“Should I Take SAT Subject Tests?”
Last Updated on January 19, 2021 by Jill Schwitzgebel
“Should I take SAT subject tests?” is a common question – among students that have actually heard of the SAT subject tests. As with so many college admission topics, the answer to this question is, “It depends.” At many high schools, guidance counselors don’t even mention these to students, which can put some strong students at a big disadvantage at application time.
Here is all you need to know to make a decision about whether the soon-to-be college applicant in your household needs to take these.
What are the SAT subject tests?
These are essentially SATs for specific subject areas. Sometimes, they are referred to as the SAT II tests. The College Board offers twenty different subjects in five areas: English, Math, Science, History and Languages. They are each an hour long and are multiple choice. Typically, they are offered on the same days that the College Board is offering the regular SAT, although there are fewer test dates available for the subject tests.
Who requires these tests?
Generally speaking, these tests are only required (or recommended…more on that later) by elite colleges. So, let’s say that very roughly all of the schools that are listed in the top 25 of national and liberal arts college ranking lists like to see these test scores. Some colleges and departments within the University of California system require them too. You need to check every college’s admissions or applications page for their testing recommendations and requirements.
There are plenty of schools outside of that elite college list that will at least consider the SAT Subject tests as part of the admissions process. Frequently, liberal arts colleges will consider them. Most public universities, outside of the most elite ranks, do not consider them as an admissions factor.
Are they required or just recommended?
It depends on the schools. Here are some ways that the tests are listed on college websites:
- Required – This is self-explanatory. The student must take and submit these scores to be considered for admission.
- Recommended – This is where it is confusing. Often a college will claim that they do not require the tests and that they are only “recommended.” But the reality is that they are really required for most students. Students that come from lower socioeconomic circumstances that may have difficulty paying for the tests, or who may have attended a high school where many students do not go on to a four-year colleges may be okay if they do not submit the tests. If that does not apply to your student, then I believe the top tier schools expect to see the subject tests as part of their application materials.
- Considered – It genuinely will not hurt your student if they do not submit the tests. If they took them and scored well, then absolutely go ahead and submit. However, if their scores were questionable, especially as compared to the rest of their application, it’s better to omit them.
At some schools, taking the foreign language subject test may help for placement in college foreign language.
When should students take these tests?
I strongly recommend that students take these tests at the end of the year that they have had the subject in school. It’s even more helpful if they have had the Advanced Placement classes in the subject area that year. This may mean taking the Biology subject test at the end of sophomore year, if that’s when the student has had AP Biology, for instance. Although the Advanced Placement test and the subject area test will be different, the material will still be fresh in the student’s mind. The difficult thing is that many times when students are sophomores, families are not sure what schools their students will be targeting for admission. It’s not too soon to begin giving that list some serious thought though, based on your student’s past performance.
For the math tests, students should consider taking them right after they have had Precalculus, or early on in their Calculus class.
Which tests should students take?
Again, this is highly dependent on what college and what major your student is applying for. If your student is applying for a degree in a STEM field, the college is likely going to want to see at least one science subject test and one math subject test. At elite schools, colleges will want students to submit the Math II subject test. Even for applicants in STEM fields, top tier schools may also want to see a test in history or English too.
For applicants applying to majors in other fields outside of STEM, they can often skip the math test. But colleges often prefer to see both a science subject test along with English or history or foreign language.
The bottom line is, be certain to check the individual college websites for their exact requirements. It is usually difficult for a student to try to take the subject test in the fall of their senior year, when they had the class in that subject two years ago. This is why I’m an advocate for planning ahead for college admissions.
