Should I Retake Subject Tests? SAT II's vs. AP scores

Test Preparation SAT Subject Test Preparation
1

<p>So here's the deal. In May I took 2 SAT II's (BioM and Literature) and 3 AP tests (Bio, APUSH, Lang and Composition). My scores are as follows:</p>

<p>SAT II's: 740 BioM, 720 Lit
AP's: 5 Bio, 5 US, 5 Lang</p>

<p>My dilemma is whether I should submit my SAT II scores to colleges or retake them and try to get higher (750+). I'm not sure if the disparity between my AP results and SAT II's are going to be a problem. I have also been told that a 5 on an AP is equivalent to an 800 on an SAT II, and thus submitting my lower SAT II scores just wouldn't be beneficial at all. </p>

<p>ALSO, I'm looking at universities such as Georgetown, so would it be recommended that I take another SAT II (like Math 2) that way I would have 3 subject test scores to submit? </p>

<p>Sorry for the long question, I would appreciate any advice please and thank you!</p>

2

<p>I heard a 5 on an AP is considered a 700+ on an SAT Subject Test</p>

3

<p>Your subject test scores are fine! Especially the lit, for which a lowish score (though 720 is far from low) is still a high percentile. My subject test scores were far lower than my SAT and AP scores, but they’re such a small part of the application that it doesn’t really matter. If you got a 5 on an AP and then a 600 on the subject test, there might be reason for concern, but not anything above 700. Colleges also know that lots of kids don’t go into subject tests prepared because they don’t even know they exist or that they’re required by some schools, so they go in blind.</p>

4

<p>5s on the AP tests don’t guarantee an 800. There’s a much wider range of scores you can get on the SAT II compared to just 5 results for the AP test, so yeah, I’d agree that getting a 5 probably will guarantee at least a 750+. Lit score is fine since it’s such a difficult test, but if you wanna major in biology, I might consider retaking.</p>

5

<p>I would like to major in Bio, and so I think I will retake for BioM, hope I can remember everything :confused:
But would it be necessary to take another subject test as well? Or are 2 subject tests sufficient for most universities?</p>

6

<p>You should look up requirements for the specific schools you’re interested in. I know MIT requires one math and one science, while Hopkins requires any three tests, so it’s all over the board among the top schools. That’s what google is for!</p>

7

<p>Yeah, it’s generally accepted that 2 subject tests are fine. As long as you can do well on them, then you’re set :]</p>