<p>He's in the 1500s (out of a 1600) with his SAT score and is interested in the Ivies. He's involved outside the classroom, within the community, and on the sports field, and also has a very good GPA. However, his SAT Subject scores are in the low/mid 600s. How big of a problem will those be for him as he hopes to be admitted into a few Ivy League schools?</p>
<p>I am in the exact same position, but Ive decided that Im going to have to retake them in October. I took math lvl 2, spanish, and us history in June and did poorly. 640, 670, and 660 respectively. I imagine these are red flags to colleges especially since my SAT math score is a 770. And the Ivies being so competitive, I can only imagine the other applicants who all aced their subject tests.</p>
<p>My only question, then, is what is the best way for him to prepare for the Subject Tests? With the SATs, there are plenty of books and practice tests. But other than the short practice test offered on CB’s website and the full-length one given in the Official SAT Subject Test Study Guide, there aren’t many ways to get a lot of practice in. Any suggestions?</p>
<p>There are lots of prep books and a lot of recommendations on different CC threads about which books to use to prep for specific SAT subject tests. Practice will definitely help.</p>
<p>An overall profile would help quite a bit for chances - no one can give you a good idea where he stands without it. But yes, generally SAT subject test scores below the low 700’s would be a dealbreaker, just as SAT I test scores below the low 700’s would kill the application of an unhooked applicant. </p>
<p>As to studying, I’m not sure. I’m pretty sure they do sell prep books for the subject tests, but to be honest I have never heard of people studying for them. In my experience anyone doing well in the relevant AP/IB class can pretty much expect a 750+ on the tests.</p>
<p>Read the CC threads and you will see that many students do study for the tests! Not all classes align well with the questions on the tests.</p>
<p>Snipersas, he was a 3-sport athlete for most of high school but is now a 2-sport athlete. He’s on the Math Team and in the Philosophy and Spanish Clubs. He has also been a leader and designated speaker at a few school events. I’m sure the recommendations he’ll get will be quite good, and he’s a very good writer so it’s easy to think his essay will be up to par as well.</p>
<p>Also, you mentioned about not having to prepare much for the tests. He had mid-90s most of the year in AP Chemistry yet didn’t do that well on the SAT II’s. And do you think there could be a reason why great grades in math combined with a near-perfect SAT Math score doesn’t equate to a very good Math I Subject Test score?</p>
<p>And, Milkweed, thanks. We just found the Barron books. They look helpful.</p>
<p>Forgot to mention he has a job and is involved with volunteer work throughout the community.</p>
<p>Math I has a harsh curve. Make him try taking Math level II which has a much better curve.</p>
<p>I honestly think that, based on your description of the rest of your son’s application, it will not be a problem. Definitely retake, but I don’t think any individual component of an application is an automatic “no-go” so to speak, like some of the above poster’s seem to think.</p>
<p>He obviously got at least a 700 on the critical reading section of the SAT. I would consider Lit if he hasn’t taken it already, I found it very similar and got a 700 first try.</p>
<p>Those are very weak. Also take in mind that the 600s on the SATIIs are not above average. They are just average. US History has a 610 average. And Math II is even higher - I think a 640/650 or so? Maybe even higher. Most kids score a perfect 800 on the Math II because of the curve.</p>
<p>Well first of all, I believe it’s only about 10% that get an 800.</p>
<p>And as you alluded to, the people who take those tests are typically applying to the very top schools because most schools don’t even require SAT IIs. So getting an average score on those is like being an average applicant (if you were only looking at SAT II scores, of course which is not the case) at a top school…so he’s in just fine shape…especially considering the SAT II is only a relatively small piece of the admission decision.</p>
<p>Pretty sure HYPS will not look at a 600 Math II and be like “oh, he’s just average.”</p>
<p>Yeah and I’m saying, according to OP, this kid is an all star student and HYPS would be foolish to let SAT II scores that are 10-15 questions shy of being excellent taint their thorough and fair review of his application. And they know that.</p>
<p>Thanks for the advice, everyone. He likes the sounds of Math II, Chemistry, and Literature right now, but that could change.</p>
<p>Monoclide, from what I’ve been researching lately, a 600 Math II is not very good at all. He actually got a 640 on Math I, which is very different than a 640 on Math II, percentile-wise.</p>
<p>Let me remind you that we’re not necessarily talking Harvard and Yale. Those schools you obviously need to have stellar scores in everything, which means he would need to get into the 700s in at least two of the three subject tests he’ll be taking next year. But what about schools like Dartmouth and Cornell, or even schools like Tufts and UVa? Do you think SAT II Scores will hurt as much in places such as those?</p>
<p>i dont think uva even requires sat 2 scores, just recommends them</p>
<p>“However, his SAT Subject scores are in the low/mid 600s. How big of a problem will those be for him as he hopes to be admitted into a few Ivy League schools?”</p>
<p>I think it will be a problem.
Low/mid 600s are low for Ivies or top colleges. They are just average among SAT II takers.
If he does not have any hook, I will be really surprised if he gets into an Ivy school.</p>
<p>I think if the SAT subject tests are low it might hurt with college admissions, but it won’t help with admissions if the SAT subject tests are high. I’ve seen plenty of rejects with 800 scores.</p>
<p>DrGoogle, that makes sense from other things I’ve been reading. They really don’t help; they can only hurt.</p>
<p>Do you think Math II, Chem, and Lit are a good choice for a student interested in engineering?</p>