SAT Subject Tests--Watch Out!

January through June is our busiest season. Students are not only offered an SAT or ACT almost every month, but students are also flooded with AP tests, finals, and second semester rigor. It's during this time of year that we field many questions from parents of 10th and 11th graders about SAT Subject Tests. The question is usually some derivation of the following:

• My child is taking the AP test in World History, should s/he take the SAT Subject Test in June?

Yes, but with a caveat. A high grade in an AP class does not mean that a student will ace the Subject Test. Many students, in fact, are disappointed by how low they may score on a Subject Test. So, how can you prevent disappointment? Take a genuine College Board SAT Subject Test as a diagnostic.

If you're interested, purchase The Official Study Guide to all SAT Subject Tests from Amazon.com or Barnes & Noble, and take your test(s) of choice. Grade it and calculate your scaled score. Carefully interpret your scaled score since scaled scores are difficult to understand. For example, a student who scores a 670 on the SAT Math Reasoning Test, scores in the 90th percentile. Not bad. In contrast, a student who scores a 670 on the SAT Math Level 2 Subject Test, lands in the 57th percentile. Ouch.

What does this score mean? It means that if you're applying to the top 10 percent of colleges, landing just above the 50th percentile certainly will not strengthen your application. My advice: prepare for all SAT Subject Tests.

If you're interested in learning about our private coaching programs for SAT Subject Tests, visit http://www.hammertutoring.com/contactus/.