I’m am junior now, looking to apply this fall. I’m in honors pre-calc and some other AP courses. I’m looking to apply to U of M, UNC, and Virginia to name a few. If I take AP tests should I also take subject tests? I’m thinking of taking math and chemistry. How hard are these tests compared to regular tests and AP tests? What kind of questions do they have? Subject tests have not been mentioned by my counselor or school so I didn’t think it was a big deal until now.
Basically SAT II are for admissions and it is more like top school and you should look if the schools that you are going to apply need them. AP tests are just for credits but you should look it up what subjects are you going to take and there are practice tests that you can see.
SAT Subject Tests test material found in a HS course; AP exams test material found in a college course. As noted above, some schools require/request SAT Subject Tests for admission, but most do not. No American university requires AP tests for admission.
If you do decide to take the Subject Tests, you should take math this year, since you’re in pre-calc. The Subject Test does not test calculus. and you might forget some of the earlier concepts if you take the test much later. You can take the Chem Subject Test after AP Chem, but be aware that AP chem is not designed to prepare you for that test, so you would have to do some work on your own.
Some schools require Subject Tests if you send SAT. If not mentioned, then it will only benefit you if you do well. Review the prep books at your library or the college board preps online to see which tests you are ready for.