<p>Unknow if this is common, but here in latin america i know some people do spanish sat just because "everyone(here) did that get a 800, and it looks good..."
I mean, if your native language is spanish and getting a spanish 800 really look better..?</p>
<p>I have heard colleges advising against taking the SAT2 in your native language. I have no idea whether they will accept such results and what they will make of it. But it certainly seems weird.
I would not do so.</p>
<p>There is NOTHING wrong in take SAT in your native language. After all, if you are ESL, you are disadvantaged in taking SAT reasoning. Although Harvard does not accept SAT in your native language, there are exceptions. Harvard acknowledges that students in programs like International Baccalaureate, which is the program I am currently in, can use their native language exams to provide academic credentials, since those programs do not adequately prepare for SAT subject tests. In other words, those programs are not aimed at preparing students for College Board's tests. Therefore, I chose to take Chinese SAT II. </p>
<p>Again, there is nothing wrong in taking SAT II in your native language. Remember, getting a 800 in your native language just proves that, simply, "you know your stuff."</p>
<p>I have heard this reasoning over and over and it has no logic to it.</p>
<ol>
<li> ---"After all, If you are ESL you are disadvantaged in taking SAT reasoning." ---</li>
</ol>
<p>Man, let's give up the ESL thing. If you want to go to school in a country where English is the spoken language, then you have to play on the same playing field as everyone else. So really, it doesn't matter a hoot whether English is your first language or not. English is the currency you gotta pay in. Just as if I wanted to go to school in Spain, I can't cry because Spanish isn't my first language and therefore the entry exams are harder for me. I get judged on the same scale as everyone else in Spain.</p>
<ol>
<li> --- "Remember, getting a 800 in your native language just proves that, simply, 'you know your stuff.'"---</li>
</ol>
<p>Of course it doesn't! The foreign language subject tests are testing knowledge of a foreign language. Your statement would suggest that the tests are as hard for native speakers as they are for non-native speakers, and that's patently false.</p>
<p>And from what I hear, colleges DO take into account whether you are a native speaker. No, there's nothig wrong with taking a subject test in your native language, but believe me, if you are from Equador and you score an 800 in Spanish, colleges will NOT give it the same weight.</p>
<p>I have always wondered this about some of the language tests. Let's say you are an American by birth, but English is not your first language and your name doesn't give that away. Let's say your name is pretty American. How would the college know? Certainly a German-speaking person in America with a regular, American name could get away with a 800 on the German test and look amazing, right? ;-)</p>
<p>It would look very good.</p>
<p>@Anarchist
I think there are certain fields on the applications asking for the languages spoken at your home. But I guess you could fool them anyway if that's your ambition. ;)</p>
<p>@Neineibu
Assuming that you have lived in a country where English is not the first language for about 15 or 20 years and participated in normal every-day life, admission officers should be able to presume that you are rather fluent in that language.
I have just taken a look at some sample questions for the SAT2 German. It's a test for German as a foreign language -- and includes some ridiculous phrases by the way. I can't see why I should bother taking it, seeing that I can just state that German is my native language.</p>
<p>But hey, I am no expert on this issue and probably college positions differ as much as applicants'.</p>
<p>^^</p>
<p>I was just posing the situation as a hypothetical one. I speak German fluently, but it is not my mother tongue, English is my Muttersprache (Mother tongue). I just thought situation would be very interesting in the admissions process.</p>
<p>jocan: I think you are being too subjective just because your first language is English. The fact I am trying to point out is that, the language subject test, like every other tests, is used to measure your knowledge in a certain subject area. Again, there is NOTHING wrong with taking a subject test in your native language. Why are you saying that Language subject tests do not measure one's ability? Why?</p>
<p>I think you should stand in ESLs' perspectives, not your own.</p>
<p>Please refer back to the Harvard's example. It depends on a person's situation. Harvard WILL accept language subject test if you are in a school/program that does not adequately prepare you for the SAT subject tests.</p>
<p>Furthermore, there are tens of thousands of Chinese who are native speaker of that language and fail to grab a 800 on Chinese (with listening). What does this tell the admission officers? This just simply tells the admission officers that even though most ESLs' have excellent communication skills in their native language, there are some who don't know their native language very well. An assumption that a Spanish native speaker can communicate perfectly in Spanish is way too naive and presumptuous.</p>
<p>I adhere to my perspective that there is absolutely NOTHING wrong in taking a subject test in a person's native language. Undoubtedly, a ESL is disadvantaged in SAT Reasoning test. Then there is nothing wrong if we have an edge in subject test. (Most ESLz will agree.) Please harbor some global perspectives.</p>
<p>Of course, if you are not in a school/program that does not prepare you well for SAT subject test, I'd take the number of subject tests in areas other than your native language, and utilize language exam as supplement. It won't hurt to submit extra SATs.</p>
<p>For instance, you can submit Math IIC, Chemistry and Biology as your "main" SATs, and add Chinese with listening as your supplement. There are some schools that recommend you to take a language subject test. If you are applying to one of those schools, submit a language subject test, even if it's in your native language, can be an advantage in admission process.</p>
<p>qihqi: I strongly recommend you to take Spanish Subject Test. A person whose native language is Spanish might not score 800 on it. If you know your stuff, which I believe you do, take it. If you don't feel it's secure, use Spanish as your "supplement." It won't hurt.</p>
<p>Every 800 helps.</p>
<p>mm... all true...
but if the native speaker took the test and get something like 750 will hurt the chances??(one can't do perfect in his own language sounds pretty crappy...)
so it is pretty riskous doing it right?</p>
<p>I'm from a Latin American country, and based on my experience (I took the Spanish test), you have to be somehow mentally impaired to not score an 800. For natives, the Spanish test is ridiculously easy. I mean, a 7 year old kid could ace it. </p>
<p>I know what you mean. People in Latin America always say, "take the Spanish subject test, it's super easy!!" Well of course it is. Duh. But it won't look good! Why? Because the test is not made for native speakers! If anything I think adcoms would think you took an easy way out of the SAT II's. Definitely not good.</p>
<p>And that's why some language test curves are extremely harsh, because many uninformed (or mediocre) guys take their native language tests and get perfect scores, affecting those who are actually learning the language.</p>
<p>I only took the Spanish test because I didn't know it was so easy when I registered. And when I did find out, I had no time left to prepare for another test. Fortunately I also took the test in Physics and WH, and since most universities only ask for two scores I'll be fine.</p>
<p>But I strongly recommend you against taking the Spanish SAT, because it won't do any good. If anything, if you only take the Spanish test and another one, it'll make you look rather mediocre.</p>
<p>"An assumption that a Spanish native speaker can communicate perfectly in Spanish is way too naive and presumptuous."</p>
<p>I'm sorry... do you speak Spanish? Have you taken the Spanish Subject test? If you haven't, then YOUR comment is way too naive and presumptuous... and beside the point. It's not even about communicating well in Spanish, the Spanish SAT II does not test that. It's only a bunch of questions ANY native Spanish speaking person could respond properly.</p>
<p>So just because your school didn't take your hand and guide you, and gave you a pat in the back every time you got a CR question right, means you have an excuse? Please... most internationals don't have the same preparation Americans have for the SAT's... and? I agree with Jocan. You want to study in the US so get over it, learn your English and for the love of Pete!-, don't take your native language subject test!</p>
<p>danielcarp17: You obviously don't know how the curve is determined. The curve is determined before the test is administered. It is not dependent on how many smart kids take the test. </p>
<p>Although I am not a Spanish native speaker, I am a native speaker of Mandarin and I don't really appreciate your tone. And by the way, in comparison to Spanish, SAT Chinese (with listening especially) is more difficult and has much harder curve.</p>
<p>Therefore, "I'm sorry... do you speak Spanish? Have you taken the Spanish Subject test? If you haven't, then YOUR comment is way too naive and presumptuous..." should become "I'm sorry... do you speak Mandarin? Have you taken the Chinese Subject test? If you haven't, then YOUR comment is way too naive and presumptuous..."</p>
<p>How is it possible to hurt your chances if you submit an extra SAT subject test showing that you know the language?</p>
<p>"Every 800 helps" also epitomizes my perspective. Just take it. (Think NIKE commercial: Just DO IT!!!) It won't hurt. Period.</p>
<p>Therefore, "I'm sorry... do you speak Spanish? Have you taken the Spanish Subject test? If you haven't, then YOUR comment is way too naive and presumptuous..." should become "I'm sorry... do you speak Mandarin? Have you taken the Chinese Subject test? If you haven't, then YOUR comment is way too naive and presumptuous..."</p>
<p>Not quite. I didn't mention your Chinese-speaking abilities or any comments you made regarding the Chinese Subject Test, because I don't speak Mandarin and I haven't taken the test.
On the same measure, I was answering this comment you made:
""An assumption that a Spanish native speaker can communicate perfectly in Spanish is way too naive and presumptuous.""
In other words, I didn't mention Chinese because I don't know anything about it. Likewise you shouldn't comment on Spanish because you don't know anything about it.</p>
<p>About the curve... it is determined before the the test is administered, correct? But it is determined by comparing it to previous tests and how people scored on it. Basically, following a trend. So who takes the test ultimately affects a test's curve. Those who take test Z won't determine the curve of test Z, but those who took Tests A, B, C, D, ... X, Y will have a part. </p>
<p>The thing to remember is that a language test in your native language will hurt you if it's a substitute for another exam. For example, Amherst College requires two subject tests. If I take Math II and Spanish it will definitely look bad. And I say this because many Latin American students think the Spanish test works as perfectly as, for instance, a Biology or Literature SAT II.</p>
<p>And if I take it as a "supplement"? If I take Math II, Physics, and World History, and Spanish? It won't make a difference? Why? Because Amherst only asks for two subject tests and ... ultimately it's no wonder and nothing outstanding (far from it actually) that a native Latin American guy scores an 800 on the Spanish test. But I agree in that it won't hurt.</p>
<p>I took the SAT Spanish to prove my mastery of the language. I know a multitude of people that were brought up speaking Spanish, claim to be fluid Spanish speakers on their applications, but have ended up with a score in the 600's. This is especially the case here in Miami, Fl.</p>
<p>I am a native spanish speaker and I got a 790 on the Spanish Subject Test :(</p>
<p>To use it to prove that you actually have a mastery of the language is fine, but to count a native language SAT II for one of the 2/3 required for college is just being lazy.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Again, there is nothing wrong in taking SAT II in your native language. Remember, getting a 800 in your native language just proves that, simply, "you know your stuff."
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Agreed, however, I think that adcoms would probably think more highly of a person who takes an SAT II in a language that's not his mother tongue. For example, if you're Chinese and you speak Chinese fluently and score 800, then that's great. You proved that you're from China. However, if your native tongue is English and you got 700 on the Chinese exam, I think that adcoms would probably think more highly of you than of the former person. </p>
<p>You might be better off taking another SAT II for just that reason.</p>
<p>Taking SAT II in your native language, and scoring well = you know your mother tongue. As simple as that.</p>
<p>@atrophicwhisper , many language tests (Chinese, Korean) have "reading comprehesion" and grammar. Just because one speaks the language fluently doesn't mean one could recognize the characters or understand the passage.</p>
<p>Speaking fluently DOES NOT guarantee 800.</p>
<p>
[quote]
@atrophicwhisper , many language tests (Chinese, Korean) have "reading comprehesion" and grammar. Just because one speaks the language fluently doesn't mean one could recognize the characters or understand the passage.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>That wasn't the point- Yes, the characters make it more difficult for American born Chinese (or Korean or Japanese) students to do well, but I'm talking about if you're truly fluent and were raised in China or whatever and definitely know the language completely. You would have already said in your application what your native language was and where you were born, so taking the SAT II in Chinese would be more of a confirmation that you are Chinese. I know that some schools also use the test to see what kind of education you see, so colleges also couldn't use the test for those reasons. </p>
<p>However, I think that if one didn't start out at all known Chinese and it's not at all spoken at home, then knowing the extreme difficulty of the language makes getting a 750 seem all the more impressive. Of course, there's no guarantee that speaking the language at home translates to an 800, but it REALLY DOES help, especially with German and the Romance languages where there are no foreign characters.</p>