Why should I take the Subject Tests?

Your high school record - information like grades and course selection - is the best single indicator of how well you will do in college. But course content and grading standards vary widely among high schools, making it difficult for colleges to compare the academic records of their applicants. The Subject Tests give colleges a more objective way to evaluate what students know and can do in particular subject areas. These tests are intended to supplement, not replace, students' high school records and other information in assessing the students' readiness for college-level work.

When should I take the Subject Tests?

Students are advised to take some Subject Tests (for example, Biology E/M and United States History) as soon as they complete a course of study in that subject, while the material is still fresh in their minds. Other Subject Tests, such as languages, require several years of study in the subject.

How fair are the Subject Tests?

Meticulous care goes into developing and evaluating each test. Test developers write the questions for the Subject Tests, incorporating questions submitted by high school and college teachers from around the country. A test committee made up of high school and college faculty reviews each test before it is administered. To ensure that the Subject Tests are valid measures of the skills and knowledge specified for the tests, as well as fair to all students, the SAT Program maintains rigorous standards for administering and scoring the tests and reporting test scores.

How difficult are the Subject Tests?

The data show that the material on the Subject Tests and the time limits allocated to each test are appropriately difficult for the intended test-taking population. Each Subject Test is designed to cover a wide range of knowledge, skills, and subject matter. Students should not expect to answer all the questions on the tests, as they are not expected to know and recognize everything covered in these tests. Typically, students answer only about half the questions correctly.

How reliable are the Subject Tests?

The data show that the Subject Tests are highly reliable. Students who take a test more than once tend to earn similar scores each time they test, unless they have learned more about the subject in the meantime. There are detailed explanations of reliability rates for specific Subject Tests.

If a college I'm applying to does not require Subject Tests for admissions purposes, should I still take the tests?

Many colleges still consider Subject Test scores in the admissions process, even if they do not require the tests. You can show your thorough knowledge of a certain subject, as well as your academic interest and determination to succeed, by taking the Subject Tests. In addition to facilitating college admissions, the Subject Tests can help you while you are in high school. A student who does well on a particular Subject Test may wish to take an honors or AP course in that subject.

How many years should I study a language before taking a Language Subject Test?

Language Subject Tests are intended for students who have studied the language for at least two years in high school. Generally, the more years of study you have, the better your language test score is likely to be.

How do I decide whether to take a Language Subject Test as a reading test or a listening test?

You should take the test that best suits your type of preparation. There is no difference in difficulty between the two tests. However, the tests with listening can provide a more complete picture of a student's skills. For this reason, colleges may prefer the listening test to the reading-only test for placement purposes. If you are taking the test for admission purposes, college deadlines for submitting applications may determine the choice of test.

What do the Language Test subscores measure?

Subscores reflect a student's knowledge of a specific language skill. For example, reading subscores measure understanding of main or supporting ideas within a passage.

Do Language Subject Test average scores include the scores of native speakers of the language?

Native speaker scores are grouped with those of students who have had less exposure to the language. This means that even students with high grades in language courses may not score as high as native speakers do. However, college admission staff know that native speakers are included in the percentile rankings and take that into account when they review scores.

How do I decide whether to take Biology E or Biology M?

The College Board offers two, one-hour Subject Tests in Biology: Biology E (Ecological) and Biology M (Molecular). If you're trying to decide which Subject Test in Biology to take, look at the biology curriculum from your school.

If your course has an ecological slant, focusing on biomes and populations and organisms' adaptations to their habitats, you may want to take the E test.

If your course focuses more intensely on DNA, viruses, perhaps genetic engineering, you may want to take the M test.

If you had a general survey course that gave equal emphasis to both areas, you're probably well prepared for either version of the test, so take the one with which you feel most comfortable. (If you've done independent research or a science fair project in one of the two areas, for instance, this might enter into your decision.)

The tests have the same core and are constructed to be of equal difficulty; they just emphasize different areas in the 20-question special sections. Both the E and the M test cover laboratory material, and both feature evolution as an organizing principle.

You should look at the sample questions in the Subject Tests Preparation Center or in the SAT Subject Tests Preparation Booklet to see whether you are most comfortable with the ecological emphasis of Biology E or the molecular emphasis of Biology M. You should also consult with your biology teacher.

How do I decide whether to take Mathematics Level 1 or Mathematics Level 2?

Both are one-hour tests with 50 multiple-choice questions. However, the content differs considerably.

Mathematics Level 1 is designed for students who have taken three years of college-preparatory mathematics, including two years of algebra and one year of geometry.

Mathematics Level 2 is designed for students who have taken more than three years of college-preparatory mathematics: two years of algebra, one year of geometry, and elementary functions (precalculus) and/or trigonometry. If you have had preparation in trigonometry and elementary functions, have attained grades of B or better in these courses, and know when and how to use a scientific or graphing calculator, you should select Mathematics Level 2.

If you're trying to decide which SAT Subject Test in Mathematics to take, ask yourself these questions:
Are you comfortable using a scientific or graphing calculator to help solve math problems?

It's not necessary to use a calculator to solve every question on the tests, but it's important to know when and how to use one. For the Mathematics Level 1 Subject Test, a calculator may be useful, necessary, or advantageous for about 40 percent of the questions. For the Level 2 Subject Test, a calculator may be useful, necessary, or advantageous for about 60 percent of the questions.

Keep in mind that if you take either the Level 1 Test or Level 2 Test without a scientific or graphing calculator, you will be at a disadvantage.

If you're comfortable with both a scientific and graphing calculator, you should bring a graphing calculator. A graphing calculator may provide an advantage over a scientific calculator on some questions. The majority of students bring a graphing calculator to the SAT Subjects Test in Math. In fact, these tests will be developed with the expectation that most students are using graphing calculators.
How much trigonometry do you know?

If you've studied trigonometry and are familiar with the properties and graphs of trigonometric functions, inverse trigonometric functions, the laws of sines and cosines, trigonometric identities and can solve trigonometric equations, you're probably ready for the Mathematics Level 2 Subject Test.

If your knowledge of trigonometry is limited to right triangle trigonometry (sine, cosine, and tangent) and the basic trigonometric identities, you should take the Level 1 Test.
What kinds of functions have you learned about?

If you're familiar with algebraic as well as logarithmic and exponential functions and their graphs, and are also familiar with inverse functions, you're probably ready for the Mathematics Level 2 Subject Test.

If you're not familiar with exponential or logarithmic functions, but have studied the basic properties of algebraic (including polynomial and rational) functions, including evaluation and composition, you should take the Mathematics Level 1 Subject Test.
How much geometry do you know?

Twenty percent of the questions on the Mathematics Level 1 Subject Test involve plane geometry, including the properties of lines, triangles, quadrilaterals, circles and other polygons. The test includes questions on the Pythagorean Theorem and other basic theorems, but does not include questions involving formal proofs. 18 percent of the questions are from coordinate and three-dimensional geometry.

The Mathematics Level 2 Subject Test does not have questions specifically on plane geometry, but the concepts learned in plane geometry are applied in the questions on coordinate and three-dimensional geometry. 20 percent of the questions on the Mathematics Level 2 Subject Test are from coordinate and three-dimensional geometry.

If you're very comfortable with plane geometry and have not had much preparation in trigonometry or functions, you should choose the Mathematics Level 1 Subject Test.

If you've had preparation in trigonometry and functions, you should choose the Mathematics Level 2 Subject Test, even if you have a strong knowledge of plane geometry.

Can I take the Subject Test in Writing?

The final Subject Test in Writing was administered January 22, 2005.

The SAT Reasoning Test now contains a writing section, so all students will be evaluated on writing skills when they take the SAT.

Can I use fee waivers for Subject Tests?

Fee waivers are available to high school juniors and seniors who cannot afford the test fee. Students receive fee waivers through their school counselors. You may use up to two fee waivers to register for the SAT and up to two fee waivers to register for SAT Subject Tests (you can register for up to three Subject Tests per administration). Fee waivers are not permitted with late registrations except for the October test. Read more about Fee Waivers.