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I want to address the following questions to someone who is actively involved in the admissions process. I have not been able to get a satisfactory advice from either high school guidance or SAT preparation centers. Students no longer have the option to withhold SATII scores. I originally encouraged my daughter to take the Biology SATII, while the material is still fresh; she took Biology in her freshman year. Now I am concerned that she might perform better, if she waits until she has taken other science courses and matures. ( even if the courses are in chemistry and physics) My second concern relates directly to the SATI test. How will colleges evaluate the SAT's for students who fall between the time of the current and revised SAT's? Will the scores be viewed independently. I think both these issues should be reviewed. Thankyou for your advice.

By Sally R. on Tuesday, September 10, 2002 - 10:13 pm: Edit

It usually makes sense to take each science SAT II test the year the course is completed. If, however, a student tries the Bio SAT II as a freshman and doesn't perform especially well, he or she will have lots of time to take additional SAT IIs later on. Perhaps maturation and experience will indeed lead to better science scores down the road.

In addition, your daughter may have first encountered biology in 9th grade but could end up in advanced bio or AP Bio before she graduates. If so, she might want to have another shot at the test when she is older.

When admission offices evaluate SAT II scores, they only "count" the number of tests they require (typically it's two or three) and will "use" the top scores. Of course, if a particular test is requisite (e.g., writing is one that is demanded by some institutions) then that score will be among those that "count."

While it's true that, without score choice, admission folks will see all SAT II scores, they will also take into consideration that a test was taken in the freshman year, and--if it's not one of the highest scores a student submits--it won't garner much attention.

Thus, my advice to freshmen and sophomores taking biology is to try the SAT II test as your class finishes, unless you are certain you will be going on to a more advanced bio course down the road, and then you should wait (or unless you have little clue what's been going on in that class all year!).

Sorry, "between," I'm not clear on your question about the revised SAT I's. Are you talking about a student who may first encounter the test before the changes are made and then take it again once the new test is administered?

If so, colleges will undoubtedly do the same thing they did when the SATs were "recentered" in 1995. That is, they will evaluate the pre-change scores in the context of averages or norms in effect before the new test, and they will look at post-change scores in the context of national averages. (Needless to say, they won't have their own averages for those new tests yet.) Perhaps that's exactly what you meant when you said "viewed independently."

By arvind98@aol.com on Sunday, February 23, 2003 - 09:24 pm: Edit

I took the Biology SAT II twice and I did significantly better the second time I took it. This was with Score Choice. So if I send the my second Biology SAT II to the college of my choice, will it see my lower BIology SAT II score?