<p>Hi, i study in an international school in Hong Kong and i will apply ED next year. My science curriculum differs from the one taught in US or in the SAT II. Some of the topics are not covered so i got a pretty low practice test score. </p>
<p>Does Penn take into account of that or do they expect me to just learn it and do well like US students?</p>
<p>I know it would be smart to not do science at all but the subjects that i’m good at aren’t in the SAT II. I heard Biology is the easier SAT II so thats why i want to do it.</p>
<p>I just know from my year in the US and the Physics class I took there ("College Physics 12"), that the normal physics curriculum of a US high school does not cover all the topics on the SAT II Physics either.</p>
<p>Collegeboard says this in its FAQs about SAT IIs:
[quote]
Students should not expect to answer all the questions on the tests, as they are not expected to know and recognize everything covered in these tests. Typically, students answer only about half the questions correctly.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>If you want to get a high science score you would have to do the same thing as any other American kid who wants high scores: buy a book and self-study.</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Ask your counselor</p></li>
<li><p>They expect you to do just as well as US students. Why should they give you leniency because you're a international student? Besides, A level science>>> AP science. A level physics is essentially university level, its that in-depth.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Most science curriculums in the U.S. don't cover all the topics tested on the SAT IIs, so, like b@r!um said, you have to do what everyone else does--self study.</p>
<p>Also, you're from Hong Kong, which is supposed to be much more competitive and advanced than the U.S. in terms of the degree of education. If you're not willing to self study, then I don't know...maybe a science SAT II isn't for you?</p>
<p>I had it even better when doing the SAT IIs. I live in a country where courses take 2 years (not 1 or 1/2) so I had to take my SAT IIs before I had completed the course. Not to mention the fact that the courses I took were IB courses, not "American" courses. (Then again, most would consider that an advantage not a disadvantage)</p>
<p>In the end though, 710 Math II and 710 Biology M - you should do fine, pick the science you like the most.</p>
<p>i faced the same problem when i was about to take the test earlier.
my school didn't teach me the entirety of the syllabus either.
what i did= grab a Barron's physics and chem and work damn hard.
what i experienced= i prepared for barely one week and took the test with an uneasy mood
result= physics 800, chem 800</p>
<p>my advice to you= grab a book and start working now!</p>