How to prepare for the French SAT II Subject Test

Who should take it and when?

If you are strong French student who performed well in French 10 or an 11
th
grade
course, you will be an excellent candidate for taking the French SAT II. Only the
strongest students of French 10 should consider taking the test June following 10
th
grade.
The test is also given October and December; October of your senior year is the latest
you can take the test for early decision. There is also a French with Listening test offered
only in November. The regular French SAT involves only reading; the French with
Listening also has an aural component. Make certain to consult with your French
teacher for advice when considering taking the test and for tips about preparation.
What is on the test?
The regular French SAT II is made up of multiple-choice questions covering vocabulary
in context, grammatical structures, and reading comprehension passages. The readings
use contemporary, everyday written French from a variety of sources, including
dialogues, but structures specific to particular regions (i.e Quebec, France, etc.) are not
tested. The French with Listening also includes an audio portion testing listening
comprehension of everyday, spoken standard French following the same guidelines as the
reading. Once again, consult with your teacher for advice about which test to take.
How should I prepare?
1. First, consult the SAT website for further information and practice questions.
Then, take a diagnostic test, which will not only provide a guide for your review,
but will also give you an idea of where your score sits when you begin your
preparation. The best source for your diagnostic is The Official Guide to the SAT
Subject Tests, which provides information on each subject test, along with an
actual test used in a previous year released by the College Board. There is also a
guide on scoring the test; follow this guide to find out your true score. Their
scoring table will also reassure you that you can actually leave quite a few
questions blank and still score quite high. Your French teacher will also be able to
provide you with other practice tests.
2. Using your mistakes on the diagnostic and other practice tests, begin reviewing
French grammar, using your old grammar books as a start. Since vocabulary in
context and reading comprehension are both tested, practice reading various
French sources magazines, newspapers, etc. For further practice, get either SAT
Subject Test French with 3 audio CDs, published by Barrons or Cracking the SAT
French Subject Test from Princeton review. And once again, consult with your
teacher for further resources and advice.