SAT Subject: Literature

Test Preparation
1

<p>Tonight is the end of normal registration for the SAT and I'm debating about taking the Literature Subject test. I'd say that I'm pretty good with Literature and English itself is my absolute best subjects, which is why I'll be taking AP Literature next year. Because I have yet to take AP Lit, will it significantly degrade my score? Keep in mind that I'm below average if comparing my skills to those of most on this forum (I'm not the type to achieve a perfect 800 on any test, and even 700 is high).</p>

<p>Can anyone tell me how the test is itself? Is it similar to the standard Reading Comprehension test, except with Literature passages instead?</p>

<p>Thanks for any input ;) Let me know if you need more information.</p>

2

<p>Try out some practice questions on the college board website and see how you do.</p>

3

<p>Thanks for the advice SoulReaver - just registered for it after taking the quick practice passage + 10 questions at CB.</p>

4

<p>The lit test is much more difficult than CR. I know kids who score a 5 on the AP Lit test but were <600 on the Subject Test. </p>

<p>Instead of 10 practice questions, pickup a copy of CB’s ST book and take a full length test. Each test has at least one really obscure poem, which most kids bomb. (And I guarantee you that such a poem ain’t on CB’s online practice questions.)</p>

5

<p>The literature test is a LOT harder than critical reading. it doesn’t matter if you haven’t taken AP lit yet because it’s not like you need to know any of their references-- you just read the poems/excerpts/songs/whatever that they give you and then answer questions about the tone, symbolism etc.</p>

<p>honestly, i wouldn’t take it unless you’re naturally pretty good at reading literature (especially if you didn’t get a 700 on critical reading).</p>

6

<p>Lit is really hard. It’s definitely fundamentally different from SAT CR, AP Lang, ACT Reading, etc. So definitely check out a practice test.</p>

7

<p>Also, you need to be able to identify rhyme schemes in poems, and recognize literary terms like tone. If you go ahead and take the test, I’d recommend using Barrons to prepare for it.</p>

8

<p>Lit is really easy. Really really. If English is your best subject, you will be fine. Personally, I didn’t really study for it, so I think you’d be fine just doing a few practice q’s. I used the book published by the CB.</p>

9

<p>Lit seems to depend a great deal on having the right background. If you have done some analysis of lit, you will be okay. That said, I wouldn’t walk into it without trying a sample test.</p>

10

<p>

</p>

<p>Statistically, that is false. Really really. Check out the number of students who score above 700 as a % of total, and compare to % of other Subject Tests.</p>