<p>mallomar, it all depends on the schools a kid is applying to. Some require SAT IIs; some don't. Some schools allow the ACT with writing to stand in for SAT I and II. APs are a separate thing; they're not required by any schools. </p>
<p>It's unusual that a high school wouldn't even mention the subject tests at all. Where are you located?</p>
<p>Son also said no to SAT 2. We are in ACT country so he decided that was enough. He did apply to three reach schools that recommended SAT 2 but did not require them. He was accepted at two of them and was waitlisted at the IVY (PENN).</p>
<p>Q. What was the SAT II strategy in your house?</p>
<p>A: Submit ACT scores to colleges in order to avoid having to send SAT II scores.</p>
<p>We are in Ohio. Pretty much everyone takes the ACT and about half took the SAT I. My daughter took each test once.</p>
<p>Warning: Potentially dumb question ahead</p>
<p>I always hear about SAT prep, but never ACT prep. Do you need to prep for the ACT?</p>
<p>Well, I know there are prep books, because a neighbor dropped a load of them off here last year, in case S1 was going to try the ACT.</p>
<p>Mallomar, Michigan is ACT country, too. Our local guidance counselors never suggest SAT II's. In fact, the gc's at D's private college prep h.s. didn't even suggest them --- most kids go to school in state or in neighboring states, where they aren't necessary. The ones who want to go to a school requiring SAT II's are on the ball & know they need to take them. </p>
<p>As for ACT prep ... ACT is a "what you know" test. There are prep classes available, but it's not as big a deal as prep for SAT. The SAT can be <em>gamed</em> - a kid can learn strategies to maximize his score - and SAT penalizes for wrong answers, which ACT does not do, so strategy comes into play here. The other thing --- here in ACT country, people are more laid back (in general, not speaking about specific people!!) about this sort of thing.</p>
<p>I'm in SAT country, which is why I know so little about ACT. I understand that ACT is more knowledge and SAT is more aptitude. Does that mean ACT is your basic multiple choice quiz over things you hope you know? My son is strong in science, so I think he might do well on it.</p>
<p>The science section of ACT isn't really what you'd think. It's more reading about science & answering questions. It's surprising to kids who haven't looked at a study guide in advance. It's not hard ... just different.</p>
<p>Some kids do better on one of the tests than the other. My D did better on the ACT. Her SAT score was very good, but her ACT score, judging from the comparison chart, was better.</p>
<p>Re: ACT prep. D swears that the big red book of ACT tests by the makers of ACT is the best tool. The prep was $30 or so out of my wallet for the book plus a weekend of D's time. The only section that needs to be paid really close attention to is the science section. It tests your ability to read graphs and tables rather than your knowledge of science. As soon as you get it, you'll do fine on it.</p>
<p>BTW, we are in SAT country (West Coast), but ACT slots fill up pretty quickly around here.</p>
<p>Yeah, son had a 193 on the PSAT as a sophomore, so good but not great. He'll do well enough next year to earn Hispanic Scholar honors and maybe commended, but I doubt he'll improve enough for NMSF.</p>
<p>Unlike SAT, you can take ACT and not have to report it, right? So nothing lost? (except your money!)</p>
<p>If a school doesn't require SAT IIs but the student sends anyway, do you think they would be considered, or does not required equal not considered?</p>
<p>We sent SAT Subject Test scores as part of my son's recent successful application for full-time dual enrollment at State U, which ordinarily doesn't require SAT Subject Test scores at all. Many schoolteachers here know nothing about SAT Subject Tests, including teachers who teach AP subjects for which there is also a Subject Test. I'm sure admission officers still know the test score indicates stronger knowledge of a subject than some high school students have.</p>
<p>Our older 2 attended an academically weak, rural public high school that offered only one AP (Chemistry) until that teacher retired. So SAT-II's were important in their admission strategy, to demonstrate they could compete in colleges against students from better high schools and prep schools.</p>
<p>SAT-II score results allowed them to demonstrate that they could master content in a course of study. That's slightly different tham what SAT-I's reveal, namely, sheer reasoning power applicable to attempt any course or topic in college.</p>
<p>They took 3 tests in their strong subject areas, and logged in 2 or 3 on every college application, sometimes using the "anything else we should know?" section if that was the only way to mention them.</p>
<p>In a weak h.s. with few or no AP offerings, SAT-II's are a great opportunity to compete nationally. It's absolutely necessary to use self-study preparation materials, since the regular h.s. coursework might also be deficient or leave out whole subtopics in that subject area. </p>
<p>Also, get advice on which level of the Math SAT-II's to take. From a weaker h.s., it might be preferable to take the easier Math SAT-II and score higher on it, than the other way around, especially without any AP Math training, either. That's a topic to research on CC's "SAT Prep" section, assuming that most posters come from tonier schools of course.</p>
<p>I had a student a couple of years ago who was looking to apply to top 10 schools. He wanted to study computer science/math/technology. But he worried that his SAT math was not good enough. Instead of retaking the SAT a third time, he took the math II and scored well. </p>
<p>He says that he believes that math II score is a big reason why he is at Stanford. </p>
<p>I just told one of my juniors that story a week ago. This young man is a gifted writer but struggles with math. He plans to take the SAT II in math, hoping that he will be more successful.</p>
<p>My daughter is scheduled to take her third and hopefully last subject test this Saturday, in physics. A science subject test is required for just a couple of schools she will be applying to. She's done very well in the class but it's just honors physics because her school doesn't offer AP. I'm debating whether she should send her scores to her other schools which don't require a science or third subject test now ahead of her taking the physics test. If they don't require them, do they look at them anyway and will a mediocre score be an issue? She did just okay on US History and very well on Math 2. She's all done with the full SATs. </p>
<p>.</p>
<p>D did 5 sat II's. Math I, Math II, Bio, Chem, French. Took them after relevant courses, did some study from the guides. Top three 2340, French lowest 660.</p>
<p>'If a student is taking the AP test, why would they need the SATII?'</p>
<p>D got 6 credits of language for her SAT II score; she had a bad day for the AP exam and that score only earned 3 credits of language.</p>
<p>A word of caution on Math I vs Math II: my D just finished Pre-Calc as a junior and was all set to take the Math II. But when she started doing practice tests she realized that the pre-calc curriculum at her HS did not covered a significant portion of the material on the test. So she will take Math I instead.</p>
<p>Youdon'tsay: my D also had a PSAT score of 193 as a sophomore. with prep, her jr score increased to 213, high enough to be Commended and maybe NMSF in our state. (of course, getting her to do the prep was like pulling teeth!)</p>
<p>I'm mad as a hornet that Son's school didn't even mention SAT II at any time during AP US History this year. They spent 9 months working toward the AP test, but no mention of SAT II. </p>
<p>As a first-timer, we were quite dismayed that the June SAT II registration was closed before we learned the value of the test. So now he'll take it in October. :-(</p>
<p>Lesson learned: As a junior next year, he'll register early for World History and Physics SAT II in June. </p>
<p>And, if I can remember, I'll make a point of raising my hand on back-to-school night and letting the other AP World and AP Physics parents know about SAT II.</p>