Follow-up SAT II question: Do you take the SAT II and AP exams in the same area?

[FloridaLisa]

One of the things I miss about the old forum is the ability to ask related questions within a thread and *see* that tangent develop. I wanted to make sure all of our wise women saw this new question!

 

Do you have your dc take the SAT-II exams in the same area as the AP exams they are studying? So, for instance, if ds took the AP Biology exam, would it be a good idea to sit for the SAT II in biology? Boy, that just seems like overkill. Do they not know already from the AP score whether the child knows the material? Is it just a matter of hoop jumping and showing 3 SAT II scores?

 

And, Jane, I hear you telling me to check the colleges! ;) I will do that, but I'm also hoping the board answers will represent a wide variety of colleges which have been polled. What is your experience and advice?

 

Thanks as always!

Lisa, finally taking the kiddos on a field trip to a Navy flight simulator today. :w00t:

[Gwen in VA]

Yes, yes, and yes.

 

My kids did take AP exams in May and then the related SAT-II in June. The SAT-II prep work was easy after the AP studying -- they just worked through a study guide, took a sample test or two, and called it good.

 

Why AP and SAT-II? I have been told that the SAT-II's provide a fairer means of comparing the students -- all students can take the SAT-II's, but only some take the AP exams, so the SAT-II scores provide an appes-to-apples comparison.

 

My kids tok lots of SAT-II's, but I have many friends (whose kids applied to entirely different colleges than my did) whose kids NEVER took an SAT-II.

 

You might at least brainstorm a bit with your kids about where they are headed. If they are interested in "elite" schools, they should take all the SAT-II's they can. While SAT-II's are not required at most schools, having good SAT-II scores might help in making your child stand out for merit aid. But taking SAT-II's could be a waste of time for them -- you need to talk with them about where they are headed.

 

If in doubt, though, having strong SAT-II scores cannot hurt and it certainly might help.

[Ms. Riding Hood]

Like Gwen said, it mainly depends on the colleges they are interested in. All the more top-end/private schools we've looked at require SAT subject tests, whereas nobody requires AP--it's more of a thing to show high-level achievement, that you've challenged yourself...and to get a little credit or advanced placement, if available. The SAT subject tests, on the other hand, are often required as a part of the admissions criteria--not for credit or placement. I'd agree, too, that many, many schools don't ask for them at all and probably the majority of kids do *not* take subject exams. Only if your school asks for them. The only caveat is that these exams are best taken right after the subject is completed. So if you study American history in 9th grade and don't take the exam, but then decide as a junior that you want to go to a school that asks for multiple SAT subject tests, it's hard to go back and brush up on your history. (Ask me how I know this!) So in some ways I wish we'd done them as course follow-ups--like a final exam, so to speak. I didn't anticipate ds needing them at all. At any rate, the tests are not necessarily redundant.

 

And Gwen, ds took AP physics and is preparing for SAT physics now. He said it seems different, but not necessarily easier...though I think one-hour multiple choice will be easier in and of itself! I'm curious to see how it goes for him!!

[Jane in NC]

 

And, Jane, I hear you telling me to check the colleges!

 

So are you saying that my son is not alone in thinking that I am a NAG!! ;)

 

One would think that an AP score would suffice, but I saw on one elite college site (cannot remember which one) that they only give credit for a maximum of three AP courses if the student has scored a 5 and they still want SAT subjects! Does the College Board fund part of their endowment?

 

One problem with these tests is that APs are only given in early May. Scores are mailed in July, I believe. It makes logical sense for a student who has taken a science course to take the SAT subject in early June, otherwise they put more distance between themselves and the material.

 

Jane (who has her doubts on whether all of these tests are really worthwhile)

[Kareni]

...

Do you have your dc take the SAT-II exams in the same area as the AP exams they are studying?

 

Yes, yes, and yes.

 

All the more top-end/private schools we've looked at require SAT subject tests.... The SAT subject tests... are often required as a part of the admissions criteria--not for credit or placement.

 

Yes, my teen has also taken both the SAT subject test and AP test in the same academic area. Some of the colleges she is interested in require a given number of SAT subject tests as part of the application process.

 

In addition, she will also be taking the SAT Math Level 2 test this weekend even though she has taken College Algebra and Trig at the community college. At least one of the colleges she is interested in requires/suggests a SAT subject test in math.

 

It does seem counter intuitive, but ....

 

Regards,

Kareni

[Gwen in VA]

I have asked my son, who is possibly interested in law school, to consider suing the college board for creating a monopoly on testing. :D

 

I figure that our family alone has paid for a VERY expensive vacation for one of the execs! (I started to figure out how much we have paid them over the years and stopped -- it was too despressing!)

[Moira in MA]

My dd will be taking the SAT II in chemistry on Saturday after taking the AP last month. If she should need a science SAT II is seems smart to take it while the material is still fresh rather than having to review it all at a later day when I'm sure she'll have other things she'd rather be doing.

[Kareni]

I have asked my son, who is possibly interested in law school, to consider suing the college board for creating a monopoly on testing. :D

 

I figure that our family alone has paid for a VERY expensive vacation for one of the execs! (I started to figure out how much we have paid them over the years and stopped -- it was too despressing!)

 

I hear you and sympathize. On another board I had to laugh when someone wondered when the College Board was going to institute automatic payroll deduction!

 

Regards,

Kareni

[Ms. Riding Hood]

Jane (who has her doubts on whether all of these tests are really worthwhile)

 

Yeah.

 

Lynne (who feels quite certain that all these tests are really NOT worthwhile, but lets ds "play the system" for what it's worth)

[Brenda in MA]

Yeah.

 

Lynne (who feels quite certain that all these tests are really NOT worthwhile, but lets ds "play the system" for what it's worth)

 

I heartily agree!!!!!!!

[Gwen in VA]

:iagree:

[FloridaLisa]

Thanks all for chiming in. I so appreciate the collective wisdom here! Okie-dokie, then. I didn't sign ds up for the SAT-II in biology so he'll have to endure it in October. :ack2:

 

 

Jane (who has her doubts on whether all of these tests are really worthwhile)

 

Again, I hear you! I am really hoping that the end justifies the hoops.

 

Have a great evening,

Lisa

[Sandra in NC]

My son takes the SAT Subject test as a validation of "mommy grades." He generally scores in the 600's, which, if you read college confidential, is an embarrassing, "must re-take" score. I did a little research, though and found some colleges offer advanced placement or even college credit (UT-Austin was one that offered credit, as I recall) for scores in the 630+ range. Some colleges will accept a 600+ score on an SAT II in lieu of a science/lab credit on the high school transcript.

 

My son is taking the SAT-II after regular (not advanced or AP) classes, so I'm quite pleased with his scores. He can always retake them if wants to.

 

I would definitely advise taking the subject test after each relevant course. Try not to schedule more than one subject test a time. And be sure to use a prep book w/ practice tests to get an idea of what the test will cover.