thisguyiscool

Hello, I am planning to take the MATH 1 subject test in October and I wanted to know if the test is similar to the SAT math or if it is it more straightforward math questions. Also, what is the best way to study? A friend of mine told me that the Barron's guide to Math 1 (2007-2008) is helpful and that if I review all the diffrent math concepts in the guide and do a multitude of practice questions I will do well on the exam (>700). I just wanted someone, who has used this method, to verify if this was true.

Also, how is the Spanish subject test? I am also planning to take this in october along with Biology. I have completed 3 years of spanish, recently completing spanish 3 honors. Does the spanish subject test deal mostly with technical things such as verb forms and tenses or more on reading comprehension? Also, I am also planning on getting Barron's for this test too, is this advisable?
Thanks in advance for the help.
-thisguyiscool

Ashraf Eassa

The math 1 subject test covers more material than the SAT Reasoning math (trig, sequences/series, etc.), but it is more straightforward. SAT I is mostly word problems and trickery -- logic questions that use math.

pvr2u

Spanish is very difficult. I had 3 years of Spanish and only got a 650. Im going to take it again going into my fourth and final yr of Spanish (AP) and see how ill do (they say the teacher used the Spanish Subject test to practice). Math II was easy so im guessing Math I would be easier.

momager

D took Math I and said it was easier than math in SAT I, also took Spanish at the same time and it was difficult (after 4 years of Spanish). Do the practice tests first from the College Board complete SAT II guide.

hannah2010

I thought Math I was almost exactly like the SAT Math. I pretty much used your friend's method and got an 800. I went through an entire prep book in detail, and then I just did the practice tests in the back of other prep books.

casey2009

Hey,

Firstly, DO NOT GET BARRON'S!!

I have been studying Spanish all of my life outside of school and have near-native fluency. I took the test during sophomore year and received a perfect score, 800, I have done lots of translation work, interpretation, I've lived in Latin America, the whole deal. Now I tutor other students for the test (I will be a senior this September).

When I began tutoring, one of my classmates brought me his Barron book to work with him, and I noticed that it has SEVERAL errors in it!!!

Go with the SAT's official study guide: it's better and it's got every single test in it.

The good (and bad) thing about the Spanish Subject Test that it is the real deal, meaning it uses REAL Spanish, not a simplified version you learn in class. Grammar is incredibly important: you should have a strong knowledge of the tenses but ALSO you MUST know how to properly use prepositional phrases and adverbial phrases. You should be very comfortable with the subjunctive, especially the imperfect.

Vocabulary is not as important: use context to help you pick a word, and test to see if the word "sounds" right in the sentence. The problem with vocab is, in some cases, you either know it or you don't.

Three years of Spanish alone is not nearly enough. You need to study the language itself holistically to learn common grammatical structures, etc. There is no guaranteed way to do well.

If you have very high SAT Subject Test scores on other exams, i.e. biology, chem, a low score in Spanish doesn't look good. However, a moderate score paired with other high scoring subject tests will show that you have range.

If Spanish is not a priority, then you will have a huge headache taking the test.

If you need any help or have any specific questions, let me know.

Sorry for the long, boring response, haha! =)
Casey

TTwhite

I honestly thought Math IC was harder than SAT math (and i got 10 points less on it lol)