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My son goes to a small rural high school, where no AP classes are available. Some of the colleges my son is looking at (he's a jr. by the way) require SAT II's. Are normal classes enough to get kids through the SAT II's. He's taken all the math, science, and English classes he can but with no actually AP standing classes, is he doomed from the start? Is say a Biology II class or a Chem II enough to take these tests? This stupid school system he's in, calls his Trig/Pre-Calc class that he's in now, Math 4. It's what would be the normal Senior level class. The only actual advanced class they have will be called Math 5 his Sr. year....which is calculus. Help....As a first time mom through this process I'm confused!

By Dave Berry on Tuesday, November 27, 2001 - 07:45 pm: Edit

Fear not, Mom. Your son sounds like he'll be in decent shape to take the IIs, even without APs. He's not doomed at all. June is the best month for juniors to take them, IMO. He can get study guides for each test. He'll want to take Writing, Math IIC (if he's good at math), and a third of his choice (Chem is hard; Biology is easier, but he may have forgotten some of that). The Princeton Review publishes study guides for most, if not all, of the IIs. Check your local bookstore.

If he wants to be safe, tell him to select "Score Choice" when he registers for the IIs. That way, he'll get to see the scores before they're released to any colleges. If they're not what he wants, he can take them again in October for ED and in November for RD. However, don't pick Score Choice in the fall because some colleges won't get the scores in time if they're delayed. Check the admissions details carefully.

By Kendra S on Wednesday, January 09, 2002 - 01:10 pm: Edit

If your child is not interested in Math, is it still important to take a Math SAT II? For a potential humanities major (although one who is good at math and will take AP Calculus senior year), is taking SAT IIs in humanities only a good idea (e.g., a foriegn language, USHistory, and Writing)? Or is it expected (or simply more impressive) to have high scores in a math/sci subject as well?

By Dave Berry on Wednesday, January 09, 2002 - 02:21 pm: Edit

If the student is applying to an Ivy League school, all SAT II scores will figure in as part of their Academic Index, a cruicial admissions criterion. As for whether or not a Math SAT II is required, you'll have to check the specific admissions requirements of the particular school (Ivy or otherwise). Some colleges don't have strict guidelines as to which IIs to submit, if they're needed.

The usual standard calls for Writing, Math (IC or IIC), and a third II of the applicant's choosing, sometimes chosen in the area of major-of-choice, if known. Not many colleges that require the IIs allow for overall free choice. However, some will accept the ACT in lieu of three IIs.

By R Storm (Anonrs) on Friday, January 11, 2002 - 07:41 pm: Edit

Kendra -- it's perfectly acceptable to submit more than three SAT IIs. SAT II testing is done in groups of three (you can take less than three but no more than three at one sitting). Since your son does not have an app list yet, taking the Writing and Math (IC or IIC) as part of 4-6 SAT IIs (including a science and utilizing Score Choice) should have him in good shape no matter where he ultimately decides to apply and NOT in a panic to get additional testing done just to meet basic app requirements.

Ex.: While Rice requires three SAT IIs, you don't just apply to Rice, you apply to a specific school within Rice, such as Natural Science. The School of Natural Science requires a science SAT II but the School of Arts & Sciences does not. Note: I may have the school names at Rice slightly wrong, but the message is that, application requirements can even be different within a college's structure.

Your son has nothing to lose by taking the typical Writing / Math combo, especially using Score Choice. If he doesn't apply to a school requiring a math or a science SAT II, it's his choice on whether or not to release those scores (but if they're good, release them to show his range of excellence). Releasing additional good scores on history and foreign language SAT IIs (though not necessairily required) will highlight his Humanities strength and interest.

There's so much else to do in Fall of Senior year -- if your son covers his bases now, it will prevent added stress later.

By marie st. bede on Thursday, May 09, 2002 - 09:53 pm: Edit

I have only one reccommendation: advise you son to take math ic, or math iic ONLY w/ score choice. I took math iic 4 months into AP Calculus and very confident in my math skills, and CHOKED! I ended up cancelling that score because I couldn't answer half of them.
I have to admit I was surprised a friend of mine (probably not quite as strong in math) took iic, and claimed it was pretty easy (??).

Good Luck

By donna trinh on Saturday, June 22, 2002 - 01:49 pm: Edit

Doesn't anyone know why my writing scores on the SATII isn't posted up with my other subject tests scores? i asked my friends and they don't know why all their scores are posted and not mines. I haven't gotten my scores back from mail yet though. But can anyone just tell me why my writing score is not posted up while other's are???

By Kevin (Nivekng) on Saturday, June 22, 2002 - 02:56 pm: Edit

I've had a similar problem, my writing scores are not posted, but it looks like everyone from my school does not have them yet.

By weasy2003 on Sunday, June 23, 2002 - 10:02 pm: Edit

Hi

Im gonna be a enior soon, and my SAT II scores are not so hot

Math IIC: 620 and 550
Writing:670 and 660
US History: 670
Molecular Biology: 680

I should get an ACT score between 30 and 33
But what should i do about my SATII's
I have a 4.0,unweighted, 4.4 weighted. Lots of EC's etc...

By BobDiggity on Monday, June 24, 2002 - 10:14 pm: Edit

Hello

By DG on Tuesday, August 20, 2002 - 02:04 pm: Edit

Hello
Well, Im finally going to be a senior, I need to push up my SAT from 1110 to atleast 1350....is that possible if i want to get that by november?
another thing, I speak excellent English..but its not my first language. Should I take the TOEFL?

By uncertainty on Wednesday, August 21, 2002 - 12:59 am: Edit

Is English my first language if I speak it most of the time, attend school in that language although I have a mother tongue (Mandarin that I'm nowhere as good at)?
btw my SAT V score is more than 700, writing 780.
thank you for your help!

By kylie on Friday, August 23, 2002 - 10:46 pm: Edit

uncertainty, English is your first language, assuming u speak it everywhere(at home, school, etc). I speak Mandarin too, and speak it at home etc, so it's my first language, but for u, i'd think english would be your first language.

By Blan (Blan) on Sunday, September 01, 2002 - 11:27 pm: Edit

Whats the deal with these SAT II's? Some people say that you need to take an AP course before you take the SAT II course, while others say you dont. What do you need to do? Can somebody please help?

By NYmom on Monday, September 02, 2002 - 02:03 pm: Edit

I'm not sure what kind of "course" you're referring to. However, I believe the SAT II's test particular subject material at a high school level, while the AP's test at a college level. Therefore, in HS you could take, say, regular CP Chemistry or Advanced Placement Chemistry and take the SAT II test and, if you study, do just fine. However, if you take the AP test without taking the Advanced Placement Chemistry class, you would have a hard time.

By Anonrs (Anonrs) on Tuesday, September 03, 2002 - 12:04 am: Edit

I'm afraid NYmom may be leading you slightly astray esp regarding the SAT II science tests. **Not all hs science curriculums are created equal in part because not all science textbooks cover the same material.** If you have only taken first year Chem, Physics or Biology you could find yourself facing many topics on the SAT II that were not covered in your high school's specific science course curriculum.

Pick up (or browse through) a copy of the SAT II study guide published by the Collegeboard. This book will provide you with at least one sample test per SAT II subject but, more importantly, it will tell you what *potential topics may be included* on any one specific SAT II test. If need be, you can pick up an ~in depth~ subject prep book to try and get at least some sort of handle on topics you may otherwise have no familiarity with.

Re AP tests -- depending on the student and the course content and quality of Honors classes, it is possible to score high on some of the AP tests without benefit of an official AP course. My older son took the AP US History, Calculus and one of the English tests (maybe Lit?) and received high scores on all these tests (5s and a 4) -- but his school does not offer the ~certified AP curriculum~ in these courses.

By Bernardo on Sunday, September 22, 2002 - 03:44 pm: Edit

does anyone have SAT II physics, chemistry and math iic preparation material like real tests they can send me "digitally" ? I live in germany and I'm taking the tests in 3 weeks from now. I ordered books on amazon.com but it's going to take 4-5 week to deliver.

thanks,
bernardo

By Boo on Wednesday, September 25, 2002 - 04:28 am: Edit

Should I take SAT II's Chinese if Mandarin is my 2nd language, and English is my frist even if I'm asian american?

By sgandhi on Wednesday, October 02, 2002 - 09:22 pm: Edit

In one word: yes.

By Collegeguy on Wednesday, November 20, 2002 - 05:28 pm: Edit

Can we still take SAT IIs and cancel our scores? I heard that now they send EVERY score on the SAT II out...!

Thanks!

By Musketeerlady (Musketeerlady) on Tuesday, November 26, 2002 - 09:31 pm: Edit

Hey donna trinjh, I guess the writing score is not available yet because they take longer to grade (with the writing part which need actual people) So be patient!
BobDiggity, it depends on what colleges you apply to. Bates requires ALL international students (I assume you are one) to take the TOEFL, regardless. Otherwise, a V of more than 550 will exempt you from the TOEFL. Btw, how do you get that high score? Any tips for me? I took it for the first time and got a 600 - that is I've worked my arse off! ;_; (sad)