So here goes: Enjoy!
As part of the admissions section to get into an American University there are a few exams one must take. The first is a general exam called the SAT this is overall scored out of 2400 and covers writing, critical thinking and maths (next weeks blogpost will be on this)
But also to get into those even more difficult universities or just most univerisites you are required to have at least 3 SAT subject tests now these are exams that are specific to different subjects and are each marked out of a score of between 200-800! Some colleges even specify on their website which ones you should have a score of: but you have to do your own research to find out I am afraid!
These allow you as a student to show in a 1 hour exam paper to showcase your achievements or strengths in particular subjects. It allows helps to differentiate yourself between other students as it allows colleges to see which subjects interest you and where you also excel.
There are 20 Subject Tests across five general subject areas: history, maths science, English and foreign languages. The SAT Subject Tests that you choose to actually take should be based on your strengths in certain subjects.
To find more help on which ones you should take visit:
http://sat.collegeboard.org/about-tests/sat-subject-tests/which-tests-to-take
These subject tests are avaliable in the following subjects:
Literature
Maths- level 1 and 2
U.S. History
World History
Biology E/M
Chemistry
Physics
French
French with listening
German
German with listening
Spanish
Spanish with listening
Modern Hebrew
Italian
Latin
Chinese with listening
Japanese with listening
Korean with listening
Lets start by going through each and telling you as a UK international student about each:
Literature: In order to feel ready for this test having a GCSE in english literature would be fine, but if you want to take English literature later on in college (majoring or minoring in it.. will explain about those later!) Then I suggest taking English lit in at least AS level, as this would most likely increase your mark.
Maths: There are 2 types- level 1 and level 2, level one has everything but trigonometry therefore level 2 has everything plus trigonometry: your best bet if you can only take one is to take level 2 and in order to do so a GCSE is a definitie and an AS and especially and A2 will help dramatically
Histories: Be careful of these: these exams are based on how history is taught in the US... dramatically different... WW2 yeh won by the US... not what we're taught here so unless you have taken a US history course taught in a US school don't take the US one. For the World you need a gcse but even me who loves History and wants to major in it, isn't going to take it due to the nature and US-ness of the questions!
Sciences: In order to do each science, you must I repeat MUST have a gcse in each separate science (triple science) also by doing an AS-level would really help! But if you download the SAT booklet off the collegeboard website this explains and provides a checklist for what each science covers and go through your cirriculam to see if you have covered everything in GCSE... but even doing AS level doesn't mean you still won't come acrosss questions you have no idea about.
Please note: Biology is called 'Biology E/M' as on the day of the test you can choose either Ecology: E (to do with animals, life cycles, food chains) or Molecular: M (biochemistry, meiosis, DNA)
I am doing OCR Biology and feel fully prepared after unit 4 of GCSE to do E but I am waiting till after AS level Biology to do M as most of the stuff we don't even think about until then!
Languages: Exactly what they say on the tin.. I would say a GCSE is necessary unless that is your native tongue and again an AS-level is helpful! Those exams with listening have some marks reserved for listening exercises therefore you need a cd player:
Following the link below to find out what else you need to bring with on test day:http://sat.collegeboard.org/register/sat-test-day-checklist
So to book your Subject test follow the link below and make an account with collegeboard:
Then book yourself in for a test date and place:
You can take a maximum of 3 a day (3 hours each with breaks inbetween!):
Now onto the books and how to revise:
There are different companies that sell different books to help not just with the SAT SUBJECT tests but also the SAT: one issue is they are hugely expensive so I have done a small review to help you decide which ones to get:
The brands are:
- Collegeboard
- Kaplan
- Barrons
- Princeton Review
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Official-Study-Guide-Subject-College/dp/0874479754/ref=pd_sim_b_2
In terms of wanting to get specific books for each SAT paper maybe try one from each of the remaining 3 or look online for reviews: College Board do one whole book for both Maths level one and 2 where as the other companies have them as individual books: and considering each book costs around or sometimes less (like the one below... YAY!) $20 or so dollars but around £15-£20, its not cheap to get like all of them!
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Official-Subject-Tests-Mathematics-Levels/dp/0874477727/ref=pd_bxgy_b_img_c
Also for some of them: such as with Kaplan try to get the most update version so for now the 2011-2012 of if they're doing them the 2013 ones!
Some other examples from each brand:
Kaplan:
Princeton Review:
Barron's:
I hope that was helpful to you!
If you have any questions please leave them below
My next post will be about the SAT
Much Love
S xxxx
