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We are far from there yet, but I was curious about the differences between these two tests. Is one more complex, looked at more favorably, contain different information? With the hassles I hear about trying to schedule an AP Latin Exam currently, I am concerned with how the difficulty may increase in the next 5 to 6 years.

 

I thought the SAT II was supposed to cover high school Latin while the AP was supposed to cover the first year or two of college Latin. When I read the descriptions on the websites about what would be covered, however, I did not see much difference in material. Anyone have experience with either or both?

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I've taken students through SAT 2 Latin and AP Latin several times each. Here's what I've learned:

 

For the SAT2 Latin, you want to be finished with Latin grammar and have some experience in reading glossed sight passages by various authors. It's a one hour exam containing several multiple choice sections covering both grammar (very detailed) and reading ability (3 or 4 passages). This usually coincides with finishing high school Latin 3 level. Some kids choose to wait and take it later, though. It's quite challenging, and extra experience helps a lot!

I'd recommend getting a copy of a real SAT2 Latin test (there's a big book put out by the College Board with samples of all their SAT2 tests). That sample test will give you the best idea of whether or not your student is ready. Also, there's a SAT2 Latin review book on the market put out by REA that my kids found useful. The Excelability workbook is wonderful for sight passage practice and grammar review, as are old NLE exams. NLE levels 3/4 Prose and 3/4 Poetry are roughly the same level as the SAT 2 Latin exam.

The Latin AP exam follows a set syllabus (and it will take your student all year long to work through that set of readings:)). I'd recommend going to the College Board AP Latin website and downloading the current Latin syllabus. Your student must study specified passages in both Vergil's Aeneid and Caesar's Gallic War. He'll also be responsible for literary analysis and the cultural and historical background of both works. Unlike the SAT2, which is one hour of multiple choice questions, the AP exam is roughly three hours long and includes multiple choice sight readings (from a variety of authors) and essay questions.  Most kids don't attempt the AP Latin syllabus before their fourth year (at the earliest) of serious Latin study. It corresponds roughly with NLE levels 5/6.  We prepared with an REA review guide, a released exam purchased from the CB, and also the same Excelability book mentioned earlier.

 

Some colleges require SAT 2 exams as part of their applications.  AP exams aren't required for acceptance anywhere, but good scores offer validation of a rigorous course of study. Both are great ways to back up homeschool transcripts, especially if aiming for very selective universities or merit scholarships. At dd's school, her AP exam score exempted her from the college's foreign language distribution requirement, while her SAT2 score was used for placement into Latin courses (she's a Classics/Latin major). That changes from college to college, though!

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Yes, what Kathy said ^^^.

 

My oldest is doing the Latin AP next month, and then the SAT II in June.  One school wants a SAT II foreign language from homeschooled students, and another wants either dual enrollment or a foreign language AP from homeschooled students.  The community college grants credit for a good score (3-5) on the AP, but the four-year that most people go to after that want an SAT II or community college courses for credit but will consider an AP for credit, but only in Latin.  Go figure.

 

We're crashing now for the AP, and then will use the REA book to prepare for the SAT II.  Then the bases are covered. No interest in being a classics major.

 

My younger one is doing fine in Latin (Latin I silver on the NLE), but likely will not get to the AP level.  So probably just the SAT II there.

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For students who are good at literature and writing, the AP Latin exam may actually be easier than the Latin SAT2. The SAT2 is exacting in its grammar testing, while a good student can "fluff" through a bit more of the grammar on the AP Latin. (Said by the parent of a girl who got a 5 on the AP Latin but whose score on the Latin SAT2 was her biggest score disappointment.)

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In additional to all the good information above, you are right to worry about finding a place to take the AP test.  While preparing for this test is a lot of work, finding a seat can be almost as much work!

 

My unfounded worry has to do with the fact that there used to be two AP Latin exams:  one for "language", the other for "literature", and the college board now just has one Latin exam.  Given that this is one of the least popular AP exams, I worry that sometime down the road they may stop offering even this one.  I always thought it was more fair to have two AP exams for Latin -- for neither was equivalent to a first year college Latin class, not by a long shot.  They are more equivalent to a 3rd year college class, which requires a lot more prep work than, say, APUSH, which is clearly equivalent to a first year college class with no college prereqs.

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Yes, what Kathy said ^^^.

 

My oldest is doing the Latin AP next month, and then the SAT II in June. One school wants a SAT II foreign language from homeschooled students,.

 

How common is the above? Dd will be studying a language (Arabic) that does not have a corresponding SAT II test.

 

The plan is for her to study 2 or 3 years online, and then switch to taking Arabic at the university.

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I always thought it was more fair to have two AP exams for Latin -- for neither was equivalent to a first year college Latin class, not by a long shot.  They are more equivalent to a 3rd year college class, which requires a lot more prep work than, say, APUSH, which is clearly equivalent to a first year college class with no college prereqs.

That's true, but it's also true for Spanish and French and probably for the other languages as well. The Spanish and French exams I took many years ago were equivalent to 4 semesters of the language and got you exempted from the foreign language requirement and placed into classes for majors if you wanted to continue. I don't think those tests' levels have changed and they've added Spanish Lit which is very similar to the first literature class for Spanish majors at my university.

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In additional to all the good information above, you are right to worry about finding a place to take the AP test.  While preparing for this test is a lot of work, finding a seat can be almost as much work!

 

My unfounded worry has to do with the fact that there used to be two AP Latin exams:  one for "language", the other for "literature", and the college board now just has one Latin exam.  Given that this is one of the least popular AP exams, I worry that sometime down the road they may stop offering even this one.  I always thought it was more fair to have two AP exams for Latin -- for neither was equivalent to a first year college Latin class, not by a long shot.  They are more equivalent to a 3rd year college class, which requires a lot more prep work than, say, APUSH, which is clearly equivalent to a first year college class with no college prereqs.

:iagree:  And I also miss the days when AP Latin Literature offered a choice of authors!

 

After studying both AP Latin Lit and Language (under the old system) & having a nice SAT 2 Latin score, dd qualified to take any advanced level Latin course at her university. AP Latin is definitely more than a freshman level college study.

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In additional to all the good information above, you are right to worry about finding a place to take the AP test.  While preparing for this test is a lot of work, finding a seat can be almost as much work!

 

 

Yes, I had MAJOR headaches trying to find someone who would give it. I thought I was going to lose my mind for sure.  I called every single public and private school within 90 minutes, and faxed a number of them when they didn't call me back.  The reality is that very few schools are offering AP Latin these days, and none of them have to accommodate outside students if they don't want to.

 

We ended up with a school quite far away that accommodates the students of a local cottage school.  Mine will be the only AP Latin student, but they have a quiet room in the guidance office where they can do singletons.

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That's true, but it's also true for Spanish and French and probably for the other languages as well.

 

Oh, I totally agree for all the languages.  It just doesn't seem fair that a ninth grader can take AP Human Geography and pass an AP test, but you need a good four years of study before you can hope to take any of the AP language tests.

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How common is the above? Dd will be studying a language (Arabic) that does not have a corresponding SAT II test.

 

The plan is for her to study 2 or 3 years online, and then switch to taking Arabic at the university.

 

Ask and ask and ask.  And don't take just what is on their website.  Most selective schools want proof of the foreign language credits (SAT II, AP, or dual enrollment), and 2-3 more subjects with the same proofs from the homeschooled students.  They all have their preferences though.  Some don't like APs as much, some don't like dual enrollment as much. Apparently it even varies by language. I'm guessing that dual enrollment Arabic would be accepted. Admissions is not an exact science...

 

As for what they'll give credit for, that should be on their websites or available from admissions.  That aspect of it is usually published.

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Yes, I had MAJOR headaches trying to find someone who would give it. I thought I was going to lose my mind for sure. I called every single public and private school within 90 minutes, and faxed a number of them when they didn't call me back. The reality is that very few schools are offering AP Latin these days, and none of them have to accommodate outside students if they don't want to.

 

We ended up with a school quite far away that accommodates the students of a local cottage school. Mine will be the only AP Latin student, but they have a quiet room in the guidance office where they can do singletons.

I had no idea it is this difficult. I know that several Catholic/Jesuit schools here that offers Latin. No PS here offers Latin. I guess I better call to see if they can accommodate us, although it would be several years later before we need to take it. Kathy in Richmond once said that her daughter had a high school classmate take a Latin class at Stanford. That level of study must mean the kid would eventually take AP Latin, perhaps, but PS there doesn't offer Latin.

 

Well, if anyone is in California and knows of a place that will administer AP Latin, please let me know.

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I had no idea it is this difficult. I know that several Catholic/Jesuit schools here that offers Latin. No PS here offers Latin. I guess I better call to see if they can accommodate us, although it would be several years later before we need to take it. 

 

The local system offers Latin, but they haven't offered an AP Latin class in years and years at any of the high schools.  The superintendent of schools says no outside APs unless one or more of their own students are taking it.  

 

I called all of the public schools in surrounding counties that offer Latin, and none of them had any AP students either and none would give it out of the kindness of their hearts.  When I called even further, I did find several high schools that offered it, but they sent their packets off in January or early February.

 

None of the Catholic or private schools was interested in testing an outside student.  One said they would for a hefty additional fee and two written references.

 

My mistake was not calling in December.  If I had called then, we could have gone to a high school about 40 minutes away that has their own AP Latin class and openly advertises to the homeschool community.  Their deadline was the end of January.

 

Anyway, lesson learned.  Call in December.  The other problem in our area is that so many of the rigorous high schools have gone to IB programs.  So not that many schools have extensive AP offerings.

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Wow! Thank you all so much for this wealth of information. Ds is fairly serious about a Classics major and has been doing Latin for a few years now. This year we began the high school text and have been going along nicely. He won't be AP ready for quite some time, but if it still avaliable, he will want to take it in high school. My husband is a high school teacher. I might have to look into seeing if his school district might allow administration of the test for our kiddo just to keep the doors open.

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