SAT Subject Tests (Formerly SAT II)

Introduction

The SAT Subject is primarily a multiple-choice test in specific subjects, such as English, history, social sciences, mathematics and others.  The SAT  Subject focuses in measuring a student's knowledge and skill in a particular subject or discipline. Many selective schools require students to take at least one if not more SAT Subject Tests as part of their college admission process.

Why Take SAT Subject Tests?

Like the SAT I, the SAT Subject Tests provide schools with a standard measure of academic performance and scores are used for college admissions and placement decisions.  SAT subject scores are also used by educational institutions toward -

• Determining how well student's are prepared for different college programs;

• Placing student's in freshman or higher-level course work, depending on their subject test performance;

• Advising student’s on course selection;

• Deciding whether student’s have the academic ability to handle their curriculum.

(Suggested Read: 5 Tips for Acing the SAT)

Difference between SAT and SAT Subject Tests

The SAT is a reasoning test which measures an applicant's basic ability in reading, writing and math.  While the SAT Subject Test measures an applicant's ability in a specific subject like history or social sciences. Most colleges require both, but there are some schools that require only the SAT.  

SAT Subject Tests is the only national admission exam that measures a student's knowledge and skill in particular subject areas, and their ability to apply that knowledge. The SAT Subject Tests provide high school students an additional opportunity to distinguish themselves and showcase their skills in a particular subject area.

Which Subject Tests to Take?

There are 20 Subject Tests across five general subject areas: history, mathematics, science, English and foreign languages. The SAT Subject Tests that students take should be based on their interests and academic strengths. Also, students should find out whether the colleges they are interested in require or recommend specific Subject Tests. Some colleges engage in granting a credit for a freshman course requirement if the student does well on a particular SAT Subject Test.

Test Structure

There are 20 SAT Subject Tests in five general subject areas: English, history, languages, mathematics and science. All Subject Tests consist of multiple-choice questions, but some have unique features and formats.  The types of questions change slightly from year to year. Each subject test lasts one hour.  The SAT Subject Tests are offered six times a year in the United States and at International sites.  Students can take one, two, or three tests on a single test date.

Focus Areas	Coverage	Number of Questions
English Literature	Six to eight prose and poetry reading passage	60 Questions
U.S. History	Questions spanning the pre-Columbian times to the present politics, economics, social, cultural history, and foreign policies	90 Multiple Choice
World History	Covers politics, economics, social, cultural history, and foreign policies.	95 Multiple Choice
Mathematics	Topics include algebra, geometry, trigonometry, statistics/probability and miscellaneous areas.	60 Multiple Choice
Chemistry	Topics include structure and state of matter, stoichiometry, equilibrium, reaction rates, reaction types, thermodynamics and descriptive chemistry	85 Multiple Choice
Biology E/M	Covers cellular and molecular biology, ecology, classical genetics, organismal biology, evolution and diversity.	80 Multiple Choice
Physics	Topics include mechanics, electricity, magnetism, heat, kinetic theory, thermodynamics and modern physics.	75 Multiple Choice
French	Listening questions based on pictures, dialogues and monologues. The reading section covers vocabulary, grammar, sentence structure and reading comprehension.	85 Multiple Choice
German	Listening questions based on pictures, dialogues and monologues. The reading section covers vocabulary, grammar, sentence structure and reading comprehension.	85 Multiple Choice
Italian	Vocabulary, grammar, sentence structure, familiarity with appropriate usage of idioms/ phrases and reading comprehension.	85 Questions
Spanish	Listening questions based on pictures and short conversations. The reading section covers vocabulary, grammar, sentence structure, familiarity with appropriate usage of idioms and phrases and reading comprehension.	85 Questions
Chinese	Listening comprehension, reading comprehension,  sentence completion, familiarity with appropriate usage of idioms and phrases.	95 Questions
Korean	Listening comprehension, reading comprehension,  sentence completion, familiarity with appropriate usage of idioms and phrases.	80 Multiple Choice
Modern Hebrew	Focused on vocabulary, grammar, sentence structure, language pattern and reading comprehension.	85 Multiple Choice
Latin	Focused on vocabulary, grammar, sentence completion, translation and reading comprehension.	70-75 Multiple Choice
Japanese	Listening comprehension, reading comprehension,  sentence completion, familiarity with appropriate usage of idioms and phrases.	80 Multiple Choice

Tips to Prepare

SAT Subject Tests are based on high school–subject course work, the best way to prepare for them is by learning the material taught in the corresponding classes and using the textbooks that students already use for those classes. Additionally, students should visit the official SAT website to get familiar with the test format and take practice questions and tests for better gauging their strengths and weaknesses. Practice booklets and tools are available online to help students prepare for SAT Subject Tests.

Score

All SAT Subject Tests are scored on a scale of 200 to 800.  The  only exception is the English Language Proficiency Test, which is scored on a scale of 901 to 999. Tests that do not involve written responses are graded by a computer. The computer simply adds up the number of questions answered correctly, and also subtracts one-quarter of the number of questions answered incorrectly (it doesn't count questions skipped). This determines the raw test score, which is then converted to a scaled score.

The official score report is provided to  the applicants and their high school about five weeks after the test. Students who register online and wish to receive a paper score report by mail in addition to the online score report can request it when they register.
 

Registration

The quickest and easiest way to register is online. Students can visit the official SAT website and -

• Choose their test date and test center in real time;

• Receive immediate registration confirmation;

• Get 24-hour access to registration for printing or correcting their admission ticket.

 Students can also register by mail. Please visit the official SAT website to get additional details.

Fees

SAT Subject Tests:

Base Fee: $23
+ Language with Listening Test: $23 (per test)
+ All Other Subject Tests: $12 (per test)

Additional fees incur for late registration, late fee payment and changing test date, location or center. Also, for international students there is an additional processing fee of $31. For more details please visit the SAT official website.

Test Dates & Deadlines

Test	Test Dates	Registration Deadline
SAT & Subject Tests	November 07, 2015	October 09, 2015
SAT & Subject Tests	December  05, 2015	November 05, 2015
SAT & Subject Tests	January  23, 2016	December 26, 2015
SAT & Subject Tests	March 05, 2016	February 05, 2016
SAT & Subject Tests	May 07, 2016	April  08, 2016