About the SAT Subject Tests

What are the SAT Subject Tests?

The College Board’s SAT Subject Tests are 60-minute exams, each covering a single subject taught in standard high school curricula (e.g., Biology, U.S. History, English Lit, etc.). Far from covering the entirety of their subjects, however, each SAT Subject Test tests a short list of very specific concepts in the exact same way each time it is given. The key to doing well on SAT Subject Tests is learning what those concepts are and exactly how they are tested.

How Colleges use SAT Subject Tests

Some colleges do not require SAT Subject Tests, but most competitive schools today require at least two and many require applicants to take up to three SAT Subject Tests. Colleges value SAT Subject Tests because they provide a standardized measure of your mastery in key academic areas that you have studied in high school. Some colleges allow you to take any SAT Subject Tests, but many ask that you take specific exams, such as one of the Math Subject Tests.