SAT II Literature

lavenderdream · October 25, 2004, 5:17pm

Hey all,

I'm a junior. I took the SAT II Math IIC at the end of sophomore year and the SAT II Writing this October.

That said, my main question: for those of you who have prepped/taken the SAT II Literature, do you think it helped your Critical Reading score for the actual SAT? I'm only going to take the new SAT and I'm not sure whether I should just concentrate on that (I'm taking the March exam), or whether I should prep for the SAT II Literature. I know that the Lit and the Critical Reading are different, but I wasn't sure if studying for Lit would boost my reading score?

Input?

Thanks.

elizabeth22 · October 25, 2004, 5:22pm

Literature is like Critical Reading on steroids, only it encompasses poetry as well as prose. It's a really difficult test, in my opinion. I did pretty well-770, but I still think it's wicked hard. Really, any critical reading practice you do will help your SAT I score. I'm not sure if taking the Literature test in particular will make anything much better. There's not really much to study for Literature. It's based on skills you've been developing since you learned to read.

heefar7 · October 25, 2004, 6:17pm

All I have to say about SAT II Lit is that is is f-ing impossible. To be honest, I consider myself an above average reader and writer and this test made me feel stupid. Over half the passages are either not in "normal english" or just flat out don't make sense. I think this test would be near to impossible w/o taking AP Lit first.

fatcookie · October 25, 2004, 7:23pm

would be easier if I'm taking AP Language/composition now?

redbarn · October 25, 2004, 9:15pm

I said it on the old board, and I'll say it again: Don't take literature unless you are a poetry freak!

I got 750 verbal, but only 680 literature. It's extremely, extremely tough.

heefar7 · October 25, 2004, 9:45pm

680 is a freaking good score, I'd pay money to get over a 600!

lavenderdream · October 25, 2004, 9:49pm

There is no such course in my school as AP Lit. Most people, though, take AP Lit Senior year.

Thanks for the input ... please continue giving me input, as I'm still undecided. Is there anyone out there who got a good score - think 780 or 800 - who has input?

redbarn · October 25, 2004, 10:41pm

Well, what did you get on Verbal? If you weren't over 700, don't even think about the Lit test.

melissamelissa · October 25, 2004, 10:45pm

what if the reason u sucked was cuz of the last bunch of analogies and sentence comp?

freakish · October 25, 2004, 10:45pm

I got 800 on Verbal and 700 on the lit test.

elizabeth22 · October 25, 2004, 10:45pm

I don't think you're giving people who score in the 700s, but perhaps not a 780 or 800, enough credit. All input on this test is good, even from "low" scorers, because the test is insane. I'd say anything over a 650 on this test is a pretty darn good score. Only the best English students take it, which is why the percentiles aren't great.

I didn't take AP Literature, and I'm not a poetry freak- 770. Not an 800, but on this test, it's good enough. I also got a 750 verbal SAT I (first shot), and a 4 on AP Language, self study. I agree with everyone though...the test is ridiculously hard. I've taken it twice, and both times I walked out thinking I was probably the stupidest person in the entire world. Unless you've been told by teachers that your powers of explication are very developed (your own opinions of your skills are rarely accurate), don't even try the test.

lavenderdream · October 25, 2004, 10:52pm

I didn't mean to offend by characterizing "good scores" by 780s or 800s, although I suppose I should not have mentioned a number at all in order not to offend. My apologies.

I have two 800s on the SAT IIs already, so you must understand- I have a fear of getting anything lower than a 780.

I have not yet taken the SAT I verbal section, as I'm a junior and am waiting for the March New SAT to take a real test.

haosquared · October 26, 2004, 11:10pm

There is no need to take AP Lit for the Literature. Either you can explicate or you cannot. Like elizabeth22 said, it cannot be developed overnight. I think that the Literature was comparable to the Critical Reading. Though some of the passages may not be in modern English, they are not indecipherable. The main difference is that Lit will ask you more about literary devices such as metonymy, diction, metaphor, and synecdoche. Being able to sense a piece's tone is also frequently asked. I think that studying for Literature will boost your Critical Reading. For an accurate "guesstimate" of what your Lit score would be, try the PR practice tests. I think they were good predictors of my score-790.

jessica_h · October 27, 2004, 1:58pm

I got 800v but 740 literature.. it's a bit tricky. multiple choice poetry analysis just seems strange! after literature though, verbal seems really easy!

lindseylujh · October 29, 2004, 12:52am

Did anyone take any practice tests before they took the real test? I'm reviewing terms, etc. with Kaplan. Does anyone know how accurate their tests are for predicting your real score?

Other books? Real SAT II's?

Thanks for the help.