Should I take the Spanish SAT II even though I'm Hispanic??

<p>I know that I want to take three SAT IIs this May. I'll probably take the U.S. History and Math Level 2. But I don't know whether to take the Biology SAT II (since I will already be studying for the AP Bio exam which is a couple days after the SAT II tests) or the Spanish SAT II. I think that it would be good for me to take the Spanish test because that is the one test I'm sure I'll do good in and because I only took 2 years of Language (even though I took AP Spanish for one term). But I don't know if the Spanish test will be a waste of time since I'm Hispanic and my last name is Spanish, showing that I speak Spanish fluently because I grew up speaking it, not because I learned it in school. So would a good grade in this test even matter?? I think the registration deadline is tomorrow and I don't know what to do! Any advice?</p>

<p>I know I've read on one university's site or another that you shouldn't take the SATII for your native language. I don't remember which it was, but I don't know if it's worth the risk wasting that time/money. If you're already studying for Bio, you might as well take that SATII. Good luck, anyway!</p>

<p>Take the biology SATII. </p>

<p>The SAT II Spanish might seem easy to you now, but once you take it, the easiest things will seem difficult, because the exam is in Standard Spanish. Unless you speak Castilian Spanish, you should avoid it. Thinking outside of dialect is often a big problem for many test-takers. </p>

<p>If you think you're going to get an 800, take it.. if you do get the 800, it'll be obvious that the reason you took it is for the 800. It shows them that you're lazy and prefer taking the easy way out. </p>

<p>If you don't get the 800, it won't look bad, but it won't be as impressive. You might as well take the Bio SAT II if you're taking the AP. It won't hurt; besides, the AP is much harder than the SAT II, so you'll do well!</p>

<p>It's all up to you. :)</p>

<p>I remember a thread on this a while back. There were mixed responses, and no final answer, but a lot of the ideas bounced around were comments from schools ranging from "branch out and try something new" (ie, take the bio test, since you'll probably do well since you're studying for AP Bio and they "know" that you know Spanish, especially if you report it as a primary home language on your application) to "do what you know you'll do best in, regardless" (ie, take Spanish).</p>

<p>The children of scientists who have grown up "speaking the language of science," so to speak, aren't discouraged from taking the relevant exams. Native speakers aren't actively discouraged from taking the relevant language exams (ever notice the curve on them?). People who have grown up bilingual (or more) without sharing the culture (or the tell-tale last name) aren't discouraged from taking the exam. The SAT II exams are more a test of knowledge, so if you know you'd do well, why not? I do agree with emmared718 regarding the dialect issue. Flip through a book of review for the exam and see if you can do well.</p>

<p>You didn't mention where you are in school, so I'll add this: if you have the time, take the Bio SAT II now and the Spanish exam later if you still feel the need to and you have time to do so before applications are due.</p>

<p>"If you think you're going to get an 800, take it.. if you do get the 800, it'll be obvious that the reason you took it is for the 800. It shows them that you're lazy and prefer taking the easy way out."</p>

<p>LoL. That's true... I had never looked at it that way. Thank you!</p>

<p>Don't take it unless it's your fourth SAT II, otherwise colleges will look down upon it. It shows laziness.</p>

<p>Thanks for the advice undecided. I am a Junior, so I do have time to take the Spanish test as a senior if anything.</p>

<p>I'm KOrean yet took the KOrean SAT II test. I know for sure that about 90 % of the KOrean SAT II takers have been koreans. (NOt many schools teach KOrean, either) Same goes for Chinese (and is there Japanese?) So if I were you, I'd take it.</p>

<p>take both biology and spanish (biology more importantly). If u can get the 800 in spanish, why not.</p>

<p>Take it.. Showing competency in your native language is good.. Very impresing. Although many colleges don't give you credit for native language courses taken in HS</p>

<p>yeah... as others have said... only take it if you're gonna get like 800 lol cuz colleges will expect perfect or near perfect scores if you're a native speaker</p>