SAT Subject Test

About SAT Subject Test

Exam Type: National Level Exam

Format: Offline

Language: English

The Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT) is one such test that evaluates students’ overall brilliance and aptitude. The Sat is designed in a way that it not only assesses students’ hold on academic subjects but also gauges their critical thinking ability and logical reasoning as well. The SAT exam has multiple components with which it becomes a complete package that helps students to know their strengths and weaknesses. Apparently, it helps colleges as well to shortlist true talent for their academic programs. One of the major components of the SAT test is the SAT Subject Test that evaluates students’ reading and reasoning skills for specific college programs.

The College Board, which is the conducting body of the SAT tests, conducts SAT Subject Tests in 21 core subjects. SAT Subject Tests are conducted six times in a year viz. May, June, August, October, November, and December. Let’s take a look at which all areas the SAT Subject Tests are conducted!

SAT Subject Test Dates 2020

Test Date

SAT Subject Tests Available

Early Registration via Representative

Registration Deadline

Deadline for Changes

May 2, 2020

Register

March 18, 2020

April 3, 2020

April 21, 2020

June 6, 2020

Register

April 22, 2020

May 8, 2020

May 27, 2020

2020-21 International SAT Subject Test Dates

Subject Test	August 29, 2020	October 3, 2020	December 5, 2020	May 8, 2021	June 5, 2021
Literature	X	X	X	X	X
U.S. History	X	X	X	X	X
World History	X		X		X
Mathematics Level 1	X	X	X	X	X
Mathematics Level 2	X	X	X	X	X
Biology E/M	X	X	X	X	X
Chemistry	X	X	X	X	X
Physics	X	X	X	X	X
French	X	X	X		X
German					X
Spanish	X	X	X		X
Modern Hebrew					X
Italian					X
Latin			X		X
French with Listening				X
German with Listening				X
Spanish with Listening				X
Chinese with Listening				X
Japanese with Listening				X
Korean with Listening				X

When is the Best Time to Take the SAT Subject Test?

There are a few factors that students should keep in mind while opting for the SAT Subject Tests to increase the chances of better performance in the tests.

Closer to School Examinations

The SAT Subject Tests assess students’ knowledge and understanding of the specific subjects, hence it is always best to take up the SAT Subject Tests in May or June. This is the time when students are just done with their school examinations and their learnings are fresh. Students can go an extra mile for SAT Subject Tests while preparing for their finals.

Fully Prepared

Another best time for taking the SAT Subject Tests is when the student is fully prepared for the examination. Since the SAT Subject Tests focus on subjects and not academic performance, students must take the SAT Subject Test when they are all prepared for the exam. Besides, the Language tests are often hard and require intense preparation; hence, students must take a good time to prepare before taking up the SAT Subject Tests for the languages.

Synchronize with Other SAT Subject Tests

Students often take up multiple SAT Subject Tests; hence, they must take synchronize the test dates with other exams. However, students must keep in mind that these dates wouldn’t affect their performance in other SAT Subject Tests.

College Admission Schedule

Although SAT aspirants have the freedom to prepare and take the SAT Subject Tests throughout the year; however, they must check out with the college admission dates they are willing to apply to. This will not only help them create a flexible schedule for their preparations but also reduce the stress of waiting for too long to get their college application status.

SAT Subject Tests for Eight Ivy League Schools

Students willing to get admission to one of eight Ivy League Schools need to have a strong college application with at least two SAT Subject Test scores. Some other top schools in the world require students to have more than two SAT Subject scores. However, owing to an increase in the number of top-ranked colleges recently, many top schools have made the SAT Subjects optional. Let’s take a look at these eight Ivy League Schools and their requirement/ consideration/ recommendation for SAT Subject Test!

SAT Subject Tests for Ivy League Schools and Other Top Colleges

Schools	Subject Tests Requirements or Recommendations	Schools’ Perspective
Brown	Recommended 2 Subject Tests	Students applying to the Liberal Medical Education must submit one SAT Subject Test score either in Physics, Chemistry or Biology
Columbia	No Subject Test Required	SAT Subject Test or any other proficiency test are not required to apply for the Columbia. However, students can submit their SAT Subject scores.
Cornell	Depending on the programs	Students need to submit either none or at least 2 SAT Subject scores depending on the program they are applying for.
Dartmouth	Recommended 2 Subject Tests	Students need to submit at least 2 Subject Test scores in the subject of their choices.
Duke	Recommended 2 Subject Tests	Students applying to Pratt School of Engineering must submit SAT Subject Test in Math Level 1 or Level 2. Those who are willing to apply for Trinity College of Arts and Science may submit any two SAT Subject scores.
Georgetown	Recommended 3 Subject Tests	Students must submit at least 3 SAT Subject Test score whether they have taken SAT Reasoning or ACT Test.
Harvard	Recommended 2 Subject Tests	Students may choose to submit SAT Subject Test scores; however, it all depends on their preferences.
MIT	Required 2 Subject Tests	Students must submit 2 SAT Subject Test score; one in Math Level 1 or 2 and another in Science Physics, Chemistry or Biology E/M).
Princeton	Recommended 2 Subject Tests	Students applying for engineering programs are required to submit SAT Subject Test scores in Math (Level 1 or 2) and Physics or Chemistry.
Stanford	Recommended 2 Subject Tests	SAT Subject Test scores are optional for applying to Stanford.
University of Chicago	No Subject Test Required	SAT Subject Test scores are optional for applying to the University of Chicago.
University of Pennsylvania	Recommended 2 Subject Tests	Students need to submit SAT Subject scores depending on the program they are applying for.
Yale	Recommended	Students applying to the Yale can submit sat subject test scores; however, not sending SAT Subject scores will not harm their application.

Tips to Prepare

Some Important Guidelines and Policies for SAT Subject Tests

Since there are multiple SAT Subject Tests on a single date, students can sit for as many as three SAT Subject Test on a single day.

Students can’t sit for the SAT and SAT Subject Test on the same day.

Students need to inform the College Abroad about the SAT Subject(s) they are willing to appear for. Students have the option to change the preferred subject later on; however, there are some limitations for such a scenario. Students can check the official website of the College Board to know more about it.

Students are not allowed to take up both Biology Ecological and Biology Molecular subjects per test. After attempting the first 60 questions, students are required to choose any of the above-mentioned subjects.

The use of a calculator is allowed only for Math Level 1 and Level 2 Subject Tests.

Similar to Biology, students can take up only one of the Language with Listening tests per tests. Besides, the Language with Listening tests must be taken in the first hour of testing.