<p>My junior D is taking AP/IB Eng Lang and AP/IB Bio this year - she will take the AP Bio Anatomy next year, and AP Eng Lit next year. I’m sure that our school (poor, urban) doesn’t have all the rigor that some of you see in your classes, and very few kids here even consider SAT IIs. </p>
<p>D is strongest (very strong) in English and Languages. She will likely take Euro Hist and Eng Lang AP tests this May. Test specific prep time is limited as she is very active in ECs. </p>
<p>She plans to take the Latin SAT II next fall. We think she might need two SAT IIs for admissions to some schools on her list. Should she take the Bio SAT II this June, or wait until near the end of next year? Should she take the AP Lit Sat II this year, or wait…? </p>
<p>What happens if you take a SAT II and bomb, then take it again later?</p>
<p>First of all, you are right to plan on at least a couple of SAT II’s–I don’t know of any schools that just requires one, most require two (and a few require 3–the really selective (Ivies, etc.) schools. I would suggest that she take the Eng. Lit SAT II this year–it’s not exactly like the AP Eng. Lang multiple choice, but a kid who is good at English will be good at the Lit SAT II. One thing to watch out for: the Lit SAT II has poetry, which you do not prep for the AP EngLang test (Lang. is a non-fiction based test). I’m not too sure about Bio–get a book and see how her class this year has prepared her for the test. You might want to look at the World History SAT II–I have heard that it is a lot of AP Euro stuff repeated. </p>
<p>As far as bombing a test…it goes on your SAT record and colleges will see it, so it is certainly not ideal (not the end of the world, either, but not ideal). I know that you said prep time is limited, but it is really worth it for her to take a practice SAT II in each subject before deciding to take the real deal. That way, you will have a good idea if a good or at least decent score is possible–if she takes a practice test and scores in the 400’s, you should probably stay away from that test, since she won’t have time to improve that score to the decent (600 level) range. Hope this helps!!</p>
<p>Thanks - that does help alot. She should be fine with poetry, but a practice test is always a good idea in each area. She can definitely fit that in. </p>
<p>I had not thought of WH, since they take a generic WH course here freshman year, but you are right - her AP/IB Euro class has certainly covered a long time span and that may be a good idea. We’ll look at a practice test there too…</p>
<p>thanks again.</p>
<p>I agree that she should look in to taking the World History SAT II, but one must remember that on the SAT II WH, European history is not a big percentage of the test, I think maybe 15-20%. It mainly focuses on Asia and Africa. I recommend that she buy barrons WH, take a pratice test and go from there.</p>
<p>^^I just want to make it clear…I have not personally taken the WH SAT II. That is just what I heard from friends who did take it–that it was a lot of Euro. Definitely look over the book–with a WH class and Euro, I think that your D would probably be in good shape for the test, but obviously I don’t know that for sure. “World History” is such a broad topic…it’s hard to for me or anyone else to say which topics are covered on any given test or in any given class, so a look at a prep book seems critical in this case.</p>
<p>According to college board website, Europe covers aproximately 25% of the test. Africa, SW Asia, South and SE Asia, East Asia and the America’s constitute for 10% each which totals 50% of the test. 25% of the test is global or comparative. So, yes, European history is 25% of the test, but 50% of it is non-european stuff. I did not take AP world history, I only took a regular regents two year world history course, I bought Barrons, studied it got a 750. It’s an easy 800 if you study Barrons carefully, because Barrons goes into obscure details that one needs to know.</p>