<p>D is still an underclassman, so we've barely begun the college process. One thing I keep reading about on CC that didn't exist when I went through this process is the SAT Subject Test. DD has a short list of schools in which she might be interested, and none of them requires the Subject Tests. However, her wants and interests could change a dozen times in the next year or two, so I want her to keep her options open. I'm thinking it might be a good idea for her to take some subject tests in the near future (Bio, for instance, since she's taken biology) before she forgets what she's learned in school. For purposes of getting D to understand why she wants to take a standardized test now, I'm trying to figure out how many schools actually require the subject tests, and whether there's a particular type of school (eg, top tier, northeastern, small LAC, etc.) that requires them. As stated, none of the schools we've looked at so far require them.</p>
<p>In general (and there are exceptions), top tier universities and very top tier LACs require/recommend subject tests. Some even specify what kind of tests are required (math, science, other). Some colleges (Yale, for example) will accept the ACT instead of the SAT plus Subject Tests.</p>
<p>There are other reasons to take the subject tests. For example, scores on the foreign language , math, and English subject tests are used for placement at many colleges and universities. They are also good practice for AP tests. The tests only take an hour and only cost about $20, but can save you hundreds if your child can place out of some lower-division courses.</p>
<p>Son took SAT II's along the way, but they paled in comparison to his ACT's. With score choice (although the whole choice thing is debatable), perhaps it would work ok but we were glad to not have to submit the SAT's this year so that the 620 in latin compared with the straight A's over 5 years wouldn't seem contradictory. Who knows how that will "pay off" because technically he isn't in any schools yet.</p>
<p>D took the SAT II in Bio at the end of her freshman year. She was in an Honors Biology class with an excellent teacher. I saw a marked difference in the coursework between her bio class and the bio classes that my older two children took as freshman. She used an SAT II study guide the first week of summer vacation and then took the test. She scored a 710 - fantastic for a freshman after Bio I. Her chem teacher the next year was okay, but definitely not to be followed by an attempt on the SAT II. Junior year she took an SAT II in Lit and Math. She started the app process with an SAT II in a science, math, and English, which she felt indicated a well-roundedness. </p>
<p>Of the 10 schools to which she applied, only one required SAT IIs: Rice required two in the subjects areas in which the student is interested in majoring. D is somewhat undecided on a major, so the three subject tests she took remain an accurate picture of who she is at this point.</p>
<p>Even though most of her schools did not require the subject tests, she is glad she took them and didn't have to scurry to add more testing at the last minute. </p>
<p>I would suggest that your child take the test immediately after the class is finished. If d had waited on the bio she probably would not have taken it at all. At the end of freshman year she thought she might later take bio II or AP bio; by senior year her interests had switched to geology and astronomy - and neither have an SAT II.</p>
<p>Wanted to add that d did not take the ACT. She did well on the SAT and had no need to take the ACT.</p>
<p>FWIW, we're in the midwest where the ACT is more prevalent, so D will definitely be taking the ACT. There are many students at her HS who never take the SAT, either I or II. I haven't figured out yet whether D will need to take the SAT, although I suspect she'll take both to figure out on which one she'll do better. Are there schools that don't require subject tests if you take the ACT rather than the SAT?</p>
<p>Go here for list of colleges that require, recommend, or consider SAT IIs: Compass:</a> Admissions Requirements</p>
<p>Some listed in the required column have an * next to the number required; those are colleges that take the ACT (with writing) in lieu of both the SAT and SAT IIs. If college is not on list, it is most likely a college that won't even consider SAT IIs if submitted, although there are a few not on the list that will consider SAT IIs, particularly language, for placement purposes not admission.</p>
<p>mdoc, yes there are schools that will replace SAT II's with the ACT (my D's top LAC is one). You should check with each schools website to find out their policy, but as I recall I believe in general it needs to be the ACT with writing.</p>
<p>From what I've read on CC and elsewhere, given the time/cost factors involved, it's a good thing to take the SAT Subject Tests. If your student isn't taking AP and/or IB, it will be another method to substantiate the HS grade they received in a class. (For homeschooled students, taken Subject Tests is a given.) Also, if you believe your student can do well on the Subject Tests, it's yet another factor in their favor if the Ad Comm needs to "break a tie" somehow.</p>
<p>Be aware that some of the Subject Tests are more generously graded than others. Two that are known for this are Math 2 and Physics. You can look this kind of info up on the College Board site.</p>
<p>Before your daughter takes any Subject Tests -- especially if she may not need them -- try to find out whether or not she is likely to do well.</p>
<p>How well she is doing in the course related to the test (such as biology) is one indicator, but it is not the only one. Not all high school curricula are closely aligned to the material covered on the Subject Test. So you and your daughter need to find out whether she has been taught the material that the test covers.</p>
<p>One way to do this is to ask around at school. Ask other students, and ask teachers. For example, at my daughter's high school, the Honors Physics teacher told students that they would not be able to do well on the SAT Physics Subject Test without studying some additional material not included in the course; the local curriculum omits some topics that the Subject Test covers. On the other hand, both students and teachers said that the curriculum in the school's AP U.S. History course was very closely aligned with the Subject Test and that students who were doing well in the course almost always scored well on the test; this proved to be true.</p>
<p>At an ACT-dominated school, however, there may be few people who have this sort of information. In that case, it would be prudent for your daughter to buy some test-prep books and try their practice tests. If she finds that she knows most of the material on the tests, taking the Subject Test is probably a good idea. If she finds that there are major topics on the test that she has never heard of, she might make a different decision.</p>
<br>
<blockquote> <p>Before your daughter takes any Subject Tests -- especially if she may not need them -- try to find out whether or not she is likely to do well.<<</p> </blockquote>
<br>
<p>I wouldn't recommend taking any of the science SAT subject tests without going through a prep book. The school curriculum doesn't always cover all the subjects that may be covered on the test. So you may have to self study some sections.</p>
<p>The easiest test to take after taking the subject in school is the US History Subject test after you've taken the APUSH class.</p>
<p>SAT II isn't really new. Back in the day.....SAT II were called "Achievement Tests". These were the tests the College Board offered in specific subjects.</p>
<p>Any chance of asking guidance dept if there are kids in your school district who typically take the SAT II tests?</p>
<p>the best advice I can give you is to take the ACT WITH writing. My son did spectacularly well on all his ACT sections but because he wanted to ride on his laurels with a strong SAT writing section score he already had..and because he didn't have much in way of Guidance...he didn't think he had to take the ACT with writing.... His ACT sections were better than his SATIIs..which he didn't prep for that seriously...and many of his colleges would have been most impressed if he has only submitted his ACT..however, it is going out as more or less supplemental scores for their review--there is no way to really know if they will bother factoring those great ACT sectionals into his evaulation from school to school as every committee has its own habits...</p>
<p>..since he never took the ACT writing section they will also judge him primarily by every SAT he took since he was a junior basically..(yes they superscore but they see it all). </p>
<p>Not every school views ACT with Writing with no requirement for SATIIS, but you would be surprised at how many collleges have this plan option.</p>
<p>He is a senior now so it is really too late to obsess on this, and I very much doubt it is worth a Saturday to remedy even though some colleges take Jan/Feb exams.</p>
<p>Many colleges take the ACT in lieu of SAT and SAT IIs. This is a VERY GOOD DEAL, because - imo - the ACT is easier than literature, math, and science subject tests. </p>
<p>The ACT math and science portions are very logic driven. I took them just to see, and I did well on most questions even though I'm math and science challenged. I do well with logic and that's most of what I needed to answer many of the questions. ACT has more of a time crunch than SAT, so that's a factor, but in terms of knowledge, I don't think it compares. </p>
<p>Some colleges, and many of the top ones, specifically require two or three SAT IIs. Check each college carefully before making your decision.</p>
<p>fireflyscout my son is at Yale, SAT subject tests are required even if you submit the ACT WHEN MY SON APPLIED 2 YEARS AGO HE WAS REQUIRED TO TAKE 3 SUBJECT TESTS EVEN WITH AN ACT SUBMISSION. BUT I NOW SEE THAT THE REQUIREMENTS HAVE CHANGED FIREFLYSCOUT IS CORRECT.</p>