College Corner: SAT Subject Tests - Take 'em or leave 'em?

SAT

SAT II

As you put together your college application, your goal is to show admissions officers why you are a stellar applicant  - taking one or a few SAT Subject Tests (also known as SAT IIs) can do just that. 

Demonstrating intellectual breadth or intellectual depth can differentiate you from other high school seniors. Before you sign up for the 20 sat subject tests available, however, take a second to consider which test(s) will best showcase your academic prowessm, and whether it's worth it.

To determine which of the 20 subject tests is best suited to you, consider your application as is and consider your academic strengths. You can weigh the costs and benefits of sitting for an SAT II from two vantage points: 

1. If you’re strong across the board and have mastery over a variety of subjects, show breadth:

-       Does your application already demonstrate an interest in Science? Show off your linguistic skills with a French or Chinese test.

-       Is your application humanities heavy? Take a Physics or Mathematic test.  

-       Are you big on math? Sign up for the Literature test.

2. If you’re passionate about one discipline and wither at the thought of branching out, think ahead to your college major and show depth:

-       Planning to pursue a pre-med track? Take as many science SAT II’s as you can!  

-       Interested in an interdisciplinary major? Run the gamut and take a smattering of tests.

-       Committed to the Humanities? Take the history and literature SAT IIs.

The most important consideration is whether you think you will do well on the subject tests you are considering.

If you think you receive an average score on a test, then don’t waste your money or a perfectly lovely Saturday morning on taking these exams. If you're still unsure, talk to a teacher or tutor that knows you well to discuss your application as a whole. 

Comments

topicTopics
academics study skills MCAT medical school admissions SAT expository writing college admissions English MD/PhD admissions strategy writing LSAT GMAT GRE physics chemistry math biology graduate admissions academic advice ACT interview prep law school admissions test anxiety language learning premed MBA admissions career advice personal statements homework help AP exams creative writing MD study schedules test prep computer science Common Application summer activities history mathematics philosophy organic chemistry secondary applications economics supplements research 1L PSAT admissions coaching grammar law psychology statistics & probability legal studies ESL CARS SSAT covid-19 dental admissions logic games reading comprehension engineering USMLE calculus PhD admissions Spanish mentorship parents Latin biochemistry case coaching verbal reasoning DAT English literature STEM excel medical school political science skills AMCAS French Linguistics MBA coursework Tutoring Approaches academic integrity chinese letters of recommendation Anki DO Social Advocacy admissions advice algebra art history artificial intelligence astrophysics business cell biology classics diversity statement gap year genetics geometry kinematics linear algebra mechanical engineering mental health presentations quantitative reasoning study abroad technical interviews time management work and activities 2L DMD IB exams ISEE MD/PhD programs Sentence Correction adjusting to college algorithms amino acids analysis essay athletics business skills careers cold emails data science dental school finance first generation student functions graphing information sessions international students internships logic networking poetry resume revising science social sciences software engineering tech industry trigonometry writer's block 3L AAMC Academic Interest EMT FlexMed Fourier Series Greek Health Professional Shortage Area Italian Lagrange multipliers London MD vs PhD MMI Montessori National Health Service Corps Pythagorean Theorem Python Shakespeare Step 2 TMDSAS Taylor Series Truss Analysis Zoom acids and bases active learning architecture argumentative writing art art and design schools art portfolios bacteriology bibliographies biomedicine brain teaser campus visits cantonese capacitors capital markets central limit theorem centrifugal force chemical engineering chess chromatography class participation climate change clinical experience community service constitutional law consulting cover letters curriculum dementia demonstrated interest dimensional analysis distance learning econometrics electric engineering electricity and magnetism escape velocity evolution executive function freewriting genomics harmonics health policy history of medicine history of science hybrid vehicles hydrophobic effect ideal gas law immunology induction infinite institutional actions integrated reasoning intermolecular forces intern investing investment banking lab reports linear maps mandarin chinese matrices mba medical physics meiosis microeconomics mitosis mnemonics music music theory nervous system neurology neuroscience object-oriented programming office hours operating systems