<p>My son (he's a sophomore) is taking the following classes - which SAT subject tests if any, should he take at the end of the year?</p>
<p>AP World History
AP Environmental Science
Latin 4 Honors
Spanish 4 Honors
English Honors
PreCalculus Honors
Expository Writing</p>
<p>Someone told me that he should take Math2 since he is taking PreCalc honors this year but shouldn't he have more math under his belt? Also should he take the subject test in World History since he is taking the class right now? I think it would be a good idea to get a few of these subject tests out of the way now since next year will probably be hectic (PSAT, SAT, lots of AP exams - whew). I want him to spread out his tests as much as possible, so he won't be overwhelmed junior year. He's not that worried - me, I kinda am. Please advise.</p>
<p>Colleges that require SAT IIs generally ask for scores from two or three tests -- never more. So although some schools require particular SAT IIs, in general students can choose their tests, and should do so carefully.</p>
<p>The rule of thumb is to take an SAT II at the end of an AP or Honors sequence and when the subject is freshest in the student's mind. A slight exception is Math 2. The best time to take that one is right at the end of Precalculus. So taking it this May or June is a great idea. If he decides to take it, he should do some preparation, using the official SAT study guide. My son also used the Princeton Review book for Math II.</p>
<p>I agree with wjb that your S should take the SATII Math2c this year as the exam tests knowledge through precalc. Your S is likely to forget some of the math on the SAT exam if he waits until he has more math. I assume he will be taking Calc? That won't help him with the SAT. I don't know if the other subjects he is taking have SAT tests. He should not take SAT Spanish unless he is really sure of acing it as the curve is supposedly brutal.</p>
<p>Agree with the idea of taking the Math IIC at the end of this year. He might also consider taking either Latin or Spanish if he thinks he would do well and will not be taking the language next year. He could choose to take the World History if he thinks he's doing particularly well in the class and really enjoys the material. Studying an actual sample test and taking it for practice is always a good idea.</p>
<p>I would caution against taking three tests in one sitting. Even if your son is really strong in Precalc, World History, Latin, and Spanish, I'd suggest taking two of them at the most. He's only a sophomore; there will be plenty of opportunities to choose a second or third SAT II next year. My son, who is an outstanding standardized test taker, commented after taking the Math II that he'd never take more than two subject tests in a single sitting.</p>
<p>^^I agree. Based on the classes that he is taking, I would suggest that he take Math II and World History. These are the tests that he will probably be most prepared for, and there is no need to load up with the third SAT II now. Some people do fine taking three tests (I didn't have any issues), but others found it really really stressful, and I don't think anyone would claim that it is loads of fun. Since your son has more than enough time to take a 3 or 4 or however many more SAT II's he needs/wants to take, 2 right now is fine.</p>
<p>I would advise him to take math II and world history. I hear that the spanish test is very difficult since many people speak it fluently so the curve is harsh. I'm not sure about Latin though. Hope this helps!</p>
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Someone told me that he should take Math2 since he is taking PreCalc honors this year but shouldn't he have more math under his belt?
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<p>No, he should do it now, everything on the test he will have had by the end of the year - he'll just more likely to have forgotten things next year. I think it's worth trying the World History. My son considered doing Latin, but ended up doing US History since he was taking AP US History. Definitely skip Spanish. Too many native speakers take it.</p>
<p>Every kid is different, my kid took three tests at once and got 800s on them all and was glad not to ever have to go in to take a subject test again. But as a sophomore, I tend to agree, no hurry.</p>
<p>Math 2 and World History. Math 2 only covers thru precalc, and the material is fresh. If he takes AP Span next year, take the subject test then.</p>
<p>1] If he is going to take more math next year I would advice him to wait and take the test after his JR yr. 2] Latin subject tests are only offered in June or Dec, so if he will be taking AP Latin next year he should wait until next June to take the Latin test. Will he be taking AP Lit? if so, he should take the English Lang/ Lit tests in May or June 3] Agree with limiting the # of tests to 2 at a sitting.</p>
<p>If he takes more math next year--as he should, otherwise he won't have the 3-4 years math colleges want and he will have forgotten too much by college--, it won't help his SAT one iota.</p>
<p>Math 2 is only thru precalc, so next year's Calc is of little value. More importantly, Jr year is brutal as it is...taking subject tests now is a great idea.</p>
<p>The end of this year is the optimal time for your son to take Math II. The test focuses on precalculus, which is the material he has just completed. Also, he is a 10th grader. If he is disappointed with his score on the Math II test, he can study for it and take it again at his convenience.</p>
<p>Waiting until next year to take Math II would put your son at a disadvantage. Next year, he will be studying calculus (or maybe statistics, if he chose AP Statistics instead of AP Calculus). The Math II test doesn't focus on these things. It focuses on precal, and he will have forgotten a lot of precal by the end of next year.</p>
<p>It would be a good idea for him to get a review book for this test and try one of the sample tests. Occasionally, students find that there is a topic or two that their teachers omitted that they need to study on their own. Also, the curve on the Spanish test is brutal.</p>
<p>Really, the only argument against taking Math II at this time is if 1) math is a weak subject for your son, and 2) he already knows that none of the colleges to which he plans to apply will specifically ask for this test. In that case, he might be better off taking two or three other tests and avoiding the math test completely.</p>
<p>I would wait on the foreign languages if your son will be continuing to study them next year. He would score higher after Level 5 than after Level 4.</p>
<p>I'd say however, (if I may join in) that there is at least one subject test (literature) that has very little to do with preparation or the course that's being taken and a lot to do with innate ability/love for literature and an analytical approach; so if your son is interested in doing the Literature test and scores well on practice tests beforehand then literature can be attempted without much trouble.</p>
<p>My brother and I decided to do literature a couple of days before the test date (We tried a practice test, found that we were scoring well, and thought we'd do it). Furthermore, (although this does vary widely and depends to a great degree upon personal choice), the option of doing a third test on a day isn't really that impossible, especially if the third subject's something that can't really be prepared for like Literature.</p>
<p>Thank you all SO MUCH for your great advice!
Since my main objective is to get a little bit of a head start now before junior year (when things become crazy/hectic) I will review all the great input with my son. Thanks :)</p>
<p>ps is the subject test on World History very difficult? Although my son has an A in the class, it hasn't been all that easy for him.</p>
<p>in my experience, it's very easy to get 800's on Math II (don't know about Math I though) and the sciences. However, your son may be interested in taking a humanities subject test. In that case, Latin, which is not so common a language, may look great on his application. And yup, i did hear that world history is not a piece of cake at all.</p>