College Board: On The Subject of Subject Tests
Joe Rogers
April 30, 2009
Filed under News, The College Board, Top Stories
Competition for college admission is heating up, and students are scrambling for ways to get the upper hand on the floods of applicants. But how? The SAT is a measure of overall logic, and the ACT is a general test of—everything! For all linguist geniuses and history buffs, there isn’t much of a chance to demonstrate their strength in the areas they want to pursue, besides the SAT Subject Tests.
The Subject Tests include various exams that evaluate a student’s prowess in a number of areas. From Hebrew to Biology, the wide variety of tests enables the student to pick and choose based on interest and strength. The comprehensive list of the seventeen (not including foreign language with listening) possibilities that are included in the SAT II can be found at http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/sat/about/SATII.html.
But these tests do not simply put a nice shine on transcripts.
Many colleges range in opinion regarding the Subject Tests; Ivy Leagues require a minimum of two, and other top colleges around the nation place a heavy consideration on scores, if it’s not mandatory. Research a potential school and find out where that university stands on the SAT II in comparison to the ACT. Some colleges find them interchangeable, yet other admission offices ask specifically for the Subject Tests, if they do not already designate particular Tests based on major choice and other factors.
It is recommended to take the Subject Tests late Junior year or early Senior year to be on schedule for the application calendars for the five or so chosen colleges left on the list of potential schools, which should be developed at this time during the college search.
The SAT II has many benefits, but it’s important to balance out the remaining time before making a final decision based on requirements and building a solid resume. If it takes a Subject Test or two, then it’s best to be prepared.