<p>At the risk of dating myself, in the 70's, there was one test - the SAT, which was 2-2 1/2 hours long if I remember correctly. Now it is 5 hours long, ACT and now subject tests!</p>
<p>I am floored, as the parent of an only child, going through the college process for the first time. SAT, ACT and now Subject tests? This process is completely test crazy. Our school advised us that he should take them and in the same breathe, said the school doesn't really prepare students for them and he should prep on his own. </p>
<p>He is taking Bio, Lit and Math 2 next weekend. Of course, he refuses to devote any time to prep and is taking them cold.</p>
<p>1) Why are these necessary? Do schools really require them or is it one of those, "it looks good" things?</p>
<p>2) What happens if a student does poorly but the SAT/ACT score are good? Do you not submit them?</p>
<p>I'm finding all the requirements like a world gone mad. Glad we are only facing this once.</p>
<p>The SAT Subject tests cover material learned in the typical high school curriculum. The SAT reasoning exam ostensibly tests “reasoning,” i.e., ability of the student to absorb/manipulate information and use deductive logic to arrive at the correct answer. Many students consider difficult SAT reasoning questions to be “tricky.”</p>
<p>As a point of clarification, the timed sections on the SAT reasoning test add up to 3 hours and 45 minutes of test-taking time. Once the breaks and filling-in-your-name-on-the-bubble-sheet exercises are figured in, the test-taking experience can last 4.5 hours.</p>
<p>Your son doesn’t need to take any of the standardized tests if he is OK with applying exclusively to colleges that don’t require them. Yes, such schools do exist.</p>
<p>It doesn’t bode well that your son refuses to study for the SAT Subject tests. At this point in the game, many high school students have taken the appropriate coursework (in many cases the AP course-equivalent), secured test prep books, and worked through several practice tests. Some have even worked with private tutors or taken test prep classes.</p>
<p>With respect to not sending SAT Subject test scores (in case your son bombs them)… Score-reporting practices vary quite a bit from college to college.
Most schools are OK with the College Board’s Score Choice system which allows students to pick and choose which specific test scores to send to respective colleges. Some schools don’t require SAT Subject scores, whereas others ask that applicants submit 2 or 3 different Subject scores. Some stipulate that applicants must send ALL Subject test scores if they intend to send any at all. (Confused yet?) Most colleges state that applicants can choose to send either the SAT or the ACT plus Writing. Some say that, if the ACT plus Writing is sent, then SAT Subject scores are unnecessary. To confuse matters even more, colleges can change their score reporting policies from one year to the next.
The bottom line is this: the applicant is responsible for checking what the score-reporting policies are at the colleges to which he/she is applying. The best way to obtain this information is to visit each school’s admissions website for details on the entire application process.</p>
<p>ebbrat – back in the Dark Ages, when we parents were applying, the subject tests were called “achievement tests.” Does that term ring a bell? At that time, SAT also actually stood for something, namely “Scholastic Aptitude Test.” Times have changed!</p>
<p>As for the stubborn teen, I can sympathize. At some point, we need to step back and let them succeed or fail on their own – only you know if this is one of those times or not. </p>
<p>I have to disagree with your child’s school, though. The subject tests are designed to test mastery of high-school level knowledge in a variety of subjects. If your son’s school offers math through pre-calculus, it should have prepared him well for the Math 2 subject test. If it offers chemistry, chemistry class should have offered some preparation for that subject test, etc. If he wants to do very well, of course, it is in his best interest to study on his own, too.</p>
<p>You do not say what grade your son is in. If he is not yet in eleventh grade, I would wait on the subject tests instead of taking them “cold” next weekend. Even if he is in eleventh grade, there is at most one college (Georgetown, and I do not know if they have changed their requirements) that requires more than two subject tests of applicants. So I see no reason at all for your son to take three subject tests next weekend.</p>
<p>My advice: Take time TODAY to look at websites of some schools that interest your child. Look at their requirements. If they are NOT requiring subject tests, I see no point in taking the tests. Note that some schools will accept ACT with writing instead of SAT plus SAT subject tests; this might be an appealing option for your child, depending on his strengths.</p>
<p>SATs and ACTs- you need to do well on one of them. SATs 2100+ is great and for ACTs 33+ is good for any schools. You have to send one in.
Subject tests- try taking 2-3
PSAT- do well but don’t stress (only for national merit scholarship)</p>
<p>DS is taking the ACT in two weeks and has been thinking that, if he does well, he could submit that rather than taking SAT subject tests. There’s only one school on his potential list that would require subject tests in addition to the ACT.</p>
<p>At the same time, he has a very strong SAT (over 2300 V+M+W, in a single sitting), and he would certainly like to submit that to schools. I would think he could submit the SAT and, if the ACT is good, also submit that.</p>
<p>Is there any reason not to go that route? It would mean he wouldn’t have to prep for SAT subject tests, meaning less $ for tests, less pressure and more time for other things in life.</p>