<p>I’m with Oldfort on the Lit SAT2. My DS who got a 5 on the AP Lang and Lit test and scored a 790 on the CR of the SAT only got a 660 in Lit 2. Hmmmm I am debating all of this with our GC with DS14. I feel the best SAT 2 for him would be physics, but he had it way back in 9th grade and he only taking the AP next year. The Lit is SOO harshly curved, and he has not had APUSH yet. It’s a tough one. I may have him take the Lit and Bio, but not sure?? He will be in Calc next year so maybe math II??? Hard decisions.</p>
<p>I’ve heard that Lit SAT2 is one of the hardest SAT2. D is probably going to be an English major and took 3 English classes during Sr year, but did not take Lit SAT2. Took Chem, Math2, and Physics SAT2s which are much easier.</p>
<p>Op,
Is D taking AP physics B? For AP physics C, you have to have taken calculus to do the class. Also, if she wants to be a science major, she should have Calculus. Take AP Calc AB to start off with.</p>
<p>OP - I think it’s good for aspiring science/engineer majors to talk Calc in hs. It’s not just for admission reasons (though it will help). It’s helps students to refine college major preferences.</p>
<p>Unless they are committed to a lot of self study I would not encourage either the Biology, Chem, or Physics C SAT subject tests without the corresponding AP course. If you are a strong student, know you self study well, some do well after an honors level class. The math 2 has a much more generous curve then math1 and is good after pre-calc.</p>
<p>Hmmm, is the SAT-S physics test significantly harder than the old physics achievement test? Getting a high score on the latter years ago after taking regular high school physics (PSSC book and curriculum, non-elite high school with about 30% going to four year colleges at the time) without additional studying was not difficult.</p>
<p>Thanks to all who posted-- thank you Steve for bringing up the knowledge issues re: the competitive college admissions game–unfortunately, I have been to this rodeo before- oldfort is more on target with experience here- small Catholic school with first time AP offerings; previously had only offered 5 AP’s now expanding this to offer 9. ucb- she has taken all AP’s offered through 11th grade and honors math Physics to date as well.</p>
<p>I see the general consensus is that AP Stats will make it a less competitive application if I am reading the posts correctly…</p>
<p>My son scored a 710 on SAT Lit with no studying. He took it because he was unhappy with his 610 in Math 2. He had a 790 in CR. </p>
<p>As to the AP Schedule. I think colleges give you a lot of brownie points for taking language to the AP level, but they also seem inordinately impressed by Latin. One advantage of taking the AP is that if she passes the test she will probably fulfill the language requirement of the school. </p>
<p>I assume that’s Physics B she’s taking? It’s not that hard - our school now offers it instead of honors physics to sophomores. If it’s Physics C she must take Calculus concurrently. </p>
<p>I agree with other posters that if she thinks she’s going on in science she would be better served taking calculus in high school and a better statistics course in college. (My scientist husband regularly laments that his students don’t really know enough statistics, but you won’t get it from the AP course.)</p>
<p>My son got an 800 on the Math II after taking Honors PreCalculus his junior year. He didn’t take AP Calculus until his senior year. So totally doable after just PreCalc.
Agreed on the Lit Test. It is a really tough test and not my son’s best even after taking AP Lit.
He took the Chem Test after AP Chem and got an 800, but I don’t know how he would have done after just honors Chemistry.</p>
<p>mathmom… did your S take the AP Latin test? My DS14 is in AP Latin right now with an A-, but I have heard that the AP test was insanely hard. My S will be taking it, but don’t have high hopes for it being over a 3.</p>
<p>When selecting subject tests, the important questions to answer are:</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Is the course taught by your child’s school closely aligned to what the test covers? Many are not. High school curricula are not necessarily designed to help students do well on SAT Subject Tests.</p></li>
<li><p>Is your child doing well in the subject?</p></li>
<li><p>Will the child have completed the subject (or enough years of a multi-year subject) to take the test after Grade 11? </p></li>
</ol>
<p>ucbalumnus is correct that the Subject Tests cover high-school level material, but the problem is that not all high schools teach the specific material that’s on the tests. One reason for advising kids to take the corresponding Subject Tests after AP U.S. History, Biology, or Chemistry is that the AP courses have standardized curricula, and the curricula in these three subjects provide adequate preparation for the Subject Tests. Your high school’s regular courses may not.</p>
<p>In general, the right time to take the Math Level 2 test is at the end of precalculus. The test doesn’t cover calculus, and a student who waits to take the test may forget some of the material it does cover. But as with all the other tests, it’s important to find out whether your high school teaches the appropriate material. Some don’t.</p>
<p>5boys, My older son took the Latin AP and got a five. He’s very much a math guy with a photographic memory. Latin was easy for him. I think everyone in the class got a 4 or a 5.</p>
<p>My younger son struggled with Latin - his last B (in Latin 4) was a gift. He’s now struggling with Arabic! (Could he have picked a harder language!?)</p>
<p>When choosing subject tests, it’s really worth it to take the practice tests in the blue book. In our experience your actual scores will be very close to the scores you get. My younger son should never have attempted the math test. (He’s very slow in math and can’t remember formulas, though he actually understands it quite well, and got a decent score on the AP.)</p>