Effective 2021, SAT Subject Tests are no longer offered by the College Board. To show subject matter expertise, consider taking AP exams instead.
College-bound students are inundated with acronyms – PSAT, SAT, ACT, AP. There are literally dozens of tests that you might take on your road to college, and the most often overlooked tests are SAT Subject Tests. But you should take them. And you should take them in June. (There are still a few days left for late registration!)
Most colleges don’t require applicants to submit SAT Subject Tests, which is why these are among the least commonly taken of all of the standardized tests administered to college-bound students. But the very fact that these tests are uncommon is one reason why you should consider taking them.
First, let’s figure out if you HAVE to take them. This chart shows various colleges’ policies towards SAT Subject Tests. This chart is not comprehensive, so you should still double check with your potential colleges before making a final decision!
| College | SAT Subject Test Policy |
|---|---|
| Brown University | RECOMMENDS two Subject Tests |
| California Institute of Technology (CalTech) | REQUIRED: Math Level 2 and either Physics, Chemistry, or Biology |
| Columbia University | ACT may be submitted in lieu of BOTH SAT and two Subject Tests |
| Cornell University | >Dependent on student’s choice of major |
| Dartmouth College | RECOMMENDS two Subject Tests |
| >Duke University | RECOMMENDED OR REQUIRED: Dependent on student’s choice of major |
| Emory University | ENCOURAGES submitting Subject Tests |
| Georgetown University | STRONGLY RECOMMENDED: three Subject Tests |
| Harvard University | RECOMMENDS two Subject Tests |
| Harvey Mudd College | REQUIRED: Math Level 2 and one of student’s choice |
| Johns Hopkins University | RECOMMENDED dependent on choice of major |
| Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) | REQUIRED: One math and one science |
| Northwestern University | RECOMMENDED: two Subject Tests for all applicantsSome tests required for specific majors |
| Princeton University | RECOMMENDED dependent on choice of major |
| Rice University | RECOMMENDS two Subject Tests |
| Stanford University | RECOMMENDED but not required; if taking a math test, Math Level 2 preferred |
| University of California System | Dependent on school and student’s choice of major |
| University of Pennsylvania | STRONGLY ENCOURAGED based on student’s choice of major |
| Yale University | RECOMMENDS two Subject Tests, Some departments use Subject Tests for placement purposes |
Let’s take a moment to talk about these policies. As you can see, various colleges have vastly differing policies regarding Subject Tests. Some require them, some recommend them, some use them only for placement purposes, and others let you submit ACT scores instead of taking Subject Tests.
It goes without saying that if you plan to apply to a school that requires Subject Tests, you have to take them. Do your research so that you know whether the school requires a specific test or if you get to choose which tests to take.
If a school you hope to apply to recommends or encourages Subject Tests, you should treat that as a requirement. If the school is telling you that they would like you to take those tests, your best bet is to submit Subject Test scores.
But here’s the fun part: Even if the colleges you want to apply to don’t require, recommend, or encourage Subject Tests, it might be a good idea to take them anyway.
Why Take Subject Tests Anyway?
Show off your strengths.
SAT Subject Tests offer a great chance to showcase your strengths in specific subject areas. Your grades are more important, but grades can be subjective and differ greatly from one school to the next. These tests allow colleges to make apples to apples comparisons between students. So if Chemistry is your thing and you want to show that knowledge off, take the Chemistry Subject Test (or Spanish, or World History, or whatever your particular thing is).
Stand out of the crowd.
Selective schools are overwhelmed with applicants who have great grades and test scores, so for students applying to these schools, it’s all about making yourself stand out. Since these tests aren’t as common as AP exams or the ACT, submitting a few great Subject Test scores could help add dimension and interest to your application.
IB students should definitely consider these tests.
The IB program is among the most challenging academic programs available, but it isn’t as widely known or understood as the AP program. Since a lot of colleges aren’t quite sure how to compare IB students to other students, supplementing your IB scores with SAT Subject Tests is a good idea. This helps colleges make apples to apples comparisons between IB students and AP students.
Homeschooled? Take these tests.
Colleges have trouble comparing homeschooled students to other applicants because their transcripts tend to be so different. By submitting some SAT Subject Test scores, you can help the college by providing a standardized measurement of your skills in certain subject areas.
Got a C? Help make up for it with Subject Tests.
Did you get a C in freshman bio? Or maybe you didn’t do so hot in precalc. Whatever the case, a strong SAT Subject Test score can help to offset a less than perfect grade. A stellar score won’t totally erase that bad grade, but it will show colleges that you managed to bone up on your weakest subject area in order to get a good test score.
Why Take Subject Tests in June?
Subject Tests are offered on all SAT test dates, so you have several dates to choose from. We strongly suggest that you take these tests in June for a few reasons:
AP exams are over.
You spent weeks – if not months – prepping for those AP exams. Now that the stress of AP weeks is over, why not turn all that newfound knowledge into some good Subject Test scores? Subject Tests aren’t exactly like AP exams, but these tests typically have a lot of overlap in any given subject area. So if you prepped properly for your AP exams, you’ve already done the legwork for Subject Tests.
The material is fresh in your mind.
It’s a good idea to take the Subject Tests at the end of the school year in which you studied a particular subject. So if you took Biology in 9th grade, the best time to take the Biology Subject Test would be in June of your 9th grade year. (Didn’t take the tests at the right time? You can always take a refresher course – many online resources are available and C2 would be more than happy to help!)
Get it out of the way.
Summer is upon us. You’ve got plenty to do this summer – from internships and summer programs to prepping for the ACT or SAT to babysitting your annoying little brother. You don’t want to be studying for SAT Subject Tests, too. Get it out of the way now, at the beginning of the summer, so that you can use your summer more productively (and, hey, maybe have some fun, too).
