2013-14 A Guide for Educators SAT Subject Tests Help students show what they know. MATH HISTORY SCIENCE LITERATURE LANGUAGES
Showcase Achievement SAT Subject Tests at a glance What they are 4 Hour-long college entrance exams based on high school course work 4 20 tests offered across five subject areas: math, languages, science, history and literature 4 Each test is scored on a 200- to 800-point scale How colleges use them 4 To gain greater insight into student academic achievement 4 To contextualize student grades and other credentials to make admission decisions 4 To place students in the appropriate college course level How you can help your students get ready 4Ensure they know of the tests early in their high school career 4 Advise which SAT Subject Tests to take and when to take them 4 Connect them to free and affordable practice tools at SATSubjectTests.org A complete list of the SAT Subject Tests, what they cover and the 2013-14 test schedule are on the last pages of this brochure. Students can benefit from SAT Subject Tests by: 4Differentiating themselves on their college applications by providing colleges with a more complete picture of their academic achievements and interests; 4Highlighting their strengths in particular subjects or programs of study, such as STEM (science, technology, engineering, math), the humanities or foreign languages; 4 Placing out of introductory classes and, in some cases, earning course credit; 4Showing proficiency in subjects not offered on any other national standardized college admission tests, such as biology, chemistry, physics, history and foreign languages; 4Demonstrating achievement in subject areas that do not rely on English language mastery such as math, science and foreign languages; and 4Fulfilling college requirements; many schools require or recommend SAT Subject Tests for admissions or placement purposes. Students can take the tests with confidence Content on SAT Subject Tests comes directly from topics taught in the classroom. Based on a survey conducted by the College Board, the knowledge and skills measured by Subject Tests were taught in high school classrooms by 4About 97% of English teachers; 4About 80% percent of math teachers; and 4Over 82% of science teachers.* Additionally, 90% of math and English high school teachers and college professors indicated that Subject Tests measure knowledge and skills that are valuable for college.* *Source: College Board Curriculum Survey of 10,000 high school teachers and college professors.
As counselors, our job is to help kids not miss opportunities throughout high school as they prepare for the college process. Subject Tests are an opportunity for students to develop a strong college admission portfolio and keep a broader range of schools available to them on their lists. Matthew DeGreeff, Director of College Counseling, Middlesex School, Concord, MA Advising your students Help them choose which tests to take Students should consider taking the tests in subjects in which they have an interest or excel. They should research whether prospective colleges require or recommend specific Subject Tests for admission. Even if students haven t chosen colleges yet, they may still want to consider taking a Subject Test at the end of a course in a subject they are interested in. They can decide later whether or not to send their scores. Make sure they register The easiest way to register is at sat.collegeboard.org/register. For students without online access, paper registration guides are also available from high school counseling offices. See if they qualify for feewaiver service Eligible students may receive fee waivers to take up to three SAT Subject Tests in each of two sittings (up to six tests in total). Fee waivers are available for students in grades 9 12 and are in addition to fee waivers given for the SAT. Help them understand how the SAT Subject Tests and Advanced Placement work together SAT Subject Tests are high school level tests, reflecting high school curricula. The tests indicate a student s readiness to take college-level courses in specific subject areas. On the other hand, AP Exams assess a student s college-level knowledge, skills and abilities learned in the corresponding AP courses taken during high school. Students can benefit from the SAT Subject Tests because they 4Provide an additional opportunity to show colleges their knowledge of specific subjects; and 4Can serve as a useful barometer of readiness for AP Exams. Inform them about Score Choice Score Choice is an optional feature allowing students to choose which SAT Subject Test scores to send to colleges, in accordance with each institution s stated score-use practice. If Score Choice is not used, all scores are sent to the selected score recipients. Students should still feel comfortable sending all scores, because most colleges consider a student s best scores. Learn more at SATSubjectTests.org/educators Look on the back for the SAT Subject Tests calendar.
The importance of timing When to take SAT Subject Tests The best time to take Subject Tests is after completing the corresponding course or set of courses. For foreign languages, mathematics and literature, it may be beneficial to have two or more years of experience. More information on the recommended course work required for each Subject Test can be found at SATSubjectTests.org. Plan well in advance 4By letting students know about the Subject Tests in their freshman and sophomore years, you can help give them the best chance to do well on the tests, expand their college options and reinforce a college-going mindset. Students who wait until fall of senior year to take tests based on the previous year s courses may miss an opportunity to put their best foot forward. 4Since not every test is offered on every test date, encourage your students to review the SAT Subject Test calendar early so they can plan accordingly. SAT Subject Tests are flexible, so students can: 4Choose to take tests in subjects they know well; 4Take one, two or three 60-minute tests per sitting; and 4Change the subjects or the number of tests they want to take on test day (except for Language with Listening tests). Practice resources Because the SAT Subject Tests are based on high school course work, the best way to prepare is by reviewing classroom material. It s also a good idea to learn about question formats and the topics each SAT Subject Test covers. Your students can find this information, plus a range of updated practice tools at SATSubjectTests.org. 4SAT Subject Tests Online Practice Questions with detailed answer explanations FREE 4Getting Ready for SAT Subject Tests Practice Booklet FREE 4The Official Study Guide for all SAT Subject Tests with answer explanations for all 20 Subject Tests 4The Official SAT Subject Tests in Mathematics Levels 1 & 2 Study Guide 4The Official SAT Subject Tests in U.S. and World History Study Guide Junior spring is often the most approriate time to sit for Subject Tests. Katharine L. Fretwell, Director of Admission, Amherst College
We have found a high correlation between a student s performance on the Subject Tests and first year grades and success... in those areas. With so many differences in curriculum, courses [and] grading scales the Subject Tests give us additional academic information to consider. Greg Roberts, Dean of Admission, University of Virginia How colleges use SAT Subject Tests 4The tests fulfill admission recommendations or requirements and are especially helpful if students are interested in specific programs or majors. 4They give additional context to other admission factors, such as grades and course choices. 4They offer greater insight into the academic achievement of students whose best language is not English or who are home-schooled or taking courses online. 4They allow students to satisfy basic requirements for certain majors or programs of study. 4More than 160 colleges and universities nationwide utilize the tests to place students into specific courses. Some may also offer course credit based on Subject Test performance. SAT Subject Tests are aligned with Common Core State Standards in math and English. Based on a College Board alignment study, 4 About 90% of the skills and content tested on the SAT Subject Tests in Math are covered on the Common Core State Standards in math; and 4Nearly 100% of the skills and content tested on the SAT Subject Test in Literature are covered on the Common Core State Standards in English language arts. SAT Subject Tests and other national, standardized college admission tests Colleges that require or recommend SAT Subject Tests often do so in conjunction with other standardized college admission tests, like the SAT. 4Nearly 80 percent of institutions that require or recommend SAT Subject Tests do not allow other national standardized admission tests as a substitute. By taking SAT Subject Tests, students can broaden the set of colleges and universities that they can apply to. 4SAT Subject Tests assess students grasp of fundamental concepts in specific subjects and their ability to apply that knowledge. For example, to properly prepare for a science Subject Test (i.e., Biology, Chemistry, Physics), students should take a high school level course in the corresponding subject. In contrast, other national standardized admission tests in science assess reading comprehension of science topics rather than more indepth content knowledge. Important to colleges, SAT Subject Tests can indicate interest in specific majors In a recent College Board study, students who took any SAT Subject Test in mathematics or science were nearly five times more likely to declare a major in a STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) subject area than students who did not take math or science Subject Tests.
What the SAT Subject Tests cover Subject Description Course Work Preparation Mathematics Level 1 Mathematics Level 2 Biology E/M (Ecological/Molecular) Chemistry Physics 4 Assesses mathematics knowledge through the first three years of collegepreparatory mathematics course work 4 Assesses mathematics knowledge through the first three years of collegepreparatory mathematics course work and precalculus 4 Assesses understanding of general biology 4 Covers knowledge of fundamental concepts, application and interpretation skills 4 Biology E focuses on biological communities, populations and energy flow 4 Biology M focuses on biochemistry, cellular structure and processes, such as respiration and photosynthesis 4 Covers the major concepts of chemistry and the ability to apply these concepts in problem-solving scenarios 4 Requires the ability to organize and interpret results obtained by observation and experimentation Assesses the understanding of the major concepts of physics and the ability to apply physical principles to solve specific problems 4 Three years of college-preparatory mathematics 4 Two years of algebra 4 One year of geometry 4 More than three years of collegepreparatory mathematics 4 Two years of algebra 4 One year of geometry 4 Elementary functions (precalculus) and/or trigonometry One year college-preparatory course in biology 4 One year course in algebra and familiarity with simple algebraic concepts such as ratios and direct and inverse proportions 4 Laboratory experience is helpful One year college-preparatory course in chemistry 4 Familiarity with simple algebraic relationships and applying these to solving word problems 4 Familiarity with concepts of ratio and direct and inverse proportions, exponents and scientific notation 4 Laboratory experience is helpful One year college-preparatory physics course 4 Laboratory experience is helpful 4 Familiarity with simple algebraic, trigonometric and graphical relationships, as well as the concepts of ratio and proportion and ability to apply these to physics problems 4 Familiarity with the metric system
Subject Description Course Work Preparation Literature 4 Assesses how well the student has learned to read and interpret literature 4 Covers poetry, prose and drama in English and American literature from the Renaissance to the present 4 Three or four years of collegepreparatory literary study U.S. History World History 4 Assesses knowledge of and ability to use material commonly taught in U.S. history and social studies courses in high school 4 Covers political, economic, social, intellectual and cultural history, as well as foreign policy, from pre-columbian history to the present 4 Assesses understanding of key developments in global history, the application and weighing of evidence, and the ability to interpret and generalize 4 Covers the development of major world cultures, from ancient times to the present, in all historical fields: political and diplomatic, intellectual and cultural, and social and economic 4 One year college-preparatory U.S. history course One year college-preparatory world history course Languages (Reading Only) French, German, Italian, Latin, Modern Hebrew, Spanish Languages with Listening Chinese, French, German, Japanese, Korean, Spanish Foreign Language Tests 4Assesses the ability to read by testing vocabulary use, language structure and comprehension of variety of texts 4Assesses listening comprehension 4Two to four years of study in high school or the equivalent, or two years of strong preparation Learn more at SATSubjectTests.org/educators Look on the back for the SAT Subject Tests calendar.
2013-14 Test Dates Register now for the SAT Subject Tests TM Test Dates* Early International Registration Deadline 2013 2014 Oct 5 Nov 2 Dec 7 Jan 25 Mar 8 May 3 Jun 7 Aug 28 Sep 25 Oct 30 Dec 18 N/A Mar 26 Apr 30 Regular Registration Deadline Sep 6 Oct 3 Nov 8 Dec 27 Feb 7 Apr 4 May 9 Late Registration Deadline Sep 20 Oct 18 Nov 22 Jan 10 Feb 21 Apr 18 May 23 SAT l l l l l l l SAT Subject Tests TM Literature l l l l l l Biology E/M, Chemistry, Physics l l l l l l Mathematics Levels I and II l l l l l l United States (U.S.) History l l l l l l World History l l Languages: Reading Only French, Spanish l l l l l German, Modern Hebrew l Latin l l Italian Languages with Listening You may take only one listening test at a time. Chinese, French, German, Japanese, Korean and Spanish l l SAT Subject Tests are not offered on this date *Sunday tests are usually administered the next day. Please visit sat.org for the most up-to-date information. Deadlines expire at 11:59 p.m. U.S. Eastern Time. Be sure to review the test calendar carefully as not all subjects are offered on every test date. The SAT Subject Tests offered on each test date are subject to change. Please check online for the latest test schedule. Learn more at SATSubjectTests.org/educators College Board, achieve more, Advanced Placement, AP, SAT and the acorn logo are registered trademarks of the College Board. SAT Subject Tests, Score Choice, The Official SAT Subject Tests in Mathematics Levels 1 & 2 Study Guide, The Official SAT Subject Tests in U.S. and World History Study Guide and The Official Study Guide for all SAT Subject Tests are trademarks owned by the College Board. FSC Logo 770559 13b-7689