Questions on SAT subjects

Test Preparation SAT Preparation
1

<p>1)How hard is the Lit. Subject test? I score around 600-700 on practice for CR and have an A+ in English Honors(I'm a freshman, so I have time to practice, if required)</p>

<p>2)Does it look good to have more than 3 subject tests if they are all 800 or close? I am thinking of doing math level 2, physics, chemistry, us history, and literature.</p>

<p>3) What is the Literature curve?</p>

<p>4)Which prep books are the best for Literature? </p>

<p>5) When would be the ideal time to take Literature?</p>

<p>6)Do colleges see how many times you take a subject test?</p>

<p>7)Should I take both USH and Lit? Would they be considered as basically the same subject matter(humanities)? I think I would do a lot better in USH.</p>

<p>8)How are you doing today? :)</p>

2

<p>I’ve been told everywhere that lit is basicaly CR “on steroids.” </p>

<p>I recommend USH. It’s a solid history with a good curve. </p>

<p>3 - there is one on the sparknotes site; I’m not sure how accurate it is. I would check the curve on CB’s big book of subject tests.
5 - when you are ready</p>

3

<p>FYI, you would be better off posting in the “SAT Subject Tests Preparation” forum.</p>

<p>1) The literature test is very hard for the average student. Many of its passages are not…modern. It has a lot of passages from throughout the centuries. A lot of the language can’t be deciphered with a dictionary. It is a topical test (something you need to study, like in an AP course, although there isn’t much correlation), so it can’t really be compared to the CR portion of the SAT, which primarily tests reasoning. You would need to flip open the blue book for SAT IIs to see if you understand the language and the terms.</p>

<p>2) Yes, it does look good. In general, however, it isn’t as important as something like extracurricular activities. If SAT II scores are an important factor in admissions at a school, it is likely a top school, at which, in admissions, there is a lot of competition that cannot be shot down by a few 800s. In other words, don’t waste so much time studying for more than is necessary, and try to focus on extracurriculars! They are very important, and you will regret focusing so much time on testing if you don’t have any extracurriculars. If you have actual free time, then the more tests, the better.</p>

<p>3) Relatively harsh I believe. Maybe 2-3 wrong for your score to drop to 790. A score of 750 is maybe 95% percentile.</p>

<p>4) Try the one test that is given for the literature test in the blue book for all the SAT IIs. I don’t know any others.</p>

<p>5) I’d say you should leave it for last. It is pretty difficult to study for if you don’t understand the topics tested at all. However it could very well be easy for you. Just check out the book store and see how it is for yourself.</p>

<p>6) No. You send what you send. I don’t believe any college forces you to send all SAT II scores.</p>

<p>7) Generally, you shouldn’t be taking more than 3 (it is common to see Math II, a science test, and another science test or a history test) anyway. So if you had to choose one, yes, you should choose between the two, but it is good to do well in both. You really don’t need to take 3 though. No school besides Georgetown requires 3.</p>

<p>8) poor</p>

4

<p>Also, do not use Sparknotes! It is very inaccurate and would do more harm than good.</p>

5

<p>Thanks guys! One more question…</p>

<p>So ive decided i will take math level 2, physics, chemistry, and ush; does that look pretty good if i get almost 800 or 800 on them?</p>

6

<p>It’ll look really good although I recommend that you only take 3.</p>

7

<p>^You say it’ll look really good, but why do you only reccommend that I take 3.</p>

8

<p>From my experience, the physics test is hard. I took regular physics last year and was planning to self-study for it then (when I was a junior), but I gave up studying for it and left the test center after only taking Math II, which I did well on (I was in honors precal). I eventually took the literature test without studying at all thinking that it would be mildly challenging, but I only got a 620. The passages just aren’t your everyday passages like they are in the SAT I. I’ve never taken AP English or anything of that sort.</p>

<p>I don’t know anything about chem or USH but I remember USH was pretty hard for some people last year. You should definitely study early. Don’t expect to ace all of them in just a month of study. A month really goes by quick. Preparing for 4 tests in 4 weeks is a pain, especially if you have APs. You don’t have to ace all of the tests you take in a given test date. You can retake them whenever</p>

9

<p>I’m a freshman at the moment, so Ill have a lot of time to study. I’m going to take Math level 2 after I finish pre-calc end of sophomore year(we have semester scheduling); and physics and chem after I finish the respective subjects. If I don’t get an 800, I will try again after their AP counterparts. SAT USH i will be taking after I finish APUSH(we have it for two years; one semester sophomore year and another junior year).</p>