SAT I vs. SAT II

What's the difference between the SAT I and SAT II?

The SAT I exam is a 3+ hour long exam that measures students' critical reading, math , writing, and grammar skills. The SAT I is a test that has always placed test-taking skills above actual content knowledge. In other words, the SAT I is an aptitude test, not an achievement test. Success on this test comes from becoming a good test-taker and knowing what the College Board is looking for (which is why someone can really do much better on it if they prepare the right way). The SAT II exams are all achievement tests - content knowledge tests in various subjects. There is an SAT II in biology for example, in world history, in many languages, etc. The SAT IIs place emphasis on knowing the vocabulary and content of a particular subject area.

When does my son/daughter need to take these tests?

Most colleges want applicants to have taken the SAT I exam and at least two SAT II exams by the time they apply. The most selective colleges require three SAT II exams. Most students take the SAT IIs immediately after they have finished a course specific for that SAT II. For example, the best time to take the SAT II in biology is right after 9th or 10th grade biology (or 11th grade if taking AP Biology). With the math and English literature exams, many students wait until spring of their junior year. The SAT I exam is taken in the spring of junior year, typically in March or May, and is often retaken in the fall of senior year.

Does retaking one of the standardized tests look bad?

Many students retake at least one, if not several, standardized tests. Almost all colleges will take critical reading, math, and writing scores from each SAT I administration; and, they will generally look only at the best SAT II score out of two scores for a particular test. That being said, however, it is often looked down upon to take the same test more than two times, so three times is not a charm in this business! Students should check with the specific colleges they are applying to find out their specific requirements for standardized tests.

How much preparation does someone need to take these tests?

The answer to this depends a great deal on the student, how responsive he or she is, and how much work he or she can put into test preparation. For the P/SAT exams, we generally suggest a few weeks of prep in late August to early September (as the PSAT exam is given by schools in mid-October), and then prep for the early spring exam; or, from January to May or June for the late spring exams. A meeting once a week, along with lots of mock tests, is usually sufficient and gives the student time to prepare in between meetings by doing assigned homework, learning vocabulary, etc. For the SAT II exams in May or June, we advise parents and students to begin preparing by late February, early March. Students may want to think about taking the May offering of an SAT II exam rather than the June offering (the May exams have tended to be slightly easier over the past few years according to students who have taken both May and June SAT IIs in the same subject area).