Something I would like to tell international students considering SAT II language tests

Student Lounge International Students
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<p>I have recently read several posts about taking SAT II language test in native languages(i.e. taking Spanish test when your home language is Spanish), and I would like to say something about this so that people won't make mistakes:</p>

<p>It's very un-recommended by colleges to take SAT II Language tests that are your native tongue. Use common sense, people. Wouldn't be a "cheating" if you take Chinese language test when you are fluent in Chinese because you grew up speaking it? College admissions officers, even if they may not flatly reject you, will do more than frowning at your "perfect" score.</p>

<p>From Brown University:
How would Brown view an SAT Subject Test in my native language?</p>

<p>We place no specific requirements on your choice of Subject Tests, but you would be wise to take tests that will display your strength in other areas. The SAT Subject Tests in languages are designed to test a student's abilities in a foreign language. For you to do well in the Subject Test in your native language would not provide us with helpful information.</p>

<p>If the Brown University said this, I think it's very clear that other top schools or even a bit lower schools will think exactly same thing.</p>

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<p>I think it’s Harvard, but I’m not positive, that explicitly says that if you submit a native language subject test as one of your two, that it doesn’t satisfy the requirement. </p>

<p>Yeah, it’s a pretty lame thing to do, kinda like an American kid submitting the TOEFL. </p>

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<p>ahaha that would be super funny if an american kid takes tofel.</p>

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<p>Some other colleges’ thoughts on the subject:</p>

<p>[url=<a href=“https://college.harvard.edu/admissions/application-process/application-requirements]Harvard:[/url”>Application Requirements]Harvard:[/url</a>]

[url=<a href=“http://undergrad.admissions.columbia.edu/ask/faq/topic/402]Columbia:[/url”>http://undergrad.admissions.columbia.edu/ask/faq/topic/402]Columbia:[/url</a>]

</p>

<p>I’d read between the lines and say using an SAT subject test in your native language is not the best idea, and yet, the question always comes up.</p>

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<p>I was curious and looked up the data table from college board. A whopping 86% of kids who take Chinese with listening are native speakers.</p>

<p><a href=“http://research.collegeboard.org/content/sat-data-tables”>http://research.collegeboard.org/content/sat-data-tables&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>It’s the second to last link. </p>

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<p>LOL…but that 86% may include chinese kids who didn’t learn Chinese at their home, although it won’t be much…since many Chinese kids learn Chinese language growing up, whether they live in US or not.</p>

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<p>They’re listed as “native speakers” rather than "heritage speakers."Rest were listed as having 2, 3, or 4 years of school instruction. </p>

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<p>Oh really? Lol…</p>

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<p>96% of the Korean tests were taken by native speakers
92% of the Hebrew tests were taken by native speakers
72% of the German tests were taken by native speakers
63% of the Japanese tests were taken by native speakers</p>

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<p>For some reason, there has been a terrible, terrible “advice” among Korean students for a while- in Korea and US-that taking Korean subject test gives one advantage because it’s easier to get a high or perfect score. This has been wandering for a LONG time-10 years, I think? Maybe this isn’t limited to Koreans only…fellow Koreans, you are smarter than that, aren’t you?!!</p>

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<p>The numbers are a little deceptive based upon how the College Board defines native speakers. For example, for the AP tests, [they</a> state:](<a href=“http://media.collegeboard.com/digitalServices/pdf/research/2013/STUDENT-SCORE-DISTRIBUTIONS-2013.pdf]they”>http://media.collegeboard.com/digitalServices/pdf/research/2013/STUDENT-SCORE-DISTRIBUTIONS-2013.pdf)

I suspect the same holds true for the subject tests, especially since it reports that 8% of the Latin tests were taken by native speakers.</p>

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<p>it may be for Latin tests, but for Asian language tests, lots of test takers are actually native speakers, and the Korean one is the highest one; Korean is not even offered in many schools, so it’s very minor language compared to two other East Asian languages.</p>

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<p>My point was that the College Board does not do a good job in reporting the data of native speakers vs. heritage learners; there are no native speakers of Latin.</p>

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<p>OH for some reason I erroneously thought Latin test was Spanish test…never mind what I said about Latin test.</p>

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<p>There is a little asterisk ackowledging that there are no native speakers of Latin. Native speaker refers to those who did not take latin in high school. </p>

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<p>Actual text: Technically, there are no native speakers of Latin. The examinees in this category did not study Latin primarily in grades 9–12.
Their knowledge of Latin came from study prior to the ninth grade, courses taken at a college, or special study.</p>

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<p>Understood. However, I also doubt that 96% of those taking the Korean test are native speakers or 92% of the Hebrew test-takers are native. Learning a language outside of a HS class does not make one a native speaker. I know it’s semantics, but this blatantly incorrect use of native by the College Board bothers me.</p>

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<p>My son, with excellent performance at the 4-years-of-high-school level, would not take the Mandarin AP for this very reason. The test is Chinese language and culture, and he felt that it was curved towards those who had family ties to China, and had been steeped in the culture as well as knowing the language. He did not have an interest in taking a foreign language SAT II, but probably would have felt at a disadvantage there, too.</p>

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<p>^^good choice your son made. </p>