2014-15

SAT Subject Tests A Guide for Educators

MATHEMATICS | HISTORY | SCIENCE | LITERATURE | LANGUAGES

Help students show what they know.

Showcase achievement Students can benefit from SAT Subject Tests by:

Differentiating themselves on their college applications by providing colleges with a more complete picture of their academic achievements and interests

Highlighting their strengths in particular subjects or programs of study, such as STEM (science, technology, engineering, math), the humanities, or foreign languages

Placing out of introductory classes and, in some cases, earning course credit

Showing proficiency in subjects not offered on any other national standardized college admission tests, such as biology, chemistry, physics, history, and foreign languages

Demonstrating achievement in subject areas that do not rely on English language mastery such as mathematics, science, and foreign languages

Fulfilling college requirements; many schools require or recommend SAT Subject Tests for admission or placement purposes.

SAT Subject Tests at a glance

What they are Hour-long college entrance exams based on high school course work

20 tests offered across five subject areas: mathematics, languages, science, history, and literature

Each test is scored on a 200- to 800-point scale

How colleges use them To gain greater insight into student academic achievement

To contextualize student grades and other credentials to make admission decisions

To place students in the appropriate college course level

How you can help your students get ready Ensure they know of the tests early in their high school career

Advise which SAT Subject Tests to take and when to take them

Connect them to free and affordable practice tools at SATSubjectTests.org

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 havent 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.org/register. For students without online access, paper registration guides are also available from high school counseling offices.

See if they qualify for fee-waiver 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 912 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 schoollevel tests, reflecting high school curricula. The tests indicate a students readiness to take college-level courses in specific subject areas. On the other hand, AP Exams assess a students 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 provide an additional opportunity to show colleges their knowledge of specific subjects. In addition, Subject Tests can 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 institutions 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 students best scores.

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, Mass.

Learn more at SATSubjectTests.org/educators

sat.org/register

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

By 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 mind-set. Students who wait until fall of senior year to take tests based on the previous years courses may miss an opportunity to put their best foot forward.

Since 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:

Choose to take tests in subjects they know well

Take one, two, or three 60-minute tests per sitting

Change the subjects or the number of tests they want to take on test day (except for Language with Listening tests)

We have found a high correlation between a students 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

Practice resources

Because the SAT Subject Tests are based on high school course work, the best way to prepare is by reviewing classroom material. Its 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.

SAT Subject Tests Online Practice Questions with detailed answer explanations FREE

Getting Ready for SAT Subject Tests Practice Booklet FREE

The Official Study Guide for all SAT Subject Tests with answer explanations for all 20 Subject Tests

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

http:SATSubjectTests.org

Junior spring is often the most appropriate time to sit for Subject Tests.

Katharine L. Fretwell, Director of Admission, Amherst College

How colleges use SAT Subject Tests Used for admission, placement, and more

The tests fulfill admission recommendations or requirements and are especially helpful if students are interested in specific programs or majors.

They give additional context to other admission factors, such as grades and course choices.

They offer greater insight into the academic achievement of students whose best language is not English or who are home-schooled or taking courses online.

They allow students to satisfy basic requirements for certain majors or programs of study.

More 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.

Combined with other 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.

Nearly 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.

SAT 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 schoollevel course in the corresponding subject. In contrast, other national standardized admission tests in science assess reading comprehension of science topics rather than more in-depth content knowledge.

What the SAT Subject Tests cover

Subject Description Course Work Preparation

Mathematics Level 1

Assesses mathematics knowledge through the first three years of college-preparatory mathematics course work

Three years of college-preparatory mathematics:

Two years of algebra

One year of geometry

Mathematics Level 2

Assesses mathematics knowledge through the first three years of college-preparatory mathematics course work and precalculus

More than three years of college-preparatory mathematics:

Two years of algebra

One year of geometry

Elementary functions (precalculus) and/or trigonometry

Biology E/M (Ecological/ Molecular)

Assesses understanding of general biology

Covers knowledge of fundamental concepts, application, and interpretation skills

Biology E focuses on biological communities,populations, and energy flow

Biology M focuses on biochemistry, cellular structure, and processes, such as respiration and photosynthesis

One-year college-preparatory course in biology:

One-year course in algebra and familiarity with simple algebraic concepts such as ratiosand direct and inverse proportions

Laboratory experience is helpful

Chemistry

Covers the major concepts of chemistry and the ability to apply these concepts in problem-solving scenarios

Requires the ability to organize and interpret results obtained by observation and experimentation

One-year college-preparatory course in chemistry:

Familiarity with simple algebraic relationships and applying these to solving word problems

Familiarity with concepts of ratio and direct and inverse proportions, exponents, and scientific notation

Laboratory experience is helpful

Physics Assesses the understanding of the major

concepts of physics and the ability to apply these principles to solve specific problems

One-year college-preparatory physics course:

Laboratory experience is helpful

Familiarity with simple algebraic, trigonometric, and graphical relationships, as well as the concepts of ratio and proportion and the ability to apply these to physics problems

Familiarity with the metric system

Subject Description Course Work Preparation

Assesses how well the student has learned to read and interpret literature

Covers poetry, prose, and drama in English and American literature from the Renaissance to the present

Three or four years of college-preparatory literary study

Literature

U.S. History

Assesses knowledge of and ability to usematerial commonly taught in U.S. history and social studies courses in high school

Covers political, economic, social, intellectualand cultural history, as well as foreign policy, from pre-Columbian history to the present

World History

One-year college-preparatory U.S. history course

Assesses understanding of key developments in global history, the application and weighing of evidence, and the ability to interpret and generalize

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

One-year college-preparatory world history course

Foreign Language Tests

Languages (Reading Only) French, German, Italian*, Latin, Modern Hebrew, Spanish

Languages with Listening Chinese, French, German, Japanese, Korean, Spanish

Assesses the ability to read by testingvocabulary use, language structure, and comprehension of variety of texts

Assesses listening comprehension

Two to four years of study in high school or the equivalent, or two years of strong preparation

*Beginning in 2015-16, Italian will be offered once a year in June. Students takingthis test for college admission in 2015 should take the test by June 2015.

777617

2014-15 SAT and SAT Subject Tests Calendar Register at sat.org/register

2014 2015 Test Dates* Oct 11 Nov 8 Dec 6 Jan 24 Mar 14 May 2 Jun 6

SAT SAT Subject Tests

Literature SA

T S

ub

ject Te

sts are

no

t offe

red

on

this d

ate

Biology E/M, Chemistry, Physics

Mathematics Levels I and II

United States (U.S.) History

World History

Languages: Reading Only

French, Spanish German, Modern Hebrew

Latin Italian

Languages with Listening You may take only one listening test on this date.

Chinese, French, German, Japanese, Korean, and Spanish

* Sunday tests are given the next day, except for Oct. 19, which has been moved a week later to avoid confl ict with a religious holiday.

Please visit sat.org/register for the most up-to-date information.

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.

Registration Deadlines Oct 11 2014

Nov 8 Dec 6 Jan 24 2015

Mar 14 May 2 Jun 6

Regular Registration Deadline

Late Registration Deadline, Paper

Late Registration Deadline, Online and Phone

Sep 12

Sep 26

Sep 30

Oct 9

Oct 24

Oct 28

Nov 6

Nov 21

Nov 24

Dec 29

Jan 9

Jan 13

Feb 13

Feb 27

Mar 3

Apr 6

Apr 17

Apr 21

May 8

May 22

May 27

Deadlines expire at 11:59 p.m. U.S. Eastern Time.

2014 The College Board. College Board, Advanced Placement, AP, SAT, and the acorn logo are registered trademarks of the College Board. SAT Subject Tests, Score Choice, The Offi cial SAT Subject Tests in Mathematics Levels 1 & 2 Study Guide, The Offi cial SAT Subject Tests in U.S. and World History Study Guide, and The Offi cial Study Guide for all SAT Subject Tests are trademarks owned by the College Board. Visit the College Board on the Web: www.collegeboard.org. 13b-8609

777617

http:www.collegeboard.org

2014-15 SAT Subject Tests A Guide for Educators2014-15 SAT Subject Tests A Guide for Educators Showcase achievement SAT Subject Tests at a glanceAdvising your students Help them choose which tests to take Make sure they register See if they qualify for fee-waiver service Help them understand how the SAT Subject Tests and Advanced Placement work together Inform them about Score ChoiceThe importance of timing When to take SAT Subject Tests Plan well in advance SAT Subject Tests are flexible, so students can: Practice resourcesHow colleges use SAT Subject Tests Used for admission, placement, and more Combined with other standardized college admission tests What the SAT Subject Tests cover and SAT Subject Calendar Register at sat.org/register