<p>I'd like to hear about people's experiences taking SAT II and self-studied AP tests at the end of their freshmen year. My son is taking World History (as required of freshmen in his school) this year. He loves history and has already completed reading his textbook; he's reading a couple of other history textbooks "just for fun". He'll take AP Euro. and AP US history classes in his sophomore and junior years, respectively; his school does not offer AP World History, so he'd need to self-study for this if he wants to take the test. This leads me to the following:
l. I'm wondering if it makes sense to advise him to take the SAT II in world history at the end of this year, or to wait until he's had additional history classes.<br>
2. Likewise, would it make sense to self-study for the AP World History test (assuming he's interested in taking it) in conjunction with preparing for the SAT II while the World History info. is fresh, or would it be better to wait until he's had some experience with AP classes and thus some practice with DBQs and exposure to AP level expectations?
3. On a related but slightly different note, is one year of a regular or honors class generally sufficient preparation to do well on the SAT II on the science subject tests? Scheduling in my son's high school makes it unlikely that he'll be able to take an AP science class until his senior year. Would the extra bit of learning and experience he'd get by waiting to take the SAT II until the beginning of his senior year make it prudent to delay taking a science subject test?</p>
<p>Map, there are several things you should consider in your thinking:
1. How have the kids at your son's school done on the AP WH and SAT WH tests in the past when they took them at the end of 9th grade? If others have done well, then you know that the class is capable of preparing a student for the test. If no one has taken the tests in the past even though the WH class is required, this is not a good sign...
2. From my kid's experience, I think it is great for a 9th grader to take one or even two AP tests, if he/she is really prepared. After your son has prepared for one test and then taken it, he will have a leg up for the rest of high school because he will understand the amount of work required to succeed.
3. The key thing your son needs to do is to begin taking practice tests (both AP and SAT II) in March/April. If he can score well on the practive tests, then a focused study/prep over the last 60 days before the May AP and June SAT II can lead to high scores. Certainly have him practice those DBQs! They are critical. But if he is struggling on the practice exams in April, consider dropping at least one of the tests (they don't test exactly the same material).
4. Kids self-study the AP tests all of the time (my ninth-grader is self-studying for four AP tests this year, but her situation is very unusual). So one year of honors class could be enough to prep for an AP test, or not, depending on the student. That's why the practice tests at home are so important. But there is a need to be reasonable about this...if your son is not doing well on practice tests in April, don't sweat it, just postpone the test for a year so that he can succeed when he does take the test. It's better to "lock" a 5 in 10th grade than to stumble into a 3 in 9th grade, IMHO.</p>
<p>Bottom line: it's helpful for a student to succeed on AP or SAT II tests in 9th grade, but not critical. If it appears he can "ace" either test, give him a shot. Otherwise, postpone.</p>
<p>Concerning the IB program.... I do the IB program, and I took the Math IIC and Chemistry test. I wrote the SAT IIs in October and got 800 on both.</p>
<p>I found that the chemistry material was easy after one year of the IB program. The Math IIC is pre-calc, which I did in grade 10. So, I could easily have done it then. But I did it in gr 12, so I had to revise some of my material a bit.</p>
<p>I'd sugges taking the tests, when u belive u've covered about 80% of the material covered on the SAT IIs. It's easy to teach urself the rest.</p>
<p>David-congrats on your SAT IIs!</p>
<p>Map-At my competitive/successful public school, 1 year of honors science is NOT enough preparation for an SAT II science. Personally, I chose to take the U.S. History SAT II (which is not very difficult, your son will do very well if he succeeds in his AP US class). Others have done a significant amount of prep work on their own and done well. The Chemistry test in particular is difficult, but very "preppable" (if that makes sense). The physics test would also be manageable after a year of honors level physics and some prep.</p>
<p>anecdote: On a whim I signed up to take the SAT II Latin this december after scoring high 800 in the test prep book. I have had 1 1/2 years of latin and I am MAJORLY regretting this decision but cannot cancel and waste the money. I have a huge fear that I will score like 790 or something and then look like a total spaz if I want to retake. Your son seems extremely dedicated and smart, easily capable of a 800 on the test; why not wait till sophomore year as reasonabledad suggested and clinch it - especially if he is interested in majoring in history?</p>
<p>My d. likes history, and I asked the same question at her school last year, after she took the required World History course. They told me NOT to sign her up. They said that their freshman class is introductory only, and that it would not prepare her for the SAT II exam. They also warned me that if she did not do well, it would still show up on her reports, so it would be better to take upper level history classes before trying the exam. </p>
<p>This is just the opinion of one school. Your curriculum may of course be different.</p>
<p>Our school doesn't allow students to self-study for AP's. I think we could probably argue successfully against this rule but neither of mine has had the time or desire to self-study. </p>
<p>My youngest took honors biology freshman year and, on the advice of his brother, decided to take the SAT II. His teacher warned that they had not even touched about 20% of the material, and had not covered some of the other material in near as much depth as needed for the test. But he self-studied with a study guide and some online stuff, took a couple of practice tests and felt prepared. He did very well. </p>
<p>I agree that it will depend on how much your child is willing to self-study and how thorough his class is.</p>
<p>If you take new SAT I (which includes Writing), be certain to confirm how many
SAT IIs are required. At an info session at our high school 10 days ago, a Penn rep
told our students that Penn will require students graduating in 2006 to take new SAT I plus 3 SAT IIs (some schools require these students to take new SAT I but only
2 SAT IIs). The rep added that this decision was made but not put up on Penn's Web
site; I suppose this could change since it's not been officially posted. I believe Harvard will also require the new SAT I and 3 SAT IIs although the wording on their Web site is somewhat vague. Just be sure to check with each school.</p>
<p>Map-
Last year when I was a sophmore I was enrolled in World History, and thought I had a pretty good grasp of the material. I was toying with the idea of taking the SAt II. However, when I bought a few prep. books I realized that the honors class barely skims over many things that you NEED to know for the test. If your son is very interested in reading about history, he might find these prep books easy. I would suggest he takes some practice tests to see where he's at right now.
Also, I personally don't think a year of honors classes is enough to do well on the AP test. It will probably be sufficient for Sat IIs if he's doing well in the class ANd doing extra readng...but AP tests are more detail oriented (at least what I've seen), and generally harder.</p>
<p>Around 45% of SAT II World History test is European history, so I would recommend your son to wait until he had completed AP Euro. He would have to review for the other 55% of the test, but I don't really think HS world history class would be enough.
(I took the percentages from Princeton Review)</p>
<p>I took a SAT II freshman year (Biology, after taking the class) and it worked out well. During freshman year, there's less to worry about (colleges, etc) so it's much easier to concentrate on studying for SAT II's and APs.</p>
<p>SAT IIs</p>
<p>These should be taken in at the end of the school year (June test date) depending on what school courses you are taking. Studying for both your school's final and the SAT II will prepare you well. Freshman year (Bio/Chem survey) is a fine time to start. AP courses are not needed for preparation; survey courses work fine. NEVER TAKE ALL THREE IN ONE SITTING.</p>
<p>Writing can be taken two or more times and should be taken as senior year approaches. Writing skills only get better with time.</p>
<p>SAT is generally taken spring of Junior year and taken again in the fall of Senior year. Some people like to take it first in January of Junior year, which is fine too. Ten Reals and a vocab book is usually enough preparation.</p>
<p>Does the SAT II Spanish (Reading Only) Test given in November or is the (Reading and Listening) the ONLY form of Spanish offered in November?</p>
<p>The princeton review is coming to my daughters school this week to give a short course and free test of either the SAT or PSAT to 9th and 10th graders.
I am thinking about encouraging her to take it, ( she is a 9th grader) but I may wait till next year.
Kaplan is coming also to lead a course and sample tests for 11th and 12th graders.
My older daughter took SAT in 7th gd but that was part of CTY, this younger daughter doesn't usually do well on tests and I don't want to stress her out, then again I thought perhaps taking it when it doesn't count coould reassure her?</p>
<p>Hi I'm a senior right now.
I think one has to look at the school's past record to order to judge whether taking a test is fine or not. Also, one should just test oneself with prep books, qs, etc and feel if he/she is confident enough to take it.</p>
<p>I took one SAT II freshman year: 800 on Biology (M), 3 soph year 800 World History, 770 Chem, 580 (hehehe) on Latin <--this was stupid, I know I wasn't well prepared at all.
Junior year 770 US hist, 790 Math IIC (one should take this 2-3 dates from the time that college apps are due, as late as possible!), 770 writing, 720 lit</p>
<p>Most of them, with the exception of IIC and Writing, I took immediately after I fdinished the course in the June SAT testing. However, I was lucky enough to have good teachers and confidence.</p>
<p>Duckstamper, I'm not quite sure why you would wait as late as possible to take Math IIC. I took it last year, toward the end of my sophomore year.</p>
<p>Well, if you feel comfortable, I guess you should : ) I took calc bc before taking the IIC but I think I was probably well prepared (I wasn't mentally though I guess :P)
It should depend on the level of math one is taking</p>
<p>I believe the best time to take Math IIC would be after completing Precalculus, since that is the extent of the material covered on the test. This way, the material is fresh on your mind.</p>
<p>I ended up taking it the June after my sophomore year (after taking Calc) and had to review some of the concepts.</p>
<p>map i took the sat 2 world history in 10th grade...i had an honors class that year and i got a B because of a problem with the teacher...so i took it to prove i can do better...i got a 680...it was a pretty tough exam but I think that if ur son studied for the AP he should be more than ok...a friend of mine from AP world history took it and got a 760...
I believe that the best you can do is give him some practice tests and see how he does, then if your satisfied let him take it, if not then just wait...
good luck</p>
<p>It is best to finish the test as close to the end of the most advanced period studying the topic. If the tests are taken at the end of the year in may, that includes most of the studying and allows for a retake in June if necissary.</p>
<p>Before the decision is made, however, take a practice test to determine if it makes sense to prepare for and take the test.</p>