<p>Posted this in SAT prep forum w little traffic and now realize this is probably the right place for parents feedback....</p>
<p>S1 is a Junior. Talking to parents of Seniors, most of their kids did NOT take SAT2s, as they said only top tier schools want them. He is looking at mostly engineering schools in the Northeast and his current top 5 choices don't require them. (Top schools currently Villanova, WPI, RPI & Northeastern). </p>
<p>Should he bother to take Chem & Math 2 in May, right after the AP exams? or is this a waste of money? (He will have 3 ap exams on his college ap - Stats (4)' plus Chem & AB Calc). </p>
<p>My son (who most probably will apply to those schools ) is taking them for the only reason that his school restricts AP sciences for the senior year. So by the time he sends the apps he will not have anything in his transcript to “prove” that he has a certain level.
However, the common practice is to take the SATIIs after completing the AP course and I never understood what is the point of it. Isn’t the purpose of the AP to show that a student has a certain rigor and fluency on the subject?</p>
<p>The important thing is whether any school he wants to apply to requires them, and how he might feel about restricting his college list for lack of those test scores. </p>
<p>@am9799, I also find it a bit odd that the SAT2’s are required when so many kids may also have AP scores in the same subject. Perhaps it’s because the SAT2’s provide a finer scale of grading, and it may be harder to get an 800 than a 5 in some subjects. Or maybe it’s just nice for the colleges to have all their applicants doing the same test, and APs are only once year whereas the multiple choice SAT2’s can be given frequently and scored quickly. (Which I’d say makes them a lesser quality test…) Or perhaps the colleges don’t want to appear to be discriminating against those who don’t have access to AP courses or tests. Or perhaps they’re in league with the college board to help provide yet more test fees. For 2 of the 3 SAT2 tests my daughter took, she just walked in and took the test within a week or two of taking the corresponding AP test, so it did feel like very superfluous testing.</p>
<p>The only reason to take them is if there is any possibility of applying to a school that does require them. You don’t want to be scrambling fall of senior year. He might try a practice test in math and physics or chem and see how he looks to score. A good score certainly won’t hurt him at schools that don’t require it.</p>
<p>I agree with mathmom. Some schools do require them, and his top schools may change. Engineering programs, in particular, want to see math skills. Even if the school doesn’t require them, they are often recommended and high scores add value to the application. </p>
<p>My son’s school suggested he take the SAT subject tests immediately after the AP exam, with the reasoning that he will have studied anyway for the AP exam, and the subject tests are usually easier. Yes, it’s a fee but IMO, worth it. </p>
<p>I’m always in favor of keeping one’s options open.</p>
<p>He should get a prep book and take some sample tests, though. The SATII does not necessarily cover the same material as an AP class. Most will be overlap, but possibly not all.</p>
<p>Is there a subject that he is not taking an AP class for but he is good in? For example has he taken a foreign language for 3 or more years? Some colleges will use the SAT II test score instead of a placement test if he wants to continue it in college. Also Georgia tech will give college credit for English 1101 if you score at least a 750 on the English SAT II… Some other colleges may do the same.<br>
What my DS13 did was take three SAT II tests in subjects he didn’t have an AP classes to show knowledge in other areas…</p>
<p>SAT subject tests cover high school level material, while AP tests cover more advanced material that may be college frosh level (depending on the test and college)*. Since not all high schools offer AP courses, and not all students are given the opportunity to take them by junior year of high school, the SAT subject tests are more suitable as a common measure of what students learned in high school (based on the assumption that high schools’ courses and grades are not consistent with each other), from the point of view of colleges that want to see them.</p>
<p>If SAT subject tests are taken, any time after completing the relevant high school course (whether or not it is an AP course) is fine.</p>
<p>*The obvious examples are the math ones. The SAT subject tests in math 1 and 2 cover algebra, geometry, and (for math 2) trigonometry, while the AP math tests cover calculus (although algebra, geometry, and trigonometry are used as needed for calculus) or statistics (using algebra as needed).</p>
<p>^^^^
I wish that was true but it not. Currently, AP classes are more aligned with the SAT 2 material than the high school classes. And it is not fine if the SAT is taken after the relevant high school course. Maybe it used to be but not anymore.
I asked around A LOT (teachers, other students, forums etc) and the conclusion is that you are more suited to take the SAT 2 after taking the AP class. Otherwise you need to self study to cover the difference or get some tutoring.</p>
<p>I agree am9799. My son took Honors Physics and had to self-study probably 40% of the material for the SAT subject test. AP Physics is now a two year class at our school, and the teacher says that it covers 50% of the Subject test material each year. The AP Chem teacher says they cover 100% of the subject test material. I would not go into the science subject tests without an AP course. Math is different. </p>
<p>nj2011mom—in terms of waste of money, the tests are relatively inexpensive, at least compared to the AP exams. There is no additional fee to send the scores when reporting SAT scores, and assuming a college does not require that all scores be sent, one test score can be suppressed and another sent from the same sitting. </p>
<p>Some schools that do not require the Subject Tests will say they will consider the scores if submitted. </p>
<p>Your son’s current Chem & Math teachers may be able to tell him how well his coursework matches up with the Subject Test material. </p>
<p>CB sells one book that provides one sample test for every subject. There is another book covering only Math 1 & 2, but two of the four tests in that book are duplicates of the test in the larger, all-subject book. CB offers a handful of practice questions for each subject on their website, in case your son would like to attempt those before registering for the exams. If he is uncertain about how many tests he wishes to take, simply register for the minimum of one, and he can add a test or two when he arrives at the test center. CB will bill you for the additional $12 (??) via the mail after the test.</p>
<p>I only looked at the sciences so I do not know about other subjects. </p>
<p>I am not saying that it can not be done. My son is doing it. But it is not the common practice and a student should know that before the test so he/she needs to study appropriately.</p>
<p>There are several advantages even when it is not required. It may be cheaper to take one or 2 SAT2 tests and get 4 free full SAT score reports than ordering SAT scores for 4 schools. SAT2 scores may be used for placement purpose. Also, you really don’t want to limit your school choices. The best time to take SAT2 is around the end of Junior year (and sophomore too if you took any AP classes). You may regret later if you did not take the SAT2 as you may run out of time or you forget the subject content in senior year before application deadline.</p>
<p>Take two SAT2 even if it is just recommended. It will give you an edge over those did not take it.</p>
<p>A math and a science test is good for engineering in case he decides to apply to schools that may require them.
I have heard some schools exempts students from having to take a foreign language if they score well on the subject test. Not all high schools offer AP classes so having the subject score is useful. </p>
<p>I would discuss it with him and let him decide. My S did not want to take them as schools he was looking at did not require them. He was fine with his choices and did not feel the need to take more tests.</p>