opus2317

On Penn's website, it says that they require 2 Sat II subject test. So my question is, is it better to be safe and take an extra test to make it 3? Also, are there any recommended Sat II tests that should be taken, or do they place equal weight on all of the tests?

SusieBra

You really have to take 3+ I took 4 and got 700+ on each.

test?

I'm fairly sure they just look at the top two scores.

bwabwa

i took 3 and got 800 for all 3
i'm here thinking there's no definite answer but we should be looking at quality over quantity (i.e. rather sit 2 and get 800s than sit 4 and get 600s)

AstonMartin

Take 3 and make sure Math 2 is one of them

me722

i only took 2 (literature and us history), and i got in the 600s, and i got into wharton..so anything can happen, really...

Anon_Person_1

I took six (too many really...but all made a sort of sense at the time). My best two were my last, taken around AP time (750, 800) corresponding to APs I took. I also took my language SAT II, because at Penn, you can get exempted if you have a 650 or above (at least in Latin for me). I'd recommend taking two in soph year (so you don't worry about *needing* to do well; you also will have more time to study) and two in junior year. Also, if you're taking a special language exam that isn't offered all the time (ie, Latin is offered only 2x/yr), you might consider taking that before admissions decisions.

p.s. I got into penn and columbia, so...

AstonMartin

I wouldn't recommend that unless you are also a URM

bwabwa

Hope i don't offend anyone by saying this but how can you get less than 700 for SAT II?
Everyone i know who applied from New Zealand had 750+ for all their subject tests
I really think you should take subjects which you enjoy cos you really want to notch up the marks and show that you are above the rest. just take some ap classes and study hard (AP is are also rigged; everyone who sat aps form nz and aus got 5's for all their subjects including me and i guess-worked 2 of the 5 free response Q's for physics)

i got into penn, brown, cmu, northwestern, duke, cornell, so...

amplifiar842

Take at least the minimum required by admissions. If you do not perform as successfully as you had hoped you would, take more. They say that they only look at your top scores. There are advantages to taking a group of tests that span multiple disciplines (ie. a math/science, a humanities, a language, etc.), but there are also advantages to taking and excelling in one area, especially if you are trying to highlight your strengths for a special program at the school in question.

PennGrl09

i took two [us history and math I] and got in the 650's and I got into CAS.
who knows what'll happen?

univpenn2013

if you apply with a major, im pretty sure they look at the subject tests that relate to that field. otherwise, they probably just look at your top 2.

i was accepted as a chem major and took 4 SAT IIs - math 1, math 2, chemistry, and US history. i got 700+ on all except history, but since im not pursuing that it really didnt mean much

anir107

You want to have 3 good scores. I took 4 only because I did bad on my first one.

____

Take math, lit, and a science.

mario9999

I personally took 6 and got 800s on all, but truth being SAT lls are really only important if your school is [not so good]. You see, a school where everyone gets 4.0s is just asking to turn out a slew of applicants with straight 600s on SAT lls. At my school (Phillips Exeter) everyone is actually smart and will get 1 or 2 800s, so I needed to get 6 800s to prove that I am a superior applicant.

So in short..... if your school is

1. Grade inflated with a lot of 4.0s ---- get a couple high 700s at least.

2. Grade deflated------ get 800s to prove your grades aren't a reality

3. Poor/URM dominated school ---- get mid 600s to show that you are average (nationally) and thus additionally display that you are smarter that the average applicant at the school.