Everything You Need To Know about SAT II Subject Tests

The SAT II’s

The SAT II subject tests are a collection of standardized tests which some colleges and universities required for admission. These exams intend to test students on how well they have mastered specific academic subjects. If required, students are generally asked to take two or more subject tests to complement the SAT/ACT and the rest of their admissions package.

SAT II Subjects

• Literature
• United States History
• World History
• Math I
• Math II
• Biology
• Chemistry
• Physics
• Chinese
• French
• French with Listening
• German
• German with Listening
• Modern Hebrew
• Italian
• Japanese with Listening
• Korean
• Korean with Listening
• Spanish
• Spanish with Listening

When to take the SAT IIs

It is generally recommended that students take the SAT IIs the spring semester of their junior year. The primary reason this is suggested is because many of the AP exams offered to juniors are also SAT subject tests. Thus, taking your SAT II subject tests on the same subjects as the AP exams you are preparing for will help you kill two birds with one stone. It is still wise, however, to take the SAT II subject tests even if you will not be studying for and taking any AP exams your junior year. Taking the SAT II spring semester junior year is advantageous even if you are not taking AP exams for two generals reasons:

• The class curriculum available to most juniors is intended to help you prepare for the subject tests. You may be taking the SAT IIs prematurely as a sophomore. Although you may  have taken chemistry, physics, or bio in either your freshman or sophomore year, you may want to wait until the end of junior year to decide which subject tests to take so have a wider range of subjects to select from. You may discover that you are better at a class you take junior year than a class you took before. Waiting until spring semester will give you a chance to see where your strengths are.
• Students taking the subject tests before the end of their junior year are also usually not well prepared. This is because many of the exams (i.e. English, Math II, Foreign Languages, etc.) are cover high level material. And this material is usually not covered until the third year of high school for most students. Waiting until the end of junior year will assure that you have been taught everything the exams cover.

Retakes

Unlike the SAT, students do not usually take the same SAT II subject test more than once. If you do not feel pleased with your performance on your SAT II subject test, you may want to ask the proctor about cancelling your test scores. Although your will never know how you scored and you will not get your money back, you will be able to retake the test during the next test date because your cancelled test will not count as a first try. If you do wish to cancel your test score, please remember to talk to the test proctor and request cancellation right after the test. Ask for a “Request to Cancel Test Scores Form”, fill it out, and then return it to the test proctor. Although it is possible to cancel your test scores after leaving the test center, there is a long process and an immediate deadline that can be easily missed if you wait cancel your test scores.

For sat prep tests online, visit SAT Practice Questions

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Tags: AP exams, SAT, sat 2, SAT II, sat ii exams, sat ii math, sat ii prep, SAT II Retakes, sat ii tests, sat subject, SAT Subject Test

2 Responses to “Everything You Need To Know about SAT II Subject Tests”

1. Alexis Avila says:

   August 23, 2010 at 2:55 pm

   This definitely covers a lot of ground. These SAT subject test tips are very thorough. I think it’s important to take subject tests in subjects that you tend to enjoy in school. So future college english majors, take the SAT subject test in literature.

   Here is my take. Feel free to share:
   http://preppedandpolished.com/sat-subject-tests-the-inside-scoop/

   Alexis Avila, Founder of Prepped & Polished
2. University of California (UC) Application Checklist 2011 says:

   March 17, 2011 at 12:40 pm

   [...] tests. These tests include the SAT I (or the ACT which is the equivalent), as well as at least (2) SAT II subject tests (the subject is chosen by the [...]