SAT Subject Tests

SAT Subject Tests are 20 multiple-choice standardized tests given by The College Board on individual subjects, usually taken to improve a student's credentials for admission to colleges in the United States.

Many colleges use the SAT Subject Tests for admission, for course placement, and to advise students about course selection. Some colleges specify the SAT Subject Tests that they require for admission or placement; others allow applicants to choose which tests to take. Students typically choose which tests to take depending upon college entrance requirements for the schools to which they are planning to apply. From their introduction in 1937 until 1994, the SAT Subject Tests were known as Achievement Tests, and until January 2005, they were known as SAT II: Subject Tests; they are still commonly known by these names. Every test is now a one-hour timed test. Historically, the exception to the one-hour time was the writing test, which was divided into a 20-minute essay question and a 40-minute multiple-choice section; the writing test was discontinued in January 2005.

A student may take up to three SAT Subject Tests on any given date at a flat rate; there is a per-administration registration fee, plus a flat fee for each test the student plans to take. Students aren't required to take the same number of tests they signed up for, nor are they required to take the same tests they initially indicated when filling out the registration form (except for language with listening tests).^[1] If one takes more tests than initially paid for, he/she will be billed later for the additional test(s). Students eligible for an SAT fee waiver are allowed to take up to six subject tests in up to two administrations free of charge.^[2]

With the exception of the March test administration, SAT Subject Tests are offered on the same days as the regular SAT Reasoning Test; therefore, students cannot take both the SAT Reasoning Test and Subject Tests on the same day. In addition, not all tests are offered on every test date. Most non-foreign language tests are offered in every administration, but World History and foreign-language tests are only available on certain dates. In particular, the language tests with listening are available only once a year, in November. A calendar of test dates and registration deadlines can be found on The College Board's official website.^[1]

Current tests

There are currently 20 different tests, 12 of which are foreign language. Examinees are required to bring an acceptable calculator to take the Mathematics tests (calculators are not permitted on any other test), and a CD player to take the language with listening tests.^[3][4][5]

Test	Subject	Mean score (2015)[6]	Standard deviation (2015)[6]	Number of Students (2015)[6]	Notes
SAT Subject Test in Literature	Literature	618	107	56,594
SAT Subject Test in United States History	U.S. History	645	102	70,298	Formerly American History and Social Studies
SAT Subject Test in World History	World History	618	106	16,657	Formerly European History and World Cultures
SAT Subject Test in Mathematics Level 1	Mathematics	619	102	65,319	Formerly Math I or IC.Basic algebra and geometry such as Monomials, Polynomials and the Pythagorean theorem are assessed in the beginning of the exam before progressing into basic trigonometry, algebraic functions, elementary statistics and a few miscellaneous topics.[7]
SAT Subject Test in Mathematics Level 2	Mathematics	690	96	144,772	Formerly Math II or IIC. Consists of algebra, geometry, trigonometry, functions, statistics and a few miscellaneous topics.[8]
SAT Subject Test in Biology E/M	Biology	E-625 M-652	105 103	73,280 in total, 31,027 (E) 42,253 (M)	Students have a choice of taking either an ecological ("E") or molecular ("M") biology oriented test.
SAT Subject Test in Chemistry	Chemistry	666	102	73,551
SAT Subject Test in Physics	Physics	667	105	58,921
SAT Subject Test in Chinese with Listening	Chinese	759	66	5,204
SAT Subject Test in French	French	636	122	7,587
SAT Subject Test in French with Listening	French	666	112	1,621
SAT Subject Test in German	German	644	126	706
SAT Subject Test in German with Listening	German	636	129	438
SAT Subject Test in Modern Hebrew	Modern Hebrew	608	144	330
SAT Subject Test in Italian	Italian	695	116	492
SAT Subject Test in Japanese with Listening	Japanese	694	120	1,332
SAT Subject Test in Korean with Listening	Korean	768	56	2,110
SAT Subject Test in Latin	Latin	613	111	2,790
SAT Subject Test in Spanish	Spanish	651	111	19,302
SAT Subject Test in Spanish with Listening	Spanish	665	106	2,982

Previously offered tests

• Writing Subject Test
• English Language Proficiency Test (ELPT)

These were discontinued after January 2005 when the SAT II in Writing was incorporated into the SAT.

Scoring and admissions

Each individual test is scored on a scale of 200 to 800; however, some of the tests are scored on such generous curves that it is impossible to get a 200; for example, if someone gets every question wrong on the Mathematics Level 2 test, he/she might receive a score of 310; it all depends on the version of the test.^[9] The one and only exception was the ELPT, which was scored on a scale of 901 to 999.

Prior to the first administration of the new SAT Reasoning Test (which includes the writing section) in March 2005, some highly selective colleges required applicants to take three SAT Subject Tests, including the writing test and two other tests of the applicant's choosing, in addition to the SAT. However, with writing now a standard component of the SAT Reasoning Test, most selective colleges recommend applicants to submit scores for any two SAT Subject Tests. Engineering schools may recommend or require Chemistry or Physics and Math Level 2.^{[10][11][12][13][14][15]} A handful of the most competitive schools still require three Subject Tests in addition to the three sections of the SAT Reasoning Test, while schools such as Georgetown and Harvard, which earlier required three Subject Tests, now 'strongly recommend' taking three Subject Tests.^[16]

Schools also vary with regard to their SAT Subject Test requirements of students submitting scores for the ACT in place of the SAT: some schools consider the ACT an alternative to both the SAT and some SAT Subject Tests, whereas others accept the ACT but require SAT Subject Tests as well. Information about a school's specific test requirements can typically be found on its official website.

In October 2002, the College Board decided to drop the "Score Choice" option for exams. They figured that it benefited wealthier students taking the exam who could afford to take it multiple times. Score Choice means that scores are not released to colleges until the student approves the score after seeing it.^[17]

As of the March 2009 test, test takers now have the ability to choose whether or not to send scores thus reinstating the "Score Choice" option.^[18]

Answer sheet

The answer sheet has room for 115 answers; however, no test has more than 95 questions. 1–100 are standard multiple-choice bubbles and 101–115 are for 'relationship analysis questions', which are only used for the chemistry exam. The biology test is the only test to use answers 96–100; questions 1–60 are common to both the E and M tests, in addition, the E uses 61–80, and the M uses 81–100.

See also

• College admissions in the United States
• ACT (American College Testing) alternate test

References

1. "U.S. Registration". collegeboard.com.
2. "SAT Fee Waivers". Retrieved 8 June 2015.
3. "Test Day Checklist". Retrieved 8 June 2015.
4. "Calculator Policy". Retrieved 8 June 2015.
5. "CD Player Guidance". Retrieved 8 June 2015.
6. "SAT Subject Tests Percentile Ranks 2015 College-Bound Seniors" (PDF). The College Board. Retrieved 2016-05-09.
7. "Math 1 - SAT Subject Test Math Level 1 Practice Questions". collegeboard.com.
8. "Math 2 - SAT Subject Test Math Level 2 Practice Questions". collegeboard.com.
9. Real SAT Subject Tests
10. "Prospective Freshman FAQ". Berkeley Engineering. University of California – Berkeley. Retrieved 16 October 2013. Engineering applicants are also strongly encouraged to take the SAT Subject Test in Math Level 2 and a SAT Subject Test in science (Biology E.M., Chemistry or Physics) in order to be as competitive as possible.
11. "Freshman Applicants". California Institute of Technology (Caltech). Retrieved 16 October 2013. Testing Requirements: ...SAT Mathematics Level 2; 1 SAT Subject Test: Biology (Ecological), Biology (Molecular), Chemistry, OR Physics
12. "Standardized Test Requirements & Policies". Carnegie Mellon University. Retrieved 16 October 2013. CIT: Carnegie Institute of Technology / Two SAT Subject Tests: Math Level I or II, Physics or Chemistry
13. "Instructions & Preparation". Duke University. Retrieved 16 October 2013. Applicants to the Pratt School of Engineering who take the SAT must take one SAT Subject Test in Mathematics (level 1 or level 2). Applicants to the Trinity College of Arts & Sciences who take the SAT may take any two SAT Subject Tests.
14. "Tests & Scores". Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Retrieved 16 October 2013. In addition, we require two SAT Subject Tests: one in math (level 1 or 2), and one in science (physics, chemistry, or biology e/m). We do not have a preference as to which science you take or which level math you take.
15. "Stanford: FRESHMAN APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS, 2013 – 2014" (PDF). Stanford University. Retrieved 16 October 2013. SAT Subject Tests: ...Recommended but not required
16. Jaschik, Scott (9 August 2010). "Era Ends for 3 Subject Test Requirements". Inside Higher Ed.
17. Schoenfeld, Jane (24 May 2002). "College board drops 'score choice' for SAT-II exams". St. Louis Business Journal.
18. "Score Choice™: SAT Score-Reporting Policy". College Board. 2012.

External links

• College Board's descriptions of the SAT Subject Tests.
• College Board Examination and Test Dates
• SAT Fees