SAT Subject Test Selection

Test Preparation SAT Subject Test Preparation
1

I’m currently a rising senior in high school, and I wanted to bolster my college applications with SAT Subject Tests. Currently I am thinking of taking four SAT Subject Tests:

US History- I took AP US as a Junior and I think I made a 5 on the exam. From what I’ve seen in my book, this test seems pretty easy and won’t require that much extra studying apart from a review. I think I could easily make 770+

Math I or II- I haven’t decided yet b/c I’m waiting to receive my SAT Math practice booklet in the mail, and I’ll take both and see which test was better. I’m leaning towards Math II (which would require me to learn polar graphs, parametric functions, and inverse trig function graphs, but not really anything more). I want to take II mainly because it seems to be the more impressive of the two and the scale seems a bit more forgiving. I’d say math is my strongest suit, and with Math II, I could also make a 770+

Biology E or M- I also took AP Biology as a Junior. I really really wanna do well on this subject test, because there’s a chance that I made a 4 on my AP exam (I didn’t do as well as I wanted on my Free Response) and I want to do well to show admission committees that my exam was a flop and I truly do know my biology, especially since I want to major in science. It would take a bit more studying that US History and Math, simply b/c I want to ensure a high score and make 770+. I honestly don’t know whether to take E or M bc I seem equally good at both, but I’m also waiting on a practice booklet in the mail, and I’ll decide then.

Physics- This one is my special case. I honestly don’t know if I should take this one or not. I took a one semester physics course at my local university and it wasn’t exactly the most thorough, but it still helped me with lots of principles related to physics. I ended up taking the college board’s mini practice test, and without studying, I made a 21/36. With this test, I’d have to do some serious, heavy reviewing to make 770+ including studying completely new topics (optics, electromagnetism, modern physics, some of thermal physics). So why would I even take this if it’ll take so much work? I want to show admissions that I learned from my summer physics semester. Also I am planning to self study AP Physics and take the exam at the end of senior year, and I plan to mention that on my application if I actually do end up self studying it. By scoring well on the SAT Physics, I can prove to admissions that I am truly serious when I say that self studying physics is a viable option for me (they wouldn’t receive my AP scores until after I applied to their college, so if I just mentioned that I self studied AP physics it would seem kind of unsupported without any scores as verification like SAT Physics)

I realize that you can only take 3 SAT subject tests in one sitting and I plan to utilize the August and October SAT Testing Dates. So I have several questions:

Which tests should I take on the first testing date? Like should I do USH, Math, and Bio so that I’ll have more time to study for physics, and my best testing dates will come first just in case I’m unable to take them in October, or do you have any other recommendations like taking all STEM first since USH is less impactful on my major?

Should I even take SAT Physics…is the reward worth the effort? I really want to enhance my application for a Cornelius Vanderbilt scholarship as much as I possibly can, so would this matter a lot or a little.

If I take SAT Physics, what prep do u recommend? Ik AP Physics books do not cover everything, so should I get a Barron’s/PR Prep book for SAT Physics? I’ve also seen SparkNotes prep for SAT Physics online. Is this a valid resource (look below to see it)
http://www.sparknotes.com/testprep/books/sat2/physics/

Thank you so much for all of your help. SAT Subject Tests are really new to me, so all advice is appreciated! Thanks!

2

What is your intended major and what is your short list of colleges? That might determine which tests you should take. Be sure to read the requirements for SAT subject exams per college as they vary. It does not hurt at all to take more tests than required and some schools like Case Western Reserve University , may use SAT Subject exams for merit based scholarship qualifications. Some schools give college CREDITS for top SAT subject exam scores too. Some schools suggest the Math 2 if you are ready for it (Georgia Tech comes to mind). But if you are intending to be an English major at a liberal arts college, then that may not matter.

3

By the way a 4/5 on AP Biology is not a flop, it will get you college credit at many colleges across the USA. Look up the AP scores needed for credit at the schools you are applying.

4

Use Khan Academy for test prep:
https://www.khanacademy.org/math/math2
https://www.khanacademy.org/science/physics

I see Vanderbilt is on your list.

Expand your college list.

As far as the physics exam, most students can easily get a 700-800 on that exam who have had AP or IB physics.
Khan academy will be a good prep, since you have not taken either the AP or the IB course in physics.

5

Thank you so much for your reply @Coloradomama ! I have 10+ colleges on my list ranging from safeties to reaches, and not too many of them require SAT Subject Tests, and the ones that do only require about 2. I do want to major in biology, which is why I was so concerned over my AP Bio score…I guess I was just overreacting lol! Thank you for directing me towards Khan academy! I didn’t even think about using that site!

6

@CTMorris1999 I don’t think Vanderbilt will care what you major in, under arts and sciences, and they will not
look that closely at your AP scores as a reflection on what you might major in. Its more of a check box, so
Any AP classes? CHECK
Scores are 4 and 5? CHECK
How many AP classes versus easier classes? They will look at the strength of your high school curriculum.
The more AP the better for some colleges.

You have those two boxes checked off. Look at each college to see how strict they are about the score of 4.
You will find that the vast majority will count the 4 as college credit. Vanderbilt does accept some AP test scores of 4 but not AP Chemistry, you need a 5. Biology, you are in luck, a 4 or 5 gets you credit for into bio and the into biology lab too, if this is correct. See page 30 and 31 for the AP scores needed for college credit at Vanderbilt.

Most colleges make it easier to find this AP test score information than Vanderbilt does, you will need to download this entire 400 page catalog, or try to scroll down in this link.

http://www.vanderbilt.edu/catalogs/documents/UGAD.pdf#contents