My OperaWhen Should You Take the SAT II's?
Friday, September 16, 2011 10:01:49 PM
In case the student isn't confident with a Subject or hasn't done it for more than a year, he or she should probably select a DIFFERENT Subject. The practice tests inside the Official SAT Study Guide for All SAT Subject Tests are a good gauge of which Subject Tests are the most suitable choices.
Unless otherwise noted, the SAT II's/SAT Subject Tests are offered in the following subjects in October, November, December, January, May, and June:
* Literature
* US History
* World History (Dec and June)
* Math Level 1 (through Algebra II)
* Math Level 2 (through Pre-Calculus & Trigonometry)
* Chemistry
* Physics
* Biology
* French (reading & listening) (listening November, reading other dates)
* German (reading & listening) (reading June, listening November)
* Modern Hebrew (reading only) (Dec only)
* Italian (reading only) (Dec and June only)
* Spanish (reading & listening) (listening November, reading various other dates)
* Chinese (listening only) (November only)
* Japanese (listening only) (November only)
* Korean (listening only) (Nov only)
Be aware that SAT II/SAT Subject Test scores skew higher than SAT I scores. A 650 score on an SAT II is not very awesome. On some of the SAT II Tests, 650 is a below average score (average as measured against students who take these tests, which is a strong group).
SAT Subject Tests are given on the same dates as the SAT Reasoning Test (with the exception of March). But you can't take both at the same time, nor do you want to. Aside from that, you are able to take up to three SAT Subject Tests on the same date. Thus this calls for planning. Individuals prepping for the fall SAT Reasoning Test should plan to take it TWICE. If the student wants to add the SAT Subject Tests, then ALL THREE of the following dates become test dates:
* October 1
* November 5
* December 3
Seniors could also use the January 28 test date, but we prefer to think of it as a last resort. Some colleges consider results from this date. For rising seniors who are prepping with us, our general recommendation is to take the October SAT Reasoning Test if you have done significant summer preparation. If you are planning to apply Early Decision or Early Action, practically all colleges permit the Oct and Nov tests (the USAF, USCG, USMA, and USNA are exceptions; for them November is too late.) If the student plans to take the November 5th test(s) and apply ED, EA, or Rolling, he or she must remember to inform the admissions committees and that he or she will be sending results promptly on Nov 24th.
For rising sophomores and juniors who've begun prepping already, generally November and December OR Dec and Jan should be the objective test dates. We always want students to take the SAT Reasoning Test twice subsequent to tutoring. After January, the subsequent SAT Reasoning Test (though no SAT Subject Tests are given) is March 10th. The latter date can be a backup if perhaps things don't go well previously. The best time for sophomores and juniors to take the SAT Subject Tests is almost invariably May and/or June when course material had been covered and is still fresh in the students' brains.
For those of you who wish extra tutoring designed for SAT Subject Tests, there are instructors who are in a position to tutor for most subjects. Dissimilar to the SAT Reasoning Test (also called SAT or SAT I), the SAT Subject Tests more closely mimic students' actual coursework. Thus, students generally need only 8-12 hours of tutoring for any one hour SAT Subject Test.
Unless otherwise noted, the SAT II's/SAT Subject Tests are offered in the following subjects in October, November, December, January, May, and June:
* Literature
* US History
* World History (Dec and June)
* Math Level 1 (through Algebra II)
* Math Level 2 (through Pre-Calculus & Trigonometry)
* Chemistry
* Physics
* Biology
* French (reading & listening) (listening November, reading other dates)
* German (reading & listening) (reading June, listening November)
* Modern Hebrew (reading only) (Dec only)
* Italian (reading only) (Dec and June only)
* Spanish (reading & listening) (listening November, reading various other dates)
* Chinese (listening only) (November only)
* Japanese (listening only) (November only)
* Korean (listening only) (Nov only)
Be aware that SAT II/SAT Subject Test scores skew higher than SAT I scores. A 650 score on an SAT II is not very awesome. On some of the SAT II Tests, 650 is a below average score (average as measured against students who take these tests, which is a strong group).
SAT Subject Tests are given on the same dates as the SAT Reasoning Test (with the exception of March). But you can't take both at the same time, nor do you want to. Aside from that, you are able to take up to three SAT Subject Tests on the same date. Thus this calls for planning. Individuals prepping for the fall SAT Reasoning Test should plan to take it TWICE. If the student wants to add the SAT Subject Tests, then ALL THREE of the following dates become test dates:
* October 1
* November 5
* December 3
Seniors could also use the January 28 test date, but we prefer to think of it as a last resort. Some colleges consider results from this date. For rising seniors who are prepping with us, our general recommendation is to take the October SAT Reasoning Test if you have done significant summer preparation. If you are planning to apply Early Decision or Early Action, practically all colleges permit the Oct and Nov tests (the USAF, USCG, USMA, and USNA are exceptions; for them November is too late.) If the student plans to take the November 5th test(s) and apply ED, EA, or Rolling, he or she must remember to inform the admissions committees and that he or she will be sending results promptly on Nov 24th.
For rising sophomores and juniors who've begun prepping already, generally November and December OR Dec and Jan should be the objective test dates. We always want students to take the SAT Reasoning Test twice subsequent to tutoring. After January, the subsequent SAT Reasoning Test (though no SAT Subject Tests are given) is March 10th. The latter date can be a backup if perhaps things don't go well previously. The best time for sophomores and juniors to take the SAT Subject Tests is almost invariably May and/or June when course material had been covered and is still fresh in the students' brains.
For those of you who wish extra tutoring designed for SAT Subject Tests, there are instructors who are in a position to tutor for most subjects. Dissimilar to the SAT Reasoning Test (also called SAT or SAT I), the SAT Subject Tests more closely mimic students' actual coursework. Thus, students generally need only 8-12 hours of tutoring for any one hour SAT Subject Test.
