I know for sure that I want to take an SAT subject test similar to my planned major (something involving science, most likely pre-pharm, so either the Chem or Bio tests). I’m going to be a junior this year, but none of the classes I chose are really related to either of those two I mentioned earlier. I’m taking physiology and AP Psychology, which are the only two classes only somewhat related to those two subject tests. Should I self-study for the subject tests and take it in May/June, or take an AP Chem/Bio course over the summer and take the test in the beginning of senior year?
(I should have picked my classes more carefully, to be honest, but at the time I hadn’t heard much about SAT Subject tests)
I would recommend taking a class over the summer and taking a test in the fall.
Can you switch to AP Bio or AP Chem rather than AP Pysch for this year then take AP Psych as a senior? I wouldn’t recommend self studying for AP Chem or Bio test. Some could of course, but they are rather challenging tests. Would be good to have the class time behind them if you can.
I don’t think I could switch (too close to start of school) but if you’ve taken the Bio/Chem SAT subject tests, could you tell me how they compare to the AP exams?
In an unofficial pool of my college students, they would rank the science Subject tests harder than the science APs, but it is relative to how prepared you are and when you take each of them of course.
I don’t think it’s so much that they’re harder it’s just that they often cover different topics. Be sure you thoroughly review a practice book for SAT that you want to take and make sure you know all the topics. Sometimes your class will not have covered them whether it was a regular or AP class.