SAT Subject Tests are a required part of the admissions process at approximately 160 U.S. Colleges and Universities.
While the SAT is largely a test of verbal and math skills and is designed to measure how well you read and think, the SAT Subject Tests are designed to measure what you know about specific disciplines. Critical reading and thinking skills still play a part, but the main purpose of the SAT Subject Tests is to determine exactly what you know about math, history, chemistry, and so on.
Schools use your scores to help make admissions decisions. Like the SAT, the SAT Subject Tests provide schools with a standard measure of academic performance, which they can use to compare you to other applicants and whether you have the academic ability to handle their curriculum.
Scores may also be used to decide what course of study is appropriate for you once you've been admitted. A low score on the Math Level I test, for example, may require you to take a remedial Math course; Conversely, a high score on the Chemistry test may exempt you from an introductory science course.
Which SAT Subject Tests Should I Take?
The simple answer: take the ones that you'll do well on. High scores, after all, can only help your chances for admission. Unfortunately, many colleges demand that you take particular tests (usually one of the math tests). Some schools give you some choice in the matter, especially if they want you to take a total of three subject tests. Before you register for any test, check with the colleges in which you're interested to determine exactly which test(s) they require. This will save time in the long run.
Available SAT Subject Tests include:
U.S. History
Biology
Chemistry
Chinese with Listening
French
French with Listening
German
German with Listening
Italian
Japanese with Listening
Latin
English Literature
Math Level I
Math Level II
Modern Hebrew
Physics
Spanish
Spanish with Listening
World History
Please visit www.collegeboard.com for a full list of which subject tests are available on which test dates.
