APPLYING AP & IB COURSES TO THE SAT SUBJECT …testprep.arborbridge.com/hubfs/AP_IB_to_Subject_Test...oxidation/reduction, rate expression, reaction mechanism, bond hybridization,

APPLYING AP & IB COURSES TO THE SAT SUBJECT TESTS

How much strategy and content can students take away from AP and IB courses and utilize on the SAT Subject Tests?

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WHAT’S IN THIS BOOK?Oftentimes students have already built up an arsenal of strategy and content to tackle the SAT Subject Tests from AP or IB courses in school. We broke down nine Subject Tests and their corresponding AP and IB (SL and HL) courses by four dimensions: Strategy Covered, Strategy Gap, Content Covered, and Content Gap. Additionally, we provided students with the specific topics in each Subject where Strategy and Content are inconsistent to ensure more targeted studying.

We’ll cover the following Subject Tests:- Biology (Ecological)- Biology (Molecular)- Chemistry- Literature- Math Level 1- Math Level 2- Physics- World History- U.S. History

PLUS, WE’VE ADDED...

SUBJECT TEST QUICK GUIDES

Your go-to guides for each of the SAT Subject Tests. Get to know exam format, content, question types, and key test-

taking strategies from ArborBridge test prep experts! Flip to the next page to check them out.

BIOLOGY SUBJECT TEST QUICK GUIDEFORMAT:

• Students can choose to take either the Ecology (E) or Molecular (M) section. Pick and master one!

• 80 questions• Time: 60 minutes (1 hour)• Question type: Multiple-choice

• Raw score converted to scaled score from 200–800

• Average score (Biology E): 626• Average score (Biology M): 655

SCORING:

CONTENT:60 of the 80 questions are “Common Core” Biology questions. The remaining 20 questions are either Ecological (E) or Molecular (M) questions.

Question formats:• Classification• Five-choice completion

Common Core questions cover:• Cellular and Molecular Biology• Ecology• Classical Genetics• Organismal Biology• Evolution and Diversity

HELPFUL SKILLSBrush up on these before the test!

All content assumes knowledge from a one-year Biology course (with lab), as well as a one-year course in Algebra. Make sure to review your notes from these classes (or your school curriculum’s equivalent) in great detail!

KEY TEST-TAKING STRATEGIESFrom ArborBridge Test Prep Experts!

Always identify exactly what the question is asking. This sounds simple, but many students find it difficult to pinpoint the most important information under the guise of complex word problems.

10% 90%

Strategy Content

7% 3% 80%

Biology Ecological (Biology-E) Subject Test Breakdown

AP Biology Course

68%

IB Biology (SL) Course

StrategyCovered

StrategyGap

Content Covered

StrategyCovered

Content Covered

Content Gap

Strategy Gaps Content Gaps

Pacing

Guessing penalty

Deciding between Molecular and Ecological Emphasis

Greater depth in topics tested on Ecological Emphasis section

•

•

•

•


Pacing

Guessing penalty

Greater depth in some topics

Lab design

•

•

•

•

BIOLOGY ECOLOGICAL


8% 2%

StrategyGap

10%

Content Gap

77% 13%

BIOLOGY ECOLOGICAL

86%

IB Biology (HL) Course

StrategyGap

Content Covered

Content Gap


Pacing

Guessing penalty

Lab design•

•

•

4%

**For IB Biology students, the Biology Subject Test with Ecological Emphasis is usually the best option.

8% 2%

StrategyCovered


10% 90%

Strategy Content

7% 3% 90%

Biology Molecular (Biology-M) Subject Test Breakdown

AP Biology Course

68%

IB Biology (SL) Course

StrategyCovered

StrategyGap

Content Covered

StrategyCovered

Content Covered

Content Gap


Pacing

Guessing penalty

Deciding between Molecular and Ecological Emphasis

None•

•

•

•


Pacing

Guessing penalty

Greater depth in all topics, especially those tested on Molecular Emphasis section

Lab design

•

•

•

•

BIOLOGY MOLECULAR

8% 2% 22%

StrategyGap

**For AP Biology students, the Biology Subject Test with Molecular Emphasis is usually the best option.


BIOLOGY MOLECULAR

77%

IB Biology (HL) Course

StrategyGap

Content Covered

Content Gap


Pacing

Guessing penalty

Greater depth in topics tested on Molecular Emphasis section

Lab design

•

•

•

•

13%8% 2%

StrategyCovered


CHEMISTRY SUBJECT TEST QUICK GUIDEFORMAT:



• Average score: 660

SCORING:

CONTENT:Content on the Chemistry Subject Test assumes knowledge from a one-year Chemistry course as well as a one-year course in Algebra.

Question formats:• Classification• Relationship Analysis• Five-Choice Completion Questions


Review notes from your Chemistry courses and (if you have taken it) Algebra class! In particular it may be helpful to review:

• Atomic and Molecular Structure• Reaction Types• Stoichiometry• Equilibrium and Reaction Rates• Thermodynamics• Laboratory Basics


• Make sure to learn and memorize Reaction Types (specifically Acids and Bases and Oxidation-Reduction reactions).

• Leave the Relationship Analysis (true/false) questions for last—these take more time and can slow you down.

5% 95%

Strategy Content

2% 95%

Chemistry Subject Test Breakdown

AP Chemistry Course

IB Chemistry (SL) Course

80%

StrategyGap

Content Covered

StrategyGap

Content Covered

Content Gap


Pacing

Guessing penalty

Answering relationship-analysis questions

None•

•

•

•


Greater depth in certain areas: oxidation/reduction, rate expression, reaction mechanism, bond hybridization, acids/bases

Practice with measurement and analysis

•

•

CHEMISTRY

5% 15%

Pacing

Guessing penalty


•

•

•

3%

StrategyCovered


CHEMISTRYIB Chemistry (HL) Course

95%

StrategyGap

Content Covered


None•

5%

Pacing

Guessing penalty


•

•

•


LITERATURE SUBJECT TEST QUICK GUIDEFORMAT:




SCORING:

CONTENT:Passages on the Literature Subject Test are written in English and are typically pulled from popular American and British literary works.

Questions are passage-based and cover prose, poetry, and drama.

Passages are followed by 6–8 multiple-choice questions testing a student’s ability to correctly identify and interpret:

• Purpose• Form• Language• Narrative voice• Characterization


Critical reading:• Practice becoming familiarized

with readings from a variety of sources.

Literary terms and devices:• Make those flashcards and

memorize, memorize, memorize!


Learn to take the test in the best order for you. You don’t have to read and answer questions in the exact order that they appear. To avoid this trap, learn to identify your strengths and prioritize those portions of the exam first.

52%

Literature Subject Test Breakdown

AP English Literature Course

AP English Language Course

30%

Content Covered

Content Covered

Content Gap


Pacing

Guessing penalty

Strategies for more granular analysis of passages and questions

Greater depth in certain literary terms and techniques

Use of humor and satire in prose and drama

•

•

•

•

•


All literary devices used in prose

All literary devices and approaches for analyzing poetry

Familiarity with vocabulary used within fiction and poetry 1400–1900

•

•

•

LITERATURE

30%

•

•

•

StrategyCovered

40% 60%

Strategy Content

StrategyCovered

8%

Content Gap

Annotation and reading strategies for literary passages

Pacing

Guessing penalty

28% 12%

20% 20%

StrategyGap

StrategyGap


IB Language A: Literature Course


Greater depth in literary devices and approaches for analyzing poetry

Greater depth in Western-centric prose


•

•

•

Answering multiple-choice questions

Pacing

Guessing penalty

•

•

•

IB Language A: Language and Literature Course


Greater depth in literary devices used in prose

Extensive work with literary devices and approaches for analyzing poetry

Greater depth in Western-centric prose

•

•

•


Pacing

Guessing penalty

•

•

•

IB Language A: Literature and Performance Course

Content Covered


All literary devices used in prose

All literary devices and approaches for analyzing poetry


•

•

•


Pacing

Guessing penalty

•

•

•

StrategyGap

6% 54%

Content Gap

36%

Content Covered

Content Gap

24%

StrategyCovered

4% 36%

StrategyGap

34%

Content Covered

Content Gap

26%

StrategyCovered

4% 36%

StrategyGap

40%

**IB Language A: Literature and Performance students should only take the Subject Test if they have also taken an English Literature course at some point in high school.


MATH SUBJECT TESTS QUICK GUIDEFORMAT:

• Two levels: Level 1 and Level 2• Each test has 50 questions• Time: 60 minutes (1 hour)• Question type: Multiple-choice


SCORING:

CONTENT:

Math 1:• Basic algebra• Functions• Geometric properties of shapes• Plotting lines• Working with everyday word problems• Interpreting graphs

Math 2:• All of the subject matter in Math 1• Probability• Combinatorics• Advanced trig• Plotting hyperbolic functions• Working with limits and asymptotes


The Math Subject Test is more a test of solid mathematical habits that can take some time to develop. Students should strive to take a math class every semester in high school to strengthen their basic algebra and equation solving skills.


• Write down everything: formulas, marking up geometric figures, and every step of your thinking process.

• Make things as tangible as possible. If you see a problem with lots of fancy variables, simply pick values for those variables and make the problem easier to work with.

• Prioritize types of questions that you excel at (but remember later questions on the test tend to be more difficult than earlier ones).

5% 95%

Strategy Content

5% 90% 5%

Math Level 1 Subject Test Breakdown

AP Calculus (AB/BC) Course

AP Statistics Course

65%

StrategyGap

Content Covered

Content Gap

StrategyGap

Content Covered

Content Gap


Multiple-choice strategies

Pacing

Guessing penalty

Probability

Review of concepts covered in Math before Calculus

•

•

•

•

•


Advanced functions (composite, inverse, piecewise, quadratics, trigonometric, etc.)

Function shi�s

Area of non-standard shapes

•

•

•

MATH LEVEL 1

5% 30%


Pacing

Guessing penalty

•

•

•


MATH LEVEL 1IB Mathematics (SL/HL) Course

80%

StrategyGap

Content Covered

Content Gap


Probability

Imaginary numbers

Absolute value

•

•

•

5% 15%


Pacing

Guessing penalty

•

•

•


5% 95%

Strategy Content

5% 70% 25%

Math Level 2 Subject Test Breakdown

AP Calculus (AB/BC) Course

AP Statistics Course

StrategyGap

Content Covered

Content Gap

StrategyGap

Content Covered

Content Gap



Pacing

Guessing penalty

Ellipses and hyperbolas

Complex numbers

Logarithms

Advanced counting and probability

Basic statistics

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•


MATH LEVEL 2

5% 57%


Pacing

Guessing penalty

•

•

•

38%


Complex numbers

3D graphs

Logarithms

Sequences

Trigonometric functions and identities

•

•

•

•

•

•


MATH LEVEL 2IB Mathematics (SL) Course

StrategyGap

Content Covered

Content Gap



Complex numbers

3D graphs

Logarithms

Trigonometric functions and identities

Asymptotes

Piecewise functions

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

5% 55%


Pacing

Guessing penalty

•

•

•

IB Mathematics (HL) Course

StrategyGap

Content Covered

Content Gap


5% 35%


Pacing

Guessing penalty

•

•

•

40%

60%


Complex numbers

3D graphs

Logarithms

•

•

•

•


PHYSICS SUBJECT TEST QUICK GUIDEFORMAT:

• 75 questions• Time: 60 minutes (1 hour)• Question type: Multiple-choice• No calculator use on exam (don’t

worry, you won’t see any questions that require lengthy calculations)



SCORING:

CONTENT:• Mechanics• Electricity• Magnetism• Waves• Optics• Thermodynamics• Modern physics • Other misc. concepts such as chaos theory• (There is no calculus on the exam)


If you’ve taken a full year of physics, you’ll find that you can put most of your physics knowledge to use on the exam. Remember all those equations you had to learn? Now is the time to put them to use! You won’t get a formula sheet on the exam so it’s important to memorize and practice applying equations.


Write down formulas first! Then plug in the numbers that you know from the question. Even if you’re initially not entirely sure how you can use the formula, you’ll often find that once you start putting in what you know, you can solve the problem.

This test has a pretty generous curve; you can leave as many as 15 questions blank and still score an 800! (Assuming you answered all the remaining questions correctly.)

2% 72%

Physics Subject Test Breakdown

AP Physics 1 Course

AP Physics 2 Course

85%

StrategyGap

Content Covered

Content Covered

Content Gap


Selected multiple-choice strategies

Pacing

Guessing penalty

Thermal physics

Magnetism

Optics

•

•

•

•

•

•


Greater depth in certain areas: thermal physics and optics

•

PHYSICS

5%

•

•

•

8%

StrategyCovered

10% 90%

Strategy Content

2%

StrategyGap

8%

StrategyCovered

18%

Content Gap


Pacing

Guessing penalty


PHYSICSAP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism Course

Content Covered


Kinematics

Newton’s Laws

Optics

•

•

•


Pacing

Guessing penalty

•

•

•

2%

StrategyGap

8%

StrategyCovered

45% 45%

IB Physics (SL/HL) Course

Content Covered


Optics

Electric and magnetic fields (SL only)

Electromagnetic induction (SL only)

•

•

•


Pacing

Guessing penalty

•

•

•

10%

StrategyGap

80% 10%

Content Gap

Content Gap


U.S. & WORLD HISTORY SUBJECT TEST QUICK GUIDE

FORMAT:

• Each test has 90-95 questions• Time: 60 minutes (1 hour)• Question type: Multiple-choice


• Average score (World History): 618• Average score (U.S. History): 645

SCORING:

CONTENT:

U.S. History:• Covers all of American history from 1400

through the present, with a particular emphasis on political, economic, and social history

World History:• Covers all of human history from

prehistoric civilizations through the present, with a strong emphasis on events and trends before 1900

• Knowledge of European history: 25% of exam

• Questions that ask students to compare trends across different areas: 25% of exam


More than 90% of a student’s success on these tests relates to how well the student knows the events, people, and trends asked about. So knowing everything you learned in class is paramount! Make sure to set aside a good chunk of time for studying.


• Slow down and read carefully. No need to feel rushed!

• Eliminate answers to work around tricky questions by making educated guesses.

On both exams, the question format is as follows:• Fact-based questions that ask students to recall an event, person, term, trend, etc.• Source-based questions that ask students to read a quotation, image, graph, or map and

apply knowledge of history to the source

10% 90%

Strategy Content

5% 5% 25% 65%

World History Subject Test Breakdown

AP European History Course

67%

AP World History Course

StrategyCovered

StrategyGap

Content Covered

Content Gap

StrategyCovered

Content Covered

Content Gap


Answering fact-based multiple-choice questions

Pacing

Guessing penalty

Historical minutia: people, legislation, events, literary/artistic works, and terminology

All content related to other geographic areas: Asia, Africa, and the Americas

Colonization from a non-Eurocentric viewpoint

•

•

•

•

•

•


Answering fact-based multiple-choice questions

Pacing

Guessing penalty


Greater depth and focus on Prehistory–1500 and 1900–Present

Greater depth and focus on Asian and European History

•

•

•

•

•

•

WORLD HISTORY

5% 5% 23%

StrategyGap


WORLD HISTORY

10% 72%

IB Route 1: Europe and the Islamic World (SL/HL)

10% 60%

IB Route 2: 20th-Century World History (SL/HL)

30%

StrategyGap

Content Covered

Content Gap

StrategyGap

Content Covered

Content Gap


Answering multiple-choice questions: fact-based and source-based (quotes, cartoons, maps, and graphs)

Pacing

Guessing penalty

Historical minutia: people, legislation, events, literary works, and terminology

All content related to Asia, Africa, and Americas

All content Prehistory–500 CE and 1500 CE– Present

•

•

•

•

•

•


Answering multiple-choice questions: fact-based and source-based (quotes, cartoons, maps, graphs)

Pacing

Guessing penalty


All content Prehistory–1900

•

•

•

•

•

18%

**IB students should only take this Subject Test if they took Route 2: 20th Century World History and have time to learn large amounts of material from periods before 1900.


10% 90%

Strategy Content

5% 5% 70% 20%

U.S. History Subject Test Breakdown

AP U.S. History Course

10% 75%

IB Route 2: 20th-Century World History (SL/HL) Course

15%

StrategyCovered

StrategyGap

Content Covered

Content Gap

StrategyGap

Content Covered

Content Gap


Answering fact-based, multiple-choice questions

Pacing

Guessing penalty

Historical minutia: people, legislation, events, literary works, terminology, and court cases

Greater depth in certain periods: Industrial Revolution and Post-1968 America

Structures of government and the Constitution

•

•

•

•

•

•


Answering multiple-choice questions: fact-based and source-based (quotes, cartoons, maps, graphs)

Pacing

Guessing penalty

All content 1400–1900

Greater depth and focus on U.S. 1900–present

Structures of government and the Constitution

•

•

•

•

•

•

U.S. HISTORY

**IB students should only take this Subject Test if they take IB Route 2 AND have taken a U.S. History course at some point in high school.


Jumpstart your test prep with a diagnostic exam in the subject(s)

you are planning to sit for. We’ll provide you with a fully

customized score report and our recommended lessons to get

you on your way to your highest score.

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APPLYING AP & IB COURSES TO THE SAT SUBJECT …testprep.arborbridge.com/hubfs/AP_IB_to_Subject_Test...oxidation/reduction, rate expression, reaction mechanism, bond hybridization,