Click on a question below:
1. What are the SAT Subject Tests? aaa
As the name suggests, SAT Subject Tests are content-specific tests tied to particular subject areas. Unlike an A-Level, AP or GCSE Exam, however, they are not tied to a particular curriculum. You should find them broad enough to be accessible, but specific enough that they test your skills in that particular discipline.
Some American Universities include SAT Subject Tests in their admissions requirements. These institutions tend to be very competitive; and they look at applicants from an enormous range of academic backgrounds. The SAT Subject Tests give them a more uniform way of evaluating what students know and can do in particular subject areas. These tests are intended to supplement, not replace, students' school reports, A Level results, recommendations and other information in assessing the students' readiness for college-level work.
You can find out more about the SAT Subject Tests by reading the questions below and looking at the College Board Website. You can find out which Universities require, recommend or merely accept the SAT Subject Tests here.
3. Which Universities use SAT Subject Tests? Which require them? ccc
Roughly 110 Universities use the SAT Subject Tests, while only 40 or so of those Universities require that you take them to apply. Considering there are 3,000 colleges in America, that's a small number; but included in that number are some of the most selective and prestigious schools in the country. It includes all of the Ivy League Schools in America, all of the UC Schools and, among others, MIT, Standford, Duke, McGill (Canada), Boston University and Johns Hopkins.
If you click on this list, you will find a list of Universities that require, recommend or accept the SAT Subject Tests. Click on each Institution's name to be redirected to its admissions policy for International students. Remember, if you live in a country that offers the SAT, ACT or SAT Subject Tests, then the standardized test requirements apply whether you are American or International. So, if University you want to apply to asks that you submit Standardized Test scores, you must take these tests to apply.
4. Do I need to take the SAT Subject Tests? ddd
The admissions requirements at American Universities apply to all prospective Freshman, both American and International. Check our list of Universities that require, recommend or accept SAT Subject Tests; if you are even considering applying to one of the schools on these lists, then you should take the SAT Subject Tests. In general, the more selective the school, the more important the SAT Subject Tests are. At highly competitive Universities, your results on the SAT Subject Tests can carry as much weight as the SAT Reasoning or ACT.
If you are transferring to a US College from another University or if you live in a country which does not administer the SAT, ACT or SAT Subject Tests, then you may not have to submit Standardized Test Scores. If you think that you may be an exception, click your prospective Instituition's name on our Admissions Lists to be redirected to thier Admissions page.
5. What does it mean when a University lists SAT Subject Tests as "required," "recommended" eee
or accepted?
Required: The University will not even consider your application without the required number of SAT Subject Tests.
Recommended: This term can mean different things at different schools and it is a good idea to talk to the University's Admissions Office directly. Ask the University what percentage of last year's accepted Freshmen submitted SAT Subject Scores. In general, the more competitive the University, the more important it is to submit SAT Subject Scores. For example, even though Stanford and Johns Hopkins only "recommend" the SAT Subject Tests, they are extremely competitive institutions and, as a general rule, it would strongly disadvantage you not to submit SAT Subject Tests to these schools.
Accepted: Universities that accept SAT Subject Tests will generally treat them as supplimental information which helps them get to know a candidate better. Some Universitie also use the SAT Subject Tests for credits and advanced placement.
7. Where can I take the SAT Subject Tests? ggg
When you register to take the SAT Subject Tests through the College Board, they will make you aware of the available dates and locations. Do not contact the testing site directly.
There are several testing locations around England, but not evey testing site will offer the SAT on any given testing date. The earlier you register, the more chance you have of getting your first choice testing site.
Below is the list of testing sites currently available:
In and Around London
Marymount International School, London, Surrey, England
ACS Cobham International School, Cobham, Surrey, England
ACS Engham International School, Engham, Surrey, England
The American School in London, London, England
King's College School, Wimbledon, England
Southbank International School, England
Tasis, Thorpe, Surrey, England
Outside London
University of Warwick, Coventry, England
East Durham College, Durham, England
University of Manchester, Manchester, England
Canford School, Wimborne, England
Glen Park School, Devon, England
Gresham's School, Holt, Norfork, England
King William's College, Castletown, England
Victoria College, Channel Islands, England
Radley College, Oxon, England
Highlands College, Jersey, England
East Durham College, Durham, England
Millfield School, Millfield, England
Tasis, Thorpe, Surrey, England
ACS Hillingdon International School, Hillingdon, Middlesex, England
University of Leeds, Leeds, Yorkshire, England
8. When should I take the SAT Subject Tests? hhh
This is a complicated question to answer. Here is a list of SAT Subject Test dates available this year:
October 10th 2009
November 7th 2009
December 5th 2009
May 7th 2010
June 5th 2010
American System - If you are going through the American system of education, then the May or June date of your Junior year is probably best for you. If you are taking an AP in your chosen subject then the May date will be two or three weeks before your AP exam and the June date will be two or three weeks after your exam. Talk to your teacher to see what they recommend.
British System - If you are in the British system, then it depends on whether you are taking AS/A Levels in the subjects that you choose. If you are taking AS/A Levels in your chosen subjects, we would generally recommend the May or June date of your Lower Sixth Year. The May date of your Lower Sixth Year will be right around the time that you are taking your AS/A Levels. Check your Exam Board's AS/A Level calendar carefully to avoid dates that conflict. The June date will be a few weeks after your AS/A Level exams, which could be beneficial - if you think you will be motivated to review the material during that time.
We would usually recommend taking SAT Subject Tests in those disciplines that you are studying for AS/A Level Subjects. The material on the SAT Subject tests can be more demanding than British GCSE curriculum. If you are not taking AS/A Levels in your chosen subjects, then we would recommend taking the exam in May or June of your GCSE year, while the material is still fresh in your mind. Earlier in the year may not give you enough time to develop your knowledge in that subject-area. Waiting until Autumn may mean that you forget a lot of material. We can provide practice tests if you want to see whether you are ready to take the SAT Subject Exams in your GCSE Year.
Some students prefer to take the exam in November or December of their AS Level year, to get the exams out of the way before the stress of their British Exam period. Another advantage to this approach is that it leaves you time to retake the SAT Subject Exams if they go badly. We strongly recommend taking practice tests to ensure that you are ready if you think that this timetable might be right for you.
Plan ahead. You cannot take your SAT Reasoning Test on the same day that you take your SAT Subject Tests and you need to leave room to take all the necessary tests before your application deadlines. You can take up to three SAT Subject Tests on any one day. Most Universities ask that you submit your SAT Reasoning and SAT Subject Test scores by December of the year in which you apply. Some Universities set an earlier deadline for international students; those Universities usually require that you submit your scores by November of the year in which you apply.
Register early. There are several testing dates available throughout the year and you can register for any test date online at the College Board's website. Each test date has a registration deadline associated; and test takers living outside of the United States are not permitted to register after these deadlines. In addition, availability at the different test sites frequently fills up long before these registration deadlines. For these reasons, we strongly recommend that you register to take your SAT as soon as you have decided on an appropriate preparation schedule.
9. How many SAT Subject Tests should I take? iii
Universities that use SAT Subject Tests usually require or recommend that you submit a minimum of two tests. Only Harvard and Georgetown require three SAT Subject tests; while only Johns Hopkins and Northwestern recommend three. (See our Admissions List.) There are many more Universities, however, where it would be helpful to demonstrate a wide range of academic ability using the SAT Subject Tests. If you are able to achieve high scores in more than two tests, and its not going to cost you weeks of study or undue stress, we would recommend doing so. Universities will give the most weight to your highest scores and some Universities only look at your 2 best scores. In the latter situation, taking a third test or re-taking tests can only help you.
10. Which subjects should I take? jjj
Most Universities allow you to take whichever subjects that you choose. Some have specific requirements for different programs. For example, a lot of engineering programs require Math 2. Some colleges, like the UC colleges, have specific requirements to make sure that you show range. Use our Admissions Lists to check the requirements of the Universities that you are applying to. You should make sure that the SAT Subject Tests that you choose meet the requirements at your prospective colleges. Then, use your academic grades, practice tests and instincts to determine where you think you'll get the highest results. Remember, if you submit more tests than are minimally required, your University will give your highest scores the most weight.
11. How many times can I take each subject Test? kkk
You can take the SAT Subject Tests more than once, and colleges do not look negatively on doing this. The College Board allows a "score choice" option on the SAT Subject Tests, so - as long as the college permits it - you can choose which results to send in and which to omit. This applies to re-takes and to tests taken on the same day. By preparing with Ivy Exam Prep and by taking practice tests, however, you should be able to avoid the hassle and cost of having to retake SAT Subject Tests.
12. Can I take SAT Subject Tests on the same day as the SAT Reasoning Exam? lll
No. You can take up to three SAT Subject tests on any one day, but you cannot take the SAT Reasoning on the same day as a SAT Subject Test. The testing dates throughout the year are the same for the SAT Reasoning and the SAT Subject Tests, so make sure to plan ahead.
13. Can I take more than one SAT Subject Test on the same day? mmm
Yes. You can take up to three SAT Subject Tests on any given testing-date, but you cannot take the SAT Reasoning exam on the same day as a SAT Subject Test. You can decide on the order in which you would like to take the tests on the testing-date. You can also change your mind about which subjects you would like to take on the testing-date itself. The exception to this is the Language with Listening tests, which must be taken first and booked in advance.
14. How do I know whether to take Math1 or Math2?nnn
Mathematics 2 covers more advanced material than Mathematics 1. Some universities, such as MIT, Cal Tech and the UC schools require Mathematics 2. A lot of engineering programs also require that their applicants take Mathematics 2. Mathematics 1 is still highly respected. If Mathematics 1 meets your program's requirements and if you feel that you will score significantly higher on Mathematics 1 then it is advisable to take Mathematics 1.
If you are confident using a graphing calculator, caluculating advanced trigonometry and using logarithmic and exponential functions then Mathematics 2 might be for you. In general, the demands of AS Level Mathematics should match up to those of the SAT Mathematics 2, but this could vary depending on the modules that you have taken. If you are taking AS Further Mathematics, you should confidently be able to approach SAT Mathematics 2. Another way to answer more confidently is to take a practice test or to show your math teacher a practice test and ask their advice.
The College Board provides a lot of help in answering this question: http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/sat/about/SATII/FAQ.html#quest12
15. Why don't you offer Online Courses for SAT Subject Tests? ooo
For those students who live outside of London or who attend Boarding school, we are able to tutor SAT Subject Tests over Skype. We have not recorded downloadable audio files for our SAT-Subject Test syllabi because the needs of each student will vary considerably depending on their academic backgrounds and on the GCSE's and AS Levels that they are taking. We aim to tailor our tuition to our students and like the chance to review their academic learning before proceeding with SAT Subject Tuition. Please see a description of our services or a list of Frequently Asked Questions about our services for more information.
16. Why is my percentile score lower than I expected on my practice tests? ppp
Almost all students who apply to American Colleges take the SAT Reasoning test, while far fewer people choose to take each individual SAT Subject Test. Naturally, people choose to take SAT Subject Tests in their strongest subjects. So, while numerically, the SAT Subject Tests are scored on the same 200-800 scale as the SAT, when that numeric score is translated to a percentile score, it comes out lower. For example, you might score a 700 on your Chemistry exam, but because your score is being compared to a group of skilled Chemists, many of whom also scored 700, your percentile score could still be lower than you expected.
Fortunately it is your scaled score that is important, not your percentile. As a rule of thumb, your Subject Test scores should be similar to your SAT scores. So if you are scoring 630CR, 600M and 630W, you should be happy with a score in the mid-600's. If you are scoring in the 700's on your SAT Reasoning modules, this same score would be disapointing. For peace of mind, you can also check the median SAT score for accepted students at your prospective college; this will give you an idea of what to aim for on your SAT Subject Tests.
17. My first language isn't English. Should I take the SAT language tests in my native qqq
language?
If you can produce a good score in your native language, then it is valuable to do so. Admissions officers consider written communication skills to be very important, no matter what the language. Afterall, the admissions officers look closely at SAT and ACT Writing tests, and these exams test applicants' mastery of English, don't they?
