SAT Subject Tests
- Thread starter _JLee21
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I'm not sure what your 1st sentence has to do with the 2nd.
But to answer your question - take the most rigorous courses offered by your school, and do well.
Specifically for validating at USNA, work backwards, don't just AP yourself into oblivion.
USNA website
Academics
Candidate Information
Course Validation Policy
But to answer your question - take the most rigorous courses offered by your school, and do well.
Specifically for validating at USNA, work backwards, don't just AP yourself into oblivion.
USNA website
Academics
Candidate Information
Course Validation Policy
SAT subject tests are an ancillary way to show your competence on material and can be supportive of an application but they are in no way an equivalent substitute for the AP exam. I am unaware of any college/university that awards college credit solely on the subject tests.
At USNA despite high AP scores for certain subjects ( Calc, Chem, Physics, Language are the big ones) you would still need to sit for validation tests during Plebe summer.
At USNA despite high AP scores for certain subjects ( Calc, Chem, Physics, Language are the big ones) you would still need to sit for validation tests during Plebe summer.
Forgot to finish my thoughts....so yes if you have the opportunity to take the AP credits and do well then review before Plebe summer and that will help you perform on the validation tests. If you go to Course validation on the USNA website , you will see which classes have validation tests available and what steps you need to take to proceed.
A1Janitor
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I would say that this is generally true.
My son didn’t take any validation tests - but admissions validated a few classes for him anyway.
commando530
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@A1Janitor
Would you happen to know which classes admissions validated for him? I’m confused how they would validate classes for him if he had not taken the validation test unless it were AP scores.
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Look at USNA website for their policies for validating classes. That’s what you should be using as you make decisions.
During plebe summer, students will be advised, make decisions and placed where they should be for their AC year. Generally following the requirements posted on USNA’s website. If there are exceptions or decisions outside the posted requirements, those will be on an individual basis. But they have posted their prerequisites for validating classes (AP scores, validation exams, oral exams, interviews, etc). Something to keep in mind, is an appointee doesn’t have to take validation exams (different than placement exams, which are required). They can choose to not, and take the ‘set’ plebe schedule. Also, if they do test and meet the criteria, they can still choose to take the normal plebe classes...this is all decided and discussed with an AC advisor. Just like any college.
You will be placed in classes that are a best fit for you. And your decisions will be made along with an advisor.
*note: all the above was the process with my two sons who entered USNA during non-covid/virtual learning times*
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I think there are some subjects where the AP score is taken at face value. My daughter was given validation for stats and another class based on her AP score ( those subjects that did not have validation tests ) but the rest she went for it and took the tests. For Physics and Calc, she had to sit for the first test and if she scored high enough was allowed to take the next level. For Japanese and Chinese (not sure about the other languages), there is just one test and you are given so many years based on your score and sometimes interview or the dept reviews it. (Her score for Chinese was reviewed by the dept and she was given credit)