<p>I have a dilemma and I was wondering if I could get some advice. S needs to do much better on the SAT Math II . We are forgetting about SAT World History which he did even worse. Should I have him study the rest of the summer for the SAT Math II and take it in October or study for the SAT which he plans on taking in January and then perhaps again in June and October (3x’s). </p>
<p>I’m going to say maybe he wasn’t materially ready for these SAT subject test? The math sat is very self selective so many will take it after Pre-Cal or Cal AB. World history follows AP?
Mine will take us history; literature in June; following his AP class for these subjects.
We are focusing on PSAT prep and that is it for us this summer,and its not been a real fun time for this so I’m not even trying for studying anything else. I want to stay out of jail…I could wring his neck at times.</p>
<p>@mysonsdad - what math did your son do this past year, and what math will he be doing this coming year? For your seasonally-dependent question, I think it might depend on the answers to questions like that, and also whether you have access to materials in the summer, what your son is more interested in doing, etc. I don’t think you necessarily have to leave three dates open for the SAT I.</p>
<p>My general recommendation for SAT II in Math:</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Determine Math 1 or 2, if your college doesn’t care (even MIT doesn’t, so it’s worth checking). Take sample tests to see, without studying, which is stronger.</p></li>
<li><p>Generally speaking, a math sequence through the end of Honors Precalculus should prepare a kid up to about 650 with no additional preparation. However, as we know on CC 
that is not good enough. So the next step is:</p></li>
<li><p>Take a test with some diagnostic information (or a reputable tutor) to see where the holes might be. The most common holes on the Math II would be matrix math, probability/counting, conic sections, or circle angles/arcs, but I don’t know your son’s curriculum.</p></li>
<li><p>Find a way to fill the holes - could be a tutor, could be you, could be a self-motivated kid. For the matrices in particular, the TI calculators can be used to good advantage if you are fast enough.</p></li>
<li><p>Set a study schedule - a test a week is good, with each week focusing on one previously-weak topic</p></li>
</ol>
<p>By the way, except for step 1, this is a good general pathway for any of the tests - altering step 2 to say that preparing for an AP exam often is a huge chunk of the work, e.g. for history and/or science - but again, not total overlap (e.g. in Chemistry, where the SAT II has a bunch of questions on some rather arcane equipment and other topics).</p>
<p>@fretfulmother he just got done with CalcAB, but he skipped PreCalc. I am thinking this is what hurt him. </p>
<p>@mysonsdad - ah, ok - so start with the practice/diagnostics to see where the holes are…?</p>
<p>@fretfulmother – you are a wonderful resource to have on this thread.</p>
<p>@Mysonsdad – My S14 was a year short of the math he needed when he took the Math 2 Subject Test. i.e., he had not taken pre-calculus. However, essentially as @fretfulmother is suggesting, he figured out the pieces that he was missing by working out of prep books (mostly Barron’s). He went through ?two prep books cover to cover in the few months before the test, and did very well.
That said, my take is that the SAT Reasoning scores are far more important than the Math 2 score, and if it were my kid I might concentrate on those first (unless he was stellar on the PSAT, and may not need much prep).</p>
<p>@Hoosier96 – I had all sorts of struggles with S14 around this stuff (although he ultimately got himself in gear). I always felt that if I’d totally lost it with him I would not have gone to jail. Any court would have considered it justifiable homicide.</p>
<p>Every college will have a “transfer credit policy” for incoming credits — AP, IB, CLEP, DE, even life experience credits. If a school accepts CLEP but rejected DE (maybe because it’s on HS campus?), “launder” the knowledge by taking a CLEP test in the same subject. This also works for students that don’t post the needed score to transfer in AP credits, say a 2 — if the receiving school accepts CLEP (testing brought to you by the CB; considered easier that the AP tests). A lot of schools are signing on to Transferology, btw. </p>
<p>@AsleepAtTheWheel - thank you!!! I’m glad you find my thoughts helpful. 
We’re all in this together!! As I was looking at some of the tours we’re considering this summer e.g. at U Mass Amherst, I realized that it’s two years from now (I mean yes, I should have realized that already, but it hit me full force when I filled out “2016”).</p>
<p>Yes, two years until they graduate but roughly 18 months until all those applications should be submitted. If you feel strongly about visiting before applying, those tours need to be in the planning stages now. My DS’s school allows them 3 days of excused absences Junior year for college visits but finding a “good” time to go is the challenge. His schedule is pretty non-stop, as all of your children’s likely are as well. Good luck to all as this roller coaster takes off!</p>
<p>We’re aiming to visit nearby colleges in August if the college is in session before DD’s HS starts, on the Jewish holidays the HS is closed, and on Clumbus and Veterans day holidays. Will have to check the college’s schedules for those days. The far schools would have to wait for admittance. Complicating things is that she’ll apply for Fall 2016, but is likely to continue applying and then start in Fall 2017 instead if she doesn’t get into the schools she wants most.</p>
<p>Yes, we’re planning some visits in July - and I know the drawbacks of summer visits, but it will be what it will be!</p>
<p>@fretfulmother - great advice. Sent that off to S, will see if he is motivated to do anything about it. He was signed up to take the SAT Math II in May - he took one practice test a week before and realized he wasn’t going to do well. So he skipped the test. He did finish Pre-Calc this past semester, but obviously needs more work to take this one. He’s taking Calc AB next year and perhaps will take the test after this is done.</p>
<p>@Mysonsdad - we are facing a similar dilemma. S will be taking the regular SAT this fall. I think it’s better he focus on that and make sure he gets a decent score rather than the SAT II test for Math. Primarily since the SAT (or ACT) is required by almost all colleges while the SAT IIs aren’t.</p>
<p>Thanks, @arisamp! I hope it all goes well for you guys.</p>
<p>I would like to see exact areas where she messed up on SAT Math II. How do I get detailed report, not just score and %.</p>
<p>@seal16 - I believe they release details later on - at least, that’s what S told me. He said next week he should have details on his SAT II World History test - he did pretty good, but expected a better score, so he’s interested in seeing what he messed up.</p>
<p>He had an amazing performance at the piano guild audition yesterday - the judge there thought he was the best of all the students yesterday. His teacher was so happy She’s a very demanding, perfectionist teacher and so compliments from her are rare!</p>
<p>Glad to hear your S audition went well. I wish you and him the best of luck.</p>
<p>@AsleepAtTheWheel @3scoutsmom, we got those SAT books both of you recommended. My S is hoping to start studying those and has decided to take the SAT Math again in October. If you two have any advice on books for it let me know. My S has Barron’s and the CB subject test book. He took a Barron’s practice test today and got like a 630 which, from what I have heard, is not bad for a Barron’s test. He is going to practice all the questions he got wrong or wasn’t sure about until he can do the whole test and get 100% before going on to the next test. </p>
<p>Hello Class of 2016! I am a parent over on the Class of 2015 thread, and just wanted to pop in to encourage you all to have your children begin preparing for the PSAT, SAT, and/or ACT now, as I am a firm believer in early testing.</p>
<p>My D’s school pays for and uses the ACT and PSAT tests to gauge annual growth beginning in 9th grade, so the testing is built in the school year; however, for those without this luxery, you still can provide the same option to your sons and daughters. </p>
<p>I recommend everyone have their child take both the ACT & SAT this fall, if they have not done so already, in order to determine a score baseline from which to grow from if necessary. BHG scored a 28 ACT composite freshman year, a 31 sophomore year, and 35 this past June. She only studied for the June sitting, as needed at least a 33 for one of her schools. </p>
<p>With the 31 from sophomore year, BHG exceeded or was in the 75th percentile for all of her schools, but two. She could have stopped there and called it a day, but wanted one more sitting for the opportunity. Because she already had the 31 on the ACT, she was not stressed about testing during junior year.</p>
<p>She also had all her SAT IIs completed by March of this year.</p>
<p>If possible, sign your kids up for the fall test dates, and again, if needed, for late winter or early spring. This leaves open the April & June ACT testing dates along with the April and June SAT testing dates as back-up dates for improving scores after tutoring or self-studying. </p>
<p>Have a great year!</p>
<p>Thanks @BunHeadMom always nice to hear from someone that’s been there. I agree with early testing. D16 took her SAT this year and did well enough that she’s not stressed about it but feels that she could do a little better now that she knows what the test is really like. She’s gearing up for the PSAT in Oct and will retake the SAT in January. She’ll also take the ACT in April but this is only because the school pays for it and it’s done during the school day. She took one SAT2 in May and will retake that and another next May. She’s also taking 5 AP tests and has finales in May. Boy will she be glad to have all this testing done with!</p>
<p>Checking in, post school trip. We sneaked in a college visit in the process, and S is now seriously considering a college abroad. We’ll see how that works out-- hopeful about it, but realistic. In talking with teachers from the UK, he’s positioned pretty well for admission, so that’s a good start.</p>