<li><p>I haven’t had the greatest or most advanced science education (school doesn’t have APs x.x) but I want to take a science SAT II, preferably Chemistry or Physics. Is it feasible to essentially completely self-study for one of these tests?</p></li>
<li><p>If so, which of the two would be easier to self-study for and get 750+?</p></li>
<li><p>Finally, which book or combination of books would you recommend if I need to teach myself most of the concepts form scratch, not just refresh things I’ve already learned?</p></li>
<li><p>I’m assuming that June would be too early to take the test, and I should wait for October, right? I’m most likely taking Latin in June, so that would be more convenient, plus I may want to retake the SAT I next fall, but I think June is just too close…</p></li>
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<li>When you say you haven’t had the greatest, could you elaborate? Have you had ANY?</li>
<li>I don’t know about Physics, but I know Chemistry is one of the easiest sciences and many people do well on it. In addition, the concepts are very easy and I <em>think</em> that there’s a nice curve on it. I’m doing Chemistry this June and I think it’s very easy to self-study for, considering that a lot of the material that is covered on the SAT doesn’t appear in our school curriculum.</li>
<li>It sounds really silly, but sparknotes has a great section on it- completely free and everything you need for the exam. It doesn’t have practice tests, but it has numerous practice and review questions. </li>
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<p>Just search ‘sparknotes sat chemistry’ in google and you’ll get it.</p>
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<li>You can take two SAT subject tests in one day. I disagree; June isn’t too early for Chemistry. It can be done without much difficulty. If you’re taking the SAT I in fall, you’ll be stretching to take SAT Chemistry as well because you can’t take SAT I and an SAT Chemistry in the same day. This means that you’ll have to do it on two separate days and I can’t see how you would have time when you have normal school curriculum and the SAT I to study for.</li>
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<p>Totally possible. I self-studied for the physics test and got 800 on the year I didn’t take any physics class, but I also took AP Physics C and physics previously…</p>
<p>^ I’m pretty sure Latin is offered in June and December. I’ll check CB.</p>
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<p>I have had some, but because I switched schools after 10th grade and both my schools have had a set curriculum that all students follow (very small schools), my science education has been a bit fragmented. First school went chem->none->bio->phys and the second goes bio->phys1->phys2->chem. So I had a pretty basic chemistry course in 9th grade that I’ve mostly forgotten, and this year I’m taking physics 2 but I missed physics 1 last year.</p>
<p>And my school is much more humanities-oriented than science-oriented, so I’m not sure how great my physics class has been this year. I think the concepts have been good, but the math has been really simple, so I feel like I’m probably missing something.</p>
<p>Anyway, it sounds like it’s possible to self-study. Thanks for your advice.</p>
<p>Any others have opinions on whether chemistry or physics would be easier? Or should I just look at both and go with whatever seems more doable to me?</p>
<p>I’m kind of in the same situation. My strengths lie in the maths/sciences, but I did not learn much the 1st semester of chem and physics. I had great second semester teachers. I did not really understand physics all too well, but chem was 9th grade while physics was 10th. I am going to go to the book store soon and check out the prep books and see if that gives me any idea which one would be easier for me. I suggest you go with the one you’re more comfortable with.</p>
<p>Princeton Review is pretty good I hear. The author of PR’s SAT II Physics also wrote PR’s Physics B and Physics C, and those books are really good. So I’m assuming SAT II Physics is also good.</p>
<p>Well I went to the bookstore today and looked over a couple books for physics and chemistry. I realized that there’s a LOT of stuff I don’t know for either test. I think I’m going to go with physics; I’m not sure why, chemistry just seems more intimidating. PR is the best physics book right?</p>
<p>Oh, and how do the curves for the two tests compare?</p>
<p>yeah, I’m self-studying for the physics subject test.</p>
<p>for anyone who’s doing this as well: how much time are you allotting for studying? I’m planning to take the Physics test this May but I’m not sure if 2 months is enough time to go over all the material.</p>
<p>You can self-study between now and May if you’re dedicated enough and if you don’t have anything else to study for (i.e. AP tests). Otherwise, wait til June or October.</p>
<p>Physics has a huge (the biggest of all tests?) curve. ~59/75 raw score for an 800. That means you can get around 13 questions wrong and still get the 800. Chemistry’s curve is much tighter – 82/85 raw score for the 800.</p>
<p>^ Is that because physics is really hard, or CB just decided to be nice? 13 questions wrong and still an 800… and I thought Math II had a nice curve…</p>
<p>I’ve heard it is because the physics test covers such a wide array of topics that most people who take the test have not been exposed to all of the material on there.</p>
<p>Either way, still only 9% of test takers score 800, which is less than Math II. So it can’t be THAT easy (I’m taking it in May and haven’t started studying yet).</p>
<p>Yeah, you get a table of percentiles in the mail with your score report after taking a subject test. I get my curve information from the Official Subject Test study guide.</p>
<p>Of course, there are probably CB PDF’s out there for all this stuff.</p>