SAT Subject Tests

Colleges use the SAT Subject Tests for admission, course placement, and to counsel students on course selection. When they are used in combination with other background information, such as your high school record, scores from other tests like the SAT Reasoning Test, teacher recommendations, etc, these scores present a fairly reliable picture of a student’s academic achievement. Hence they are considered a good predictor of future performance.

The SAT Subject Tests are intended to confirm students’ mastery of specific subjects such as English, history, mathematics, science, and language. These are autonomous tests, not under the curricula of any textbook or method of instruction. They are modified from time to time, to reflect present trends in high school studies. Other than that, the sort of questions asked varies very little from year to year. Certain institutions stipulate the Subject Tests they want for admissions or placements. Others allow applicants to select which tests to take. However, by and large, the Subject Tests fall into five general subject areas, as follows:

English
Literature

History and Social Studies
U.S. History (formerly American History and Social Studies)
World History

Mathematics
Mathematics Level 1 (formerly Mathematics IC)
Mathematics Level 2 (formerly Mathematics IIC)

Science
Biology E/M
Chemistry
Physics

Languages
Chinese with Listening
French
French with Listening
German
German with Listening
Spanish
Spanish with Listening
Modern Hebrew
Italian
Latin
Japanese with Listening
Korean with Listening
 
Before deciding which tests to take, it is better to make a list of the colleges you're considering. Then review school catalogs, College Search Engines, or College Handbooks to know whether the institutions necessitate these scores for admissions, make the most of your list of institutions and their admission requirements. They will help you work out your high school course schedule. You may also wish to alter your schedule keeping in line with colleges' requirements. For example, many colleges that don't require Subject Test scores will still review them since they offer a better picture of a student’s academic background. If you're not sure which Subject Test to take from a subject area, speak to a school counselor.

The majority of students tend to take Subject Tests toward the end of their junior year or at the beginning of their senior year. We suggest you take tests as soon as possible after completing the course in the subject, while the material is still fresh in your mind. In the case of foreign language tests, you will require at least two years of learning.