<p>Bernese, I like what we did w/ Ds1 – first SAT in January, then second in May or June, with the other test date going to SAT IIs.</p>
<p>I’ve heard the same thing about APUSH & the US History SAT II.</p>
<p>D2 probably won’t take the SAT I until spring of her junior year. She’s already taken it once for a talent search so she’s familiar with format plus she’s taken the PSAT this year and will again in 10th & 11th grade. So we’ll have a ballpark estimate of where she should score.</p>
<p>She also took the ACT in MS; plus she took the Explore in 8th, will take the PLAN in 10th & all 11th graders have to take the ACT; unfortunately, they don’t have them take the ACT with writing. So she may take that a 2nd time to include the writing portion. We were able to embrace the “one and done” philosophy with D1 so I’m hoping that will be the case for D2 also.</p>
<p>Ugh. I can’t believe I’m already thinking about testing schedules for her!</p>
<p>Wow! Thanks for all the really useful, really insightful information. I’ve stumbled upon a goldmine here! Since our school doesn’t offer AP Bio until senior year (I just learned this today), I know what to do now. Didn’t know that we are required to report all scores, but I think we’ll practice and see what happens. Do you think schools want a range of SATII subjects (e.g., one ‘hard’ science, one social science, etc.?) or do you think scores matter more than variety? Jeez. My DS seems so young to me still–he doesn’t know what he wants–how can he make these decisions about his future now?? And one more stupid question: what is IB? I live in the New York City suburbs; is that something I should know?</p>
<p>IB stands for International Bacclaureate (sp?) Technically, the program spans junior & senior year, but schools that offer it often have Pre-IB tracks that begin in late middle school (as you have to have a 5 year sequence of a foreign language.) The program is based in Switzerland. [International</a> Baccalaureate (IB)](<a href=“http://www.ibo.org/]International”>http://www.ibo.org/)</p>
<p>Our HS has an IB program; a lot of the classes run concurrently with AP classes but the IB kids have requirements above and beyond the regular AP assignments. From what I gather here on CC, IB programs vary from HS to HS. My older D is not in IB, my younger D is planning on following that path. I’ve yet to see the benefit in our school of doing the very regimented IB program vs. cherry picking AP classes of interest. But that’s just me 
Others on CC are very happy with their child’s IB experience.</p>
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<p>We really do not know how this will play out yet. Junior year is suposed to be the hardest, with testing and all. It would be really nice to take the SAT ans ACT out of the way.
I remember reading somewhere that it is best to take SAT shortly after PSAT junior year.
DS is growing so much, I am hoping that soon it is going to be all his decisions as to what to take and when.
Son has also participated in talent search so he is familiar with both SAT and ACT. Took PSAT this year for the first time, cold. Did score high enought to be NMSF (if it was for real) in our state (low score is needed) but did not score high enough to apply to RSI. I think that his testing goal for next year will be PSAT.
DS already has one SAT II saved on his record - Math. Since he is taking AP US History next year I am going to encourage him to try mock SAT in that subject and maybe go for real? Really do not know what to do about science as he will take AP Bio next year so theoretically he will be ready for SAT in that subject, but at the same time we are hoping that he will eventually take both AP Chemistry and AP Physics. Don’t know which one of those will be most to his likeing.
I might have a little different approach than some of you, but I am expecting my kids to take four years of each in HS - math, LA, science, social studies and foreign language.
SAT subject tests should be able to reflect that.
Anyone here thinks that 4 subject tests is too many?</p>
<p>Here’s the thing: there is no school that asks for 4 SAT IIs. The number of schools that require 3 can be counted on 1 hand. A dozen or so require 2; some of those will take ACTs in their stead. So, in my world, I think 4 would be 1 too many since no one will ask for 4. And (I may be wrong about this since no one in my house has taken SAT IIs yet) I don’t know if you can pick which SAT II scores to send to schools. So if you’re taking 4 so you can pick the top 3 scores, I don’t know if that’s an option. But double check that.</p>
<p>As for HS course sequence, D will take 4 years of English, math, and social studies. Science is yet to be seen as well as foreign language. Technically, she’ll have 4 years of a foreign language even if she stops in junior year, since she took Spanish I honors for HS credit as an 8th grader; same for math as she took Algebra I honors for HS credit as an 8th grader. A lot of her course decisions will be based on whether she continues with IB or not.</p>
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<p>My thinking re: SAT II goes like this: it is probably the safest to have math, science and humanities subject tests. Since DS already has math, and taking AP Bio and AP US Hist. next year, I will buy the SAT subject books and we will see is he is ready to take those tests. If he does, he will have 3 subject test done by the end of sophomore year. BUT, should he later on decide to take SAT Physics or SAT Chemistry (when he is done with the courses) I see no problem in that. It kind of depends what he will decide to study in college. Very personal situation.
Of course those are best laid plans, mom’s plans Life is always different ;)</p>
<p>I also think that you have to submit all subject tests, no picking and choosing…</p>
<p>I’m just happy that I know about SAT II tests at this point with D2 as opposed to my ignorance during D1’s journey :)</p>
<p>I agree with RobD.</p>
<p>The only folks I have ever heard of who takes 4 SAT II are home school students.</p>
<p>Also, I have heard SAT II are much easier than AP tests.</p>
<p>If you really want to maximize SAT II, check out the testing forum here. Those kids know the curves for each subject.</p>
<p>On a side note – anyone else out there in the Mid-Atlantic enjoying the snow like us?</p>
<p>We have shoveled out our 24"+ snow here Not that I am planning on going anywhere but I could if really needed. The dogs were thrilled and are now over the snow taller than they are.</p>
<p>The baking has begun, the movies have been watched, and we figure the kids won’t see school Monday for sure and Tuesday is iffy - of course we are expecting more snow then too…grrr.</p>
<p>We are in a suburb right outside DC.</p>
<p>I’m just glad the snow came on the weekend!</p>
<p>Me too Longhaul - it’s been nice to have all activities cancelled and be forced to just bum around the house together without worrying about missing work/school.</p>
<p>Welcome to MomofNEA, astromom and BerneseMtnMom!</p>
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That’s my d’s intention.</p>
<p>And SURPRISE, d gets in the car yesterday and says “I took the AMC Math test today”. Her math teacher and the principal had pressed her to sign up for it in October, but she never mentioned it to me. Obviously, she took it “cold” and said it was “really hard!” I’m just learning now that she sailed through Geometry last year heavily dependent on her fancy calculator, will that present problems for her later?</p>
<p>So, question of the day… is AP Human Geography worth is? They are using one of the recommended texts for the class - I’ve just seen this particular test scoffed at as an “easy” one - so is it worth the cost of a prep book and test fee?</p>
<p>AMC - S “bombed” it yesterday (his words). Even if he got all the questions he answered correct he is till short a couple of points from AIME. He says that he has suddenly become so nervous and stressed out that he was shaking 
This is a kid who has been writing NUMEROUS math tests! I guess it just proves that you never know. When quizzed later in the evening by us as to the underlying causes if such a nervousness he confessed that he had a big, cold coffee drink less than two hours before the test. BINGO ? He is writing 10 B on the 24 .</p>
<p>Calculators? My S won’t leave the house without his TI 89 
My thinking is if the calculator is allowed there is no harm in using it. BUT, S could not believe that he was allowed to use his TI 89 on SAT Math ;)</p>
<p>I am struggling with the same question in regards to AP Human Geography. S is in Honors Geography and asking me if he should sign up for the test. he had a look through the AP Barron’s book and thought that themes are very similar to what he is learning in class. I just do not know how much extra studying will be needed??? I quizzed GC and her answer was that kids ar not ready for AP test after a year of Honors Geography. We have to sign up in 10 days.</p>
<p>Heh, I wish it was coffee - she is just relatively weak in math.</p>
<p>I know, I know! On the decision deadline coming up, GAH! I was on point about this about a month ago, and then lost track. Argh! I think we’ll check out the Barron’s book from the library and try to decide this weekend since it’s another three day one.</p>
<p>Have I mentioned the stress of ballet summer intensive auditions? Grades are in the tank, it’s an annual thing this time of year (per her MS experience), she sure keeps us on a rollercoaster!</p>
<p>I have a freshman and a senior so I know a little about the SAT IIs.</p>
<p>You can pick and choose thte SAT II scores through score choice although most schools that require SATIIs also seem to require that you report all scores (this is a whole different discussion about ethics/honesty) so just assume you are going to report all of them. </p>
<p>I can’t believe parents of freshman are thinking about SAT IIs. In Sept when senior kid started looking at schools we saw these requirements for SATIIs and subject tests…what are these, I asked? Oops! quick take a couple in october …took Math II and Spanish cold, no prep…not too bad Math and good spanish so retook Math II in nov and significantly increased without any prep…seems to have a lot to do with the curve. I wouldn’t think of asking my freshman to take one of these… I think it is way too early to take these tests and, worse, expect them to find time to study for them. Chill, let the kids chill, let Junior year be the year of the tests-PSAT in the fall, SAT in may or june and SATIIs in early summer or early fall of senior year. Just have the kid take a couple of the latter. My sense is that the curriculum Junior year and the AP test scores are more important than the SAT IIs the latter are really for kids who don’t have a lot of AP classes at their schools and don’t take the ACT.</p>
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<p>Well, IMO those tests should be taken when the kid has finished studying the material required to do well. It has nothing to do with the grade they are currently at HS.
In general it should be less stresful at that time and should require the lease amount of additional study time.</p>
<p>fineartsmajormom, in the spring of junior year, my d will be sitting for a couple IB and a couple AP tests, beyond taking PSATs and then SATs earlier in the year.</p>
<p>Both she and I are of the opinion that the more that we can get out of the way earlier to alleviate stress later, the better. This will be the only “Human Geography” course she’ll be taking in her high school career, so it makes sense to take the test this year, if she is going to at all. Next year, upon completion of Honors Pre-Calc and Honors World History, she’ll take the Math II SAT, and the AP World History, because that is when she’ll complete the appropriate course work.</p>
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<p>S2 also didn’t do “well” on his AMC 10A. He’ll have a shot at AMC 12B in two weeks, but I’ve lowered my expectation after his recent results. One of his freshman classmates scored around 130 on the AMC 12A!</p>
<p>Wait, you already know scores?</p>
<p>I thought it would be a wait like most of these tests.</p>