<p>Hi guys :) I'm taking these three this June, and have started studying for a re-take of the Math Level 2. I'm using the Barrons prep book.
For the bio one, I checked out the 2008 barrons prep book from the library, same with the US History one. Thoughts? Opinions?</p>
<p>I'm aiming for 800's on all three, especially since I'm enrolled in relevant APs.
*I just took the Barrons first diagnostic and did terribly <.> 640 or something...</p>
<p>Just remember that Barron’s overpreps you for the real tests. I’d order the blue book (Official SAT II Tests) off of amazon and take those a week before the exams. But keep prepping with Barron’s as it will help.</p>
<p>I think the rule for Barron’s (at least for Math II) is that Barron’s Score + 100 = Real test score.</p>
<p>I bought 3 books for US History (Kaplan, Princeton Review, and Barron’s). And Barron’s gave me the worst score on a practice test (530), but Kaplan and Princeton Review got me 750s on my practice tests. I ended up getting a 770.
For Bio or Math 2, idk.</p>
<p>I agree with the above-I remember Barrons always being way harder than actual tests.</p>
<p>US History has a huge curve so it wasn’t too bad, but the science ones are a little bit tougher</p>
<p>For Bio, I think the AP class itself is enough preparation. (at least for me it was - I ended up getting an 800). I would suggest reviewing the information a week before test day though - I used Princeton to review. Take my advice with a grain of salt, though - I took the May subject tests and was in the midst of intense AP Bio cramming. </p>
<p>Math 2 definitely use Barron’s and nothing else.</p>
<p>I’m using Barron’s right now and omg… Its so hard. Even the review sections are kinda hard to understand…</p>
<p>Does the Barron’s rule (Barron’s score + 100) apply to the Barron’s chemistry prep book as well? I took the first practice test today and my scaled score is 700-720 (for some reason this book is giving me ranges and not exact scores). Does this mean I can get a high 700 on the real thing?</p>
<p>Be careful with the old bio book. They recently (this year) changed the ap bio course, and so they also changed the sat bio. You do not need to know all the details about plants nor glycolysis, etc., Its more big ideas now. So if you’re gonna use one of the old ones, just skip all the plant stuff. (I wasted my time studying it, and it wasn’t even on the test)</p>
<p>Getting three 800’s on subject tests not only is very very rare, but setting yourself up for a really stressful day. It’s not like the grade school standardized tests where you can get the highest score even with a few wrong.</p>
<p>I would say you should focus on practice tests and study guides for the test you are retaking. “Not making silly mistakes” has nothing to do with studying the material, and everything to do with good test taking discipline and time management.</p>
<p>You do not need 800’s on every test to get into a great school, and three 800’s on subject tests won’t guarantee you admission to every Ivy and excellent private and public university.</p>
<p>Make sure to plan to sleep right and eat right this week, and go into it like a job: the goal is to do your best and leave enough time to check your work. </p>
<p>When I got a 780 on the Math II, before access to score analysis, I was told it was likely I got only one problem wrong.</p>
<p>For Math II, Barron’s all the way. It’s definitely harder but it’s worth it.
For US History, someone throw me a life raft please; I’ve taken two tests from the Barron’s book and it’s been miserable.</p>
<p>@satman1111</p>
<p>Are you sure that the SAT Bio test also changed? I thought the AP and SATs were separate from each other…</p>
<p>@angelaxia</p>
<p>So how generous is the curve approximately? I’ve heard up to eight wrong but that seems kind of large to me.</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>Was there a change in the SAT 2 Biology exam this year?</p>
<p>I have heard that the SAT 2 Math curve is pretty high.</p>
<p>SAT 2 math level1: very high curve
SAT 2 math level2: generous curve</p>
<p>@AspiringStudent - To my knowledge, no. I took the May Bio test and it was very different from the AP test for Bio that I took a few weeks later. The SAT II Bio test is an easier version of what the AP Bio test used to be: lots of fact-based knowledge with lab application questions at the end. </p>
<p>In response to what satman wrote: While the test I took did not have any questions about plants, that does not mean future tests won’t. The SAT Bio originally only had a very limited scope about plants anyways. I’d still study it.</p>
<p>Are practice tests in Cliffsnote Ap do you good in SAT Bio ?</p>
<p>My son did very well on the practice tests for SAT II Bio (missed only one or two each practice test, whether E or M), and got a 600. His AP course was too in-depth and concept focused like the new AP exam.
His big mistake was that he thought studying for the AP Bio exam would help him a lot with the SAT II Bio exam. He’ll retake the SAT II Bio but get SAT II Bio study guides instead of using his AP Bio study guides.</p>
<p>Seemed like memorization of a different set of vocabulary.</p>
<p>Also, my son did not take another bio course first, and I think that’s what scr*wed him on the SAT II, for want of a better word. Even Honors Bio that is not AP has a lot more material covered, more breadth than focus on concepts and systems.</p>