<p>I’ve noticed on these boards that a lot of people tend to be doing indpendent study and my question is how do you do it? </p>
<p>I’m looking into engineering, and UPenn, Cornell, and some of the other top engineering schools require a science SAT II. So, I have decided to study Biology this summer ( I know Chem or Physics would be better, but there is no way I could study those well enough).</p>
<p>I went out and bought Princeton Review and Kaplan review books, and have been studying those. I also have my schools AP Bio book. </p>
<li>How do all of you study for SAT II’s? What is your strategy?</li>
<li>Is it worth it to read the AP textbook from school?</li>
<li>How long do you spend studying (how many months and how much time)?</li>
<li>Have any of you used online courses, and have you found them to be useful?</li>
</ol>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>1) 1-2 hours a day of consistent study. Don’t “overdo” it b/c you’ll be frustrated and in ennui. (Not the case for SAT Is though – that’s different)</p>
<p>2) Use your AP textbook as a guide and just memorize everything in your PR and Kaplan books. I personally believe Kaplan is crap. Go with PR.</p>
<p>3) You study everyday until the test :). Some will dissent but this is my method and it has worked for me thus far.</p>
<p>4) Haven’t used online courses – you don’t need online courses.</p>
<p>azsxdc</p>
<ol>
<li>How do all of you study for SAT II’s? What is your strategy?</li>
</ol>
<p>Reading through review books. Highlight important concepts, even those that you already know. The first time through, answer questions on a seperate sheet of paper to check them. If you still have time before the test, redo questions from sections you had trouble with.</p>
<ol>
<li>Is it worth it to read the AP textbook from school?</li>
</ol>
<p>Definitely not, especially in Bio. AP is way too detailed and complex for SAT IIs.</p>
<ol>
<li>How long do you spend studying (how many months and how much time)?</li>
</ol>
<p>About a month. I don’t remember how long I studied in the month, but however long it took me to get through th PR book and memorize certain details. (P.S. Kaplan sucks.)</p>
<ol>
<li>Have any of you used online courses, and have you found them to be useful?</li>
</ol>
<p>Haven’t used them.</p>
<ol>
<li>How do all of you study for SAT II’s? What is your strategy?</li>
</ol>
<p>Prep books, a combination of Barrons (for overprep) and PR (for conciseness and realistic tests) and finally the REAL SAT SUBJECT TEST put out by collegeboard for a final “testing” before the actual. I’m planning to REstudy actually (which is worse then studying… because then it’s twice as boring) this summer, so I’m planning to bring my highlighters and red pens and whatnot and outline all main points, do problems, look over stuff I don’t understand, etc. </p>
<ol>
<li>Is it worth it to read the AP textbook from school?</li>
</ol>
<p>Nooope, AP problems usually are longer and more step-orientated or are “short answer” questions… the SAT II problems are all multiple choice so it probably wouldn’t be helpful.</p>
<ol>
<li>How long do you spend studying (how many months and how much time)?</li>
</ol>
<p>To tell you the truth, first time taking SAT IIs I didn’t prep much, was too bogged down w/ schoolwork. But I think a month or two would be good, maybe longer if you’re not familiar with the subject at all and haven’t taken the course (in which you probably shouldn’t take the SAT II at all)</p>
<ol>
<li>Have any of you used online courses, and have you found them to be useful?</li>
</ol>
<p>I didn’t know there was an online course for the SAT IIs… are there?</p>
<p>ahh we’re the samee! i want to self study for the sat ii for bio and i’m looking into cornell and upenn also! woohoo!! :D</p>
<p>Well, I’m going to study for my second time round taking the SAT II World History by reading the Barron’s book front to back a chapter a night (it has twenty five) carefully, and try to get through thr whole book twice.</p>
<p>Thanks for all the responses! and that’s cool anagarcia!</p>