<p>I have been studying for the SAT II Lit test for the entire summer, but I am now fretting that I won’t be able to get a good enough score. Main problem is that lit isn’t something you can 100% study for, but rather something you have to be a “natural” at. I did get a 750 on CR, but I’m just not getting the poetry part of the test. I want to self study the SAT USH test in time for the November test date, and score 750+. </p>
<p>History has always been my strongest suit, and I have successfully self-studied AP Euro (5), AP World (5), and AP Comp Gov (5). I also have a 700 score (screwed up that day) for the SAT II World test. </p>
<p>Say if I take 3-4 hours a day to study the material, will I be able to do well? How hard is the USH Sat II test in comparison to World or Euro? Or should I just drop that idea and concentrate on Lit?</p>
<p>@Smargent Why would that be suspicious? A lot of internationals take USH to gain a better understanding of the country they will be studying in. Plus, I didn’t have any background in World or Euro.</p>
<p>Watch a bunch of youtube videos that explain US history in chronological order, and dedicate couple hours a day reading Howard Zinn’s A People’s History of the United States.</p>
<p>Yeah so I have to respectfully disagree with some of the above comments. There is nothing at all suspicious about it - many international students go to American schools overseas and study US History. Even without that it would not be suspicious. As for books, I definitely would not read Howard Zinn’s book. Its a very good book, but Zinn has an argument that he is peddling in the book and although its an interesting read it is definitely not the best way to prepare for the US History Subject test. The Essential Content book by Larry Krieger is very good and to the point, and tends to cover the main things without too much extra stuff, but its sort of a bullet point presentation and it might be difficult for you if you don’t know some of the surrounding context. Sparknotes might be a good source to supplement that because its presented a bit more in narrative format and will fill in the picture a bit more. Go through the books and then take an official practice test and see how you do and then you will know for sure if its worth taking it. Good luck!!!</p>
<p>You’re welcome. The book is mainly aimed at the APUSH crowd, but in the book the author addresses the SAT II as well (the tests are very similar). So on the surface its and AP book but really it works for both and it has a good balance of coverage without going too far and including extraneous information. And the Sparks book is basically the same as the online content. The only difference is that it has 3 tests at the back and the online tests on the Sparks site are no longer available.</p>
<p>For the record, I took the APUSH course and didn’t prepare specifically for the SAT II US History and got a 720. In some aspects, SAT II US History is a harder test. I can’t pinpoint where, but it felt like that when I took both tests.</p>
<p>As for Zinn’s book, yes, it is opinionated which I most certainly don’t agree with, bashing capitalism and general US culture. However, it played devil’s advocate for me as I read it. AMSCO is an awesome book too, and get a crash course as well. </p>
<p>Okay, so I’ve just placed the order for Essential Contents and SAT II Barron’s. Before this order it shipped out (and can’t be cancelled anymore), I just want to confirm that it’s absolutely possible to study for this test in around a month?</p>
<p>I think its doable. Its just going to be about learning the material. You will have an uphill battle since you don’t have a background in it, but if you read through the books, learn the material, and test yourself (which is essential to building your ability to recall the facts), I think you can do it.</p>
<p>I should maybe just point out though, that if you have the World History Subject test already I don’t know that you are really showing the colleges anything by having US History as well. I know that probably just throws your whole world back into crisis, but I feel like that is probably worth thinking through.</p>
<p>@reasonsat For sure – I’ve thought about that problem too. I’m having trouble with Literature though, mostly with understanding 17th and 18th century poems. Do you perhaps have any advice as to how to better understand poetry?</p>
<p>Shoot, I wish I did. I am really not a Subject Test person, so I don’t really have expertise there. I know a fair amount about the History ones, but I really know nothing about the Lit one so unfortunately I don’t think I can be of much help to you. Like you, I am also not great with poetry, so that would probably scare me, but its my understanding that the Lit test is a lot like the CR section of the SAT (I’ve really never looked at the Lit test). Obviously you don’t have poetry on the CR section, but if you got a 750 its hard for me to believe that you would do much worse than that. Have you taken an official practice test? Don’t go by Barrons or Kaplan to know how you are performing.</p>
<p>The main CB book that has all of the Subject tests in it has one (I am almost certain). You should definitely do a real test and see where you stand!!!</p>