Hi. My S19 had registered for three subject tests with the thought that he would be applying to Georgetown. He has since decided against GT for various reasons, so now I wonder if he should drop one of the tests and focus on prepping for the remaining two. On his list right now are Notre Dame, Boston College, UVA, Lehigh and some safeties. Thoughts?
If he feels prepared for 3, I’d vote for taking 3 and sending in the best 2 (or all 3) when the time comes. If he feels more prepared to take 2, then he should use he next week to focus preparing for those 2.
At this date (May 24), he may well change his list some more – adding or removing schools. Then what? I recommend that he plan to take 3 to keep his options open. Which subject tests would he take if he did just 2, which if he did 3?
Also, will he be taking any AP exams? If so, which ones?
My kid took three in a single sitting and used score choice to send the best two. Two were very good scores and the third was respectable but not outstanding. The strategy served her well.
Right there with @skieurope. It would be better to do great on 2 than mediocre on 3. Lots of ways to spin this - he could really put his study effort into 2 of them, but still sit in and take the third test so he has the third for those very few schools that require 3 (there aren’t many of them) to keep options open as mentioned above. Or he can spread his time around preparing for three. Have to realistically look at how prepared he is currently, and how much time remains to prepare more. Lots of kids do three, but often have a leg up on one because they have strength or lots of experience with that subject.
My first priority would be not to water down all three results.
The decision in this case appears to assume that taking 3 tests will be too demanding of the student’s time for preparation. Maybe that’s true. It wasn’t for my #1, who didn’t prep for any of these tests and got very high scores. And maybe for the OP’s son it’s not really burdensome either. If his SAT I’s are very strong, maybe he can carry off a 3-peat – but maybe doesn’t need to.
@winelover It really depends on which 3, and what prep, if an,y he has done already and how strong he is doing on practice tests. My child finished AP Chem, took a practice Chem subject test with no studying and got 780. My kid could not study at all and would probably get a great score. Although with a bit more studying, maybe get even higher. I think it really depends on the tests that OP is sitting for. I think we need more info. to base the answer. I say do all 3 if he is a smart and tests well in general…then pick the top scores…which very well may be all 3.
To answer your question @LvMyKids2 he just finished AP Chem and took AP test. Also just finished hon precalc and Spanish 4. He is registered to take chemistry, math 2, and Spanish. He just got the prep books tonight, so will see how he does on a practice test. FWIW he scored 36 on the ACT and got As in all these classes.
@winelover my opinion and I have a similar student. Take the Chem subject test. He will do great! Take the Math 2 - he will do great and after precalc honors is perfect timing. BUT, have him do a practice test on Spanish. It could be he does well, but my kid did not after doing a 1 hour practice test. I don’t want to assume that your child is a native Spanish speaker, maybe he is and would do amazing. Mine is not. And always had As in Spanish. He will NOT take this for college. He also had a one and done 36! Another test your son might consider is US History or World History?
@LvMyKids2 Thanks for the tip! I certainly hope you are right about the tests. I will have him take practice tests on all three to see how he does. He is not a native Spanish speaker, so that could be an issue. However, he does have a strong history of doing well in Spanish and has consistently been the highest grade in his Spanish IV class (according to his teacher). So we will see. History is his least favorite subject…he is really does much better with math and science related subjects. Congrats to your child on the one and done ACT score!
Taking three SAT subject tests (one math, one science and one humanity) is the right approach for this reason: most colleges require, if they require subject tests (most highly selective ones do), one math/science test plus one humanity test, but a few engineering/science schools require both math and one science tests. You’d cover all the bases with those three. My S took Math 2, Physics and US History in one sitting after his AP exams and scored all 800s. He said the subject tests were easier than the AP exams and didn’t prep specifically for the subject tests.
Actually, outside of engineering, few colleges the recommend/require Subject Tests make request 1 STEM and ! humanities. In most cases, it’s student’s choice.
You’d cover most bases. Some (but a definite minority) engineering programs will suggest a math and either chem or physics - so bio would not work. But yes, the taking of one math, one science, and one humanity would cover almost all cases, but the student should verify each target college’s requirements. For the OP, whose son is planning on taking chem as the science, it would cover all bases to take math/chem/Spanish.
I know of at least one case where a kid who had not taken the physics or chem subject test was allowed to submit an AP score instead. My younger son does not do as well with math standardized tests and found the Literature test to be quite easy even though English was his least favorite subject. He’s a very fast and avid reader.
The another thing to keep in mind is that if for some reason you want to cancel one of the three tests taken on the same day there is no way to cancel one without cancelling all three.
It is very possible to get a strong test result in Spanish as a non-native speaker. But I agree that a practice test is a wise idea. For Math II, if your child has completed a strong precalc course, some review of basic formulas and a practice test or two should be sufficient for a good score.
Your child can decide to take two only on the day of the test, even if signed up for three.
I remember taking three Achievement tests (what SAT subject tests used to be called) in one day after no additional prep beyond completing the associated high school courses. I did not find them hard and scored in the 700s on two of them and 800 on the third (math level 2).
Seems like a student with A grades in precalculus, Spanish 4, and chemistry should do well in all three without needing much or any additional preparation. If he wants, he can check his knowledge on the practice problems and tests first.
@jzducol, regarding #13, I actually called College Board, and that is not what they shared with me. They told me that he could cancel whatever test he wants and take the other two on the day of the test. You don’t have to cancel all three. You just don’t get a refund.
You’re both correct. You can change the tests, take fewer tests, take more tests (up to 3)** on exam day**. But after exam day, if one chooses to cancel a test, one can only cancel all the tests taken on a particular date.
But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Let’s get the kid taking the tests first before worrying about what the scores might be. 