<p>My DS wants to apply to some schools that require the SAT IIs, specifically math and science for what he wants to major in. The problem is that even though he goes to a supposedly great school system and has done well on PSAT (got first level letter) and SAT I, he is not prepared for the Science SAT IIs because the curriculum is not covering all of the areas of the test. After he started working in the review book for Physics, he found that there were several subject areas that he had not studied in class. I checked with the school which said that they are not teaching those areas (electricity and magnetism) this year in Honors nor will they in the AP course next year. He took the Physics SAT II this a.m. and said that he did not know 50% of the material. It was pretty much the same deal last year with Chemistry, resulting in a score in the low 600's. Has anyone encountered this problem and if so, were you able to study on your own or take some type of outside course to prepare? Thank you for any advice or suggestions.</p>
<p>I have taken Math Levels I and II and Chemistry subject tests. I have studied by myself for some parts of these tests, but in general, it helps to have learned it in school. I would generally advise buying a textbook (maybe an old one <$) and a test-prep book. Try using the test-prep book, and if you don't understand something, read it thoroughly in the test-prep book. Also, do not underestimate the usefulness of practice tests, while making sure that you completely understand why you got something wrong.</p>
<p>Physics had a pretty lenient curve, though.</p>
<p>Ya...you probably shouldnt walk into a subject test assuming that you learned everything you needed to know in class, even if youre in what you call "a really good school."</p>
<p>I just took Bio today...I've gone through the entire Bio sequence at my school save AP bio (Honors Bio 1-3), and I had to self-study pretty much everything. It's probably best to prepare outside of class with a genuine textbook (I know the AP levels usually give recommended lists of textbooks), but for the most part, especially science tests, the review books do a good job of preparing. </p>
<p>If you use a combination of tools from Barrons/PR/Sparknotes (maybe Kaplans, though I really dont like them), and truly know the books from cover to cover, youre guaranteed an 800, regardless of how much previous knowledge you have.</p>
<p>PS. I made the mistake of spending too much time on bio textbooks and not enough time on the review books/practice tests itself. Even though SAT 2s are more knowledge oriented, there still is a certain degree of "test-taking strategies" that are needed to achieve that 800. In order to get those, you have to do practice tests before hand. llewis gives good advice - best case scenario is to know the material/read the textbooks, but the realistic and most pragmatic plan would be to read the review books and use the textbook as reference when you don't understand something/need further clarification. And don't underestimate the importance of practicing! SATs always require tricks, and practicing can help you learn them, consciously or subconsciously (its just sometimes you dont know you have).</p>
<p>I hope we helped. Eschelon pointed out that the textbook shouldn't be the primary source; just use it for something a review book makes unclear/doesn't explain well. I would advise against using only one test prep book. Princeton Review is made to help the lower end of students.</p>
<p>Yes, you both helped immensely. He prepared with the Blue College Board book, but did not realize that I should have given him a variety of books. He wants to study it over the summer, learn the foreign concepts and try again in the fall, so I will get the PR, Barron's, etc. for him, as well as a textbook. I'm assuming that it would be a college textbook--am I correct? </p>
<p>I don't mean to blame the school for not preparing him, but I simply did not know that the subject tests were something that required some self-teaching. Now we know. When I asked the school about how to prepare for the subject tests, they referred me to the guidance department at the local science magnet high school, but obviously it's not their responsibility to help students at other schools.</p>