Question of the Week

        "What are the SAT Subject Tests
        and why should I take them?"

The Subject Tests (also known as SAT-II tests) are content-based tests, required or recommended by approximately 30 colleges or universities, usually the most selective in the nation. These highly selective institutions use the scores as another means of evaluating an applicant’s level of academic achievement.  The scores serve as a yardstick, of sorts, against which an admissions officer can measure grades awarded in an imperfect system. An A at one school, for example, may not mean the same as an A at another. The score on a national standardized test helps level the playing field.

The best results on these tests are earned, generally speaking, when the material is most fresh in a student’s mind, which is why students should consider taking the Subject Tests in terminal courses at the completion of the course, usually in May or June.   We think that the best candidates for the Subject Tests are those earning an A-range grade in an honors course, but there are exceptions to this general rule.

Students can “bank” the test scores and use them if/when they need them by exercising an option known as Score Choice.  As a consequence, students can take a Subject Test multiple times, and they needn’t report the scores to colleges, unless, of course, the college requires them.   For instance, a handful of colleges will not permit their applicants to withhold their test results. They insist on seeing all the scores. And just to keep matters interesting, there are some colleges that will accept the ACT with Writing in lieu of the Subject Test requirement. With all of these variations in policy, it is important for students to consult the testing guidelines published on each college’s Web site.

Before electing to take a Subject Test, students should seek the advice of their respective teacher and review the complete test, copies of which can be ordered online from the College Board or purchased at a local bookstore.   

For more information and for free online practice exercises, follow this link to the College Board:

http://sat.collegeboard.com/about-tests/sat-subject-tests

For test dates and deadlines go to:

http://professionals.collegeboard.com/testing/sat-subject/register/test-dates