. That is why I am looking for a Math I test guide. Kids can’t really do normal extracurriculars right now anyway due to COVID.
There are no other subject tests relevant to courses he is taking now?
If he wants to practice, The College Board has free online practice questions: https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/sat-subject-tests/subjects/mathematics/mathematics-1
Correct, ucbalumnus, there is no other test to take as he is taking first year Spanish and has not taken bio or physics yet. That is the only reason I signed him up for Math 1. If he does better on Math II in the future, I guess he won’t submit Math I. But perhaps a good score on Math I might help him in a summer program. Thanks for the link.
You may want to check whether the June SAT date is still on. Some other posts around here are suggesting that it has been cancelled.
Yeah, I know it is cancelled. Thanks. Will probably be taking the exams in August, hopefully.