<p>I am looking at the Ivies right now, and I only have time for one more test date before I apply.
So far I have only taken 1 SAT Subject Test and that was US History. I got a 720. I am not sure if I should retake this test for a higher score along with Math II and Bio E, or should I send in the 720 and take Math II, Bio E, and Literature. </p>
<p>Thank you so much for any advice!</p>
<p>By the way, my intended major will be in Political Science.
I am not sure on which one I will do best. I am planning on beginning some intense studying over the summer and taking the tests in November for an EA app to Harvard. Thanks again!</p>
<p>Retake it if you are potentially a poli sci major</p>
<p>Should I get rid of one of the other tests then? Harvard asks for only 2 but then suggests that one is in math, one is in some sort of humanities, and then they strongly suggest one in science, foreign language, or another humanities/history area. </p>
<p>So I am not sure if a Lit score is more important that a math or bio score in that case. </p>
<p>Sorry to keep asking you guys these things. I am just very mad at myself for leaving only one available test date open and am now in a bit of a panic.</p>
<p>Aren’t you allowed to take up to 3 subject tests on a single date?</p>
<p>yes, which is why I cannot take all 4, i would sadly have to chose only 3. I think I am going to skip Literature, cause I have heard it is kind of worthless, and if I do not get in early I can take it in Decemeber and send it in to pad perhaps. </p>
<p>Hope that plan works. :P</p>
<p>You should take the tests you think you would do best on unless a particular one is required.</p>
<p>Where have you heard that that literature test is worthless? What does that even mean? Are you saying that colleges don’t value it? Seems like a silly thing to say.</p>
<p>Sorry if I offended, I only mean to say that I have heard from various sources that there is really little prep for the Literature test by way of school courses, and if I am to prove my ability to absorb information that is taught to me in my more difficult courses, Lit would not be the way to go.
However, I am sure that if one has the time, it is a good way to show your comprehensive reading skills and literary aptitude. As should be obvious by this thread, if I had the time I would eagerly take the Lit test and send it to my schools, I really regret the fact that I most likely will not.</p>
<p>My advice would be to take a practice test in each subject, and compare how well you did. I also would limit yourself to 2 tests on a given day, and devote yourself to preparing for the 2, instead of dividing your time on 3 tests.</p>
<p>Thank you for the explanation, I now understand your comment. </p>
<p>I do not know where you got your information about what Harvard likes to see (suggests one in math, etc.) regarding the subject tests, but the Harvard websites states that You may take any two subject tests. Students should not submit two Subject Tests in mathematics to meet this requirement. Candidates whose first language is not English should ordinarily not use a Subject Test in their first language to meet the two Subject Tests requirement. All students are encouraged to submit additional Subject Tests (which may include one in a students first language), Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate test results, or any other evidence of the breadth and depth of their academic accomplishments.</p>
<p>I know that there are some schools that require certain tests for certain majors, for example Math II for would be engineering majors. But this very limited and I have heard a number of admissions officers say that you should just pick the tests you think you will do best on. That is what I think you should do.</p>
<p>I understand that you feel that your US History is a little low for the colleges you intend to apply to. But I assume that you chose it because you thought you would do best on it. Although you did not do as well as you had hoped, you did very well and you could probably increase your score to a level you would be happy with without a lot of additional effort (my daughter used the new Direct Hits book and thought it was very useful).</p>
<p>The literature test was good for my daughter because she did not have to do any additional preparation as she did very well on the CR portion of the SAT and thought that her AP Language class had provided her with all that she needed to be adequately prepared. Did you do well on the CR portion of the SAT? If so, then taking the literature test might be a good idea. If you are uncomfortable with the thought of taking the literature test then I suggest that you just take either the math or bio test (whichever you think you will do best on) along with retaking the US History test.</p>