SAT Subjects Offered on the SAT Subject Tests
Important Note
In January 2021, the College Board announced that they will no longer be offering SAT Subject Tests in the US. International students will have two more opportunities to take the tests in May and June 2021, after which the tests will be completely phased out.
What are the SAT Subject Tests?
The SAT Subject Tests are content-based exams that measure a student's knowledge and abilities in specific subject areas. These multiple-choice tests, which are administered by the College Board, are each one hour in length. Students take the Subject Tests as part of the college application process. Depending on the school, colleges may use the test scores for admission or placement purposes.
Students earn one point for each correct answer, lose a fraction of a point for each incorrect answer, and neither lose nor gain points for omitted questions. A student's raw score, which is based on the number of points earned and lost, is converted to a scaled score that ranges between 200 and 800, with 800 being the highest possible score. For more information about how the SAT Subject Tests are scored, visit the Scores section of the College Board website.
Most of the SAT Subject Tests are offered six times a year, in January, May, June, October, November, and December, on the dates when the SAT is offered. However, there are some exceptions, so you should check the College Board website for details regarding availability. Students can take up to three Subject Tests on a single test date.
Which SAT Subject Tests are available?
The College Board offers twenty different Subject Tests in five subject areas-mathematics, science, English, history, and foreign languages.
Mathematics
Science
Math Level 1
Biology E/M
Math Level 2
Chemistry
Physics
English
History
Literature
U.S. History
World History
Foreign Languages
Chinese with Listening
Italian
French
Japanese with Listening
French with Listening
Korean with Listening
German
Latin
German with Listening
Spanish
Modern Hebrew
Spanish with Listening
To learn more about the format and content of each Subject Test, read the College Board's Getting Ready for the SAT Subject Tests document.
When should my child take the SAT Subject Tests?
For a number of reasons, it may benefit your child to take one or more SAT Subject Tests at the end of sophomore year. Here are two questions to consider when making this decision:
Is your child currently taking courses for which SAT Subject Tests are offered?
If the answer is yes, StudyPoint suggests that your child take the Subject Tests for those subjects. The best time for students to take the Subject Tests is right after they have studied the relevant material in their courses, because the concepts and skills will be fresh in their minds.
There are, however, a few exceptions. Because 3-4 years of study are recommended before students take the literature, mathematics, or foreign language Subject Tests, we suggest that students wait until their junior or senior year to take these Subject Tests. Keep in mind that because the College Board's Score Choice policy applies to the SAT Subject Tests, your child will be able to select (in accordance with a college's score-use policy) the Subject Test scores he or she would like to send to colleges. Visit the College Board website to learn more about score reporting and Score Choice.
How is your child performing in these courses?
If your child is performing well in his or her courses for which Subject Tests are offered, that's all the more reason to consider taking those Subject Tests at the end of sophomore year. The Subject Tests serve as opportunities for students to highlight their skills, abilities, and interests in specific academic areas. Performing well on the Subject Tests can strengthen a student's application and differentiate him or her from other applicants. Additionally, if your child takes one or more Subject Tests during sophomore year, then he or she will have fewer standardized tests to take during junior and senior year, which will help to alleviate some of the stress and pressure associated with the last two years of high school. If your child is struggling in one or more of these courses, however, it is probably in his or her best interest not to take that particular Subject Test.
If you have questions about the SAT Subject Tests, please feel free to reach out to a member of our team at 1-87STUDYPOINT (1-877-883-9764). We're happy to answer your questions and to help you determine if sophomore year is the right time for your child to take the Subject Tests.
<script type="application/ld+json">
{
"@context": "https://schema.org",
"@type": "FAQPage",
"mainEntity": [
{ "@type": "Question", "name": "What are the SAT Subject Tests?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "The SAT Subject Tests are content-based exams that measure a student's knowledge and abilities in specific subject areas. These multiple-choice tests, administered by the College Board, are each one hour in length and are used by colleges for admission or placement purposes. Scores range from 200 to 800." }},{ "@type": "Question", "name": "Are SAT Subject Tests still offered?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "As of January 2021, the College Board announced that SAT Subject Tests are no longer offered in the US. International students had two more opportunities to take the tests in May and June 2021, after which the tests were completely phased out." }},{ "@type": "Question", "name": "Which SAT Subject Tests were available?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "The College Board offered twenty different Subject Tests in five subject areas: mathematics (Math Level 1, Math Level 2), science (Biology E/M, Chemistry, Physics), English (Literature), history (U.S. History, World History), and foreign languages (Chinese with Listening, French, French with Listening, German, German with Listening, Modern Hebrew, Italian, Japanese with Listening, Korean with Listening, Latin, Spanish, Spanish with Listening)." }},{ "@type": "Question", "name": "When should students take the SAT Subject Tests?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "It is recommended that students take SAT Subject Tests at the end of the academic year in which they have studied the relevant material. For literature, mathematics, or foreign language Subject Tests, 3-4 years of study are recommended, so students may wait until junior or senior year. Taking the tests soon after completing the coursework ensures the material is fresh in their minds." }},{ "@type": "Question", "name": "How are SAT Subject Tests scored?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Students earn one point for each correct answer, lose a fraction of a point for each incorrect answer, and neither lose nor gain points for omitted questions. The raw score is converted to a scaled score ranging from 200 to 800." }},{ "@type": "Question", "name": "How many SAT Subject Tests could a student take on a single test date?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Students could take up to three SAT Subject Tests on a single test date." }},{ "@type": "Question", "name": "What should students consider before taking SAT Subject Tests?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Students should consider whether they are currently taking courses for which Subject Tests are offered and how well they are performing in those courses. Performing well can strengthen a college application, while struggling in a subject may be a reason to postpone or skip that test." }}]
}
</script>
About the authors
