SAT Subject Test | Benefits of SAT Subject Tests

SAT Subject Test & Benefits of SAT Subject Test

What is the SAT Subject Test??

SAT Subject Test is a part of the SAT program of the College Board, a not-for-profit organization. SAT Subject Tests are an effective way to reflect your entire academics and interests to onboard the well-versed colleges and universities in the US. One million Subject Tests are taken by students around globally each year.

SAT Subject Tests are one-hour exams and they give you a chance to showcase your competency and expertise in the specific subjects. Taking these tests emphasize your keenness on the specific subject so that colleges get to know your competencies well.

SAT Subject Tests are typically categorized into 5 General Subject areas and there's 21 SAT Subject Tests (we’re considering Biology E and Biology M as two separate tests) fall into these 5 General Subject areas. Let us slice and dice the 5 General Subject Areas and the Subject Tests that fall into each category.

Let’s also have a glance at the number of test takers for each SAT Subject Test and their Mean Scores according to 2017.

You can address that the tests based on the core courses (other than languages) – i.e. English Literature, Mathematics, History and Science have attracted the maximum number of students. When it comes to the language tests, most students preferred the non-Listening option.

You can also sense the large variation in the average scores of SAT Subject tests. A higher average score doesn’t indicate that the test is easier. Instead, it is likely to mean that the students who took the tests are quite familiar with those subjects.

Benefits of Taking SAT Subject Tests:

SAT Subject Tests assist you to differentiate yourself in a competitive admission environment by submitting the score of a specific SAT subject test. So even colleges like Stanford’s testing policy also states: “We recommend taking at least two SAT Subject Tests, as such information will assist us in our evaluation process. Applicants, however, who choose not to take SAT Subject Tests will not be able at a disadvantage in the admission process.”

Charles Deacon, former dean of UG admissions at Georgetown, explained about the prominence of SAT Subject Test in an email he sent to Inside Higher Ed: “Georgetown, like Harvard and other selective schools, finds SAT IIs to be quite predictive of academic success at a high school level and we feel that they’re a valuable addition to SAT Is or ACTs. However, we are aware that for a variety of reasons, students may find it difficult to submit these results so we want to make it clear that they can still apply and we will do our best to consider them fairly based upon the information they are able to provide.”

Even the International College Counsellors noted: “Universities used to require or request the submission of three SAT Subject Test scores as part of a complete application for admission. Now at many schools, like Georgetown, the language on the test policy has been changed to strongly recommended.”

So, TestprepKart strongly recommends you to opt for SAT Subject Tests and prepare for it along with SAT General. If you’re aiming to onboard the renowned universities in the United States especially, SAT Subject Test is a mandatory article.  

SAT Preparation Resources: