SAT II Tests: What Are They And Who Needs To Take Them?

The SAT II tests are also referred to as subject tests. Parents may remember them as the Achievement Tests, as they were called prior to 1994. The subject tests are 20 multiple choice tests administered by The College Board in subject specific areas. The tests are used as part of the admissions process at many schools, particularly when a student is applying to a specific program (engineering, pre-med, etc.). Schools also use the test for college course placement.

Engineering schools may require the chemistry and/or physics tests and the math II test. Competitive schools such as Harvard “strongly recommend” that students take at least 3 SAT II tests. The most popular SAT II tests that student take are in Literature, US History, Math I and Math II, Biology, Chemistry and Physics.

The tests are multiple choice and are an hour in length. Students can take up to three SAT II tests in a day. Students CANNOT take both the SAT and the SAT II tests on the same day. The SAT II tests are offered on the same day as the SAT, with the exception of the March test date. Not all tests are offered on every test date. The language with listening tests (for foreign languages) are only offered in November. The test are scored from 200-800 and they are scored on a curve.

Students should take the SAT II tests as soon as they finish the course. So if a student is thinking about a pre-med major and they just finished biology as a high school freshman, then they should take the SAT II in June of their freshman year. The material will be the freshest in the student’s mind at the completion of the course. Waiting to take the tests in a student’s junior year when they are taking the SATs or ACTs is not a good idea, as it is best to focus on one test at a time and not dilute their efforts.

Even if a student is applying to a school that does not require SAT II tests, it may still be a good idea for the student to take these tests. Remember that the college admissions process is all about standing out, and showing the schools that you are great in a particular subject is a way to stand out. Schools are looking for students with solid reading, writing and math skills, and the SAT IIs are another way to highlight a student’s strengths in these areas.

Next week: What are the three most important things college look at when evaluating an applicant?

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Miss Anne founded Boston Tutoring Center in 2003 to help students with standardized test prep, academic tutoring, and private school entrance exam test prep. BTC has worked with hundreds of students over the past 14 years in the Boston area, and via Skype across the United States, and in Asia, Europe and Central America. Send your questions about education to Miss Anne at: bostontutoringcenter@rcn.com