MATH HISTORY SCIENCE LITERATURE LANGUAGES

Help Students Showcase Their Knowledge

SAT Subject Tests™

A Guide for Educators

Why take the SAT Subject Tests™

The SAT Subject Tests™ are one-hour exams that allow students to demonstrate knowledge and showcase achievement in specific subjects. By taking the tests, students can: n Differentiate themselves in a competitive admission environment by providing a more

complete picture of their academic achievements and interests.

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

The SAT Subject Tests can: n Provide an opportunity for students to demonstrate knowledge of certain subjects – biology,

chemistry, physics, history and foreign languages – not offered on any other national standardized college admission tests.

n Help English language learners demonstrate achievement in subject areas that are not as reliant on English language mastery, such as math, science or foreign languages.

n Allow students with nontraditional educational backgrounds (e.g., home-schooled or distance learners) to show mastery in specific subjects.

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SAT Subject Tests are flexible. Students can: n Choose to take tests in subjects they know well.

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

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

n Take the tests with confidence knowing that the content comes directly from topics taught in the classroom.

Tests include:

Math Level 1 Math Level 2

U.S. History World History

Biology Chemistry Physics

Literature

Each SAT Subject Test is scored on a 200- to 800-point scale.

French German Italian Latin

Modern HebrewSpanish Chinese with ListeningFrench with Listening

German with ListeningJapanese with ListeningKorean with ListeningSpanish with Listening

Which Subject 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 specific Subject Test scores for admission. Some colleges grant an exemption from or credit for a freshman course requirement if a student does well on a particular SAT Subject Test.

When to Take Subject Tests n 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.

n Avoid the last-minute scramble. Students who wait until fall of senior year to take tests based on their previous year’s courses may miss an opportunity to put their best foot forward.

n 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.

How to Register The easiest way to register is online at sat.collegeboard.org/register. For students without online access, paper registration guides are also available from high school counseling offices. Students outside the U.S. may be able to register through an SAT International Representative.

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). They are available in addition to fee waivers given for the SAT for students in ninth through 12th grades.

How to Prepare Because the SAT Subject Tests are based on high school course work, the best way to prepare is by reviewing classroom material. Students should check out SATSubjectTests.org/learn for information on the format of each test, topics covered and a range of updated practice tools.

Advising Your Students

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Free and Affordable Practice Tools n SAT Subject Tests Online Practice Questions (free and recently updated!)

n Getting Ready for SAT Subject Tests Practice Booklet (free and recently updated!)

n The Official Study Guide for all SAT Subject Tests – New Edition with answer explanations for all 20 Subject Tests

n The Official SAT Subject Tests in Mathematics Levels 1 & 2 Study Guide™

n The Official SAT Subject Tests in U.S. and World History Study Guide™

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.

SAT Subject Tests and Advanced Placement® classesSAT 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. AP® Exams, however, assess a student’s college-level knowledge, skills and abilities learned in the corresponding AP courses taken during high school.

Students taking AP courses may benefit from taking SAT Subject Tests as an additional opportunity to show colleges their knowledge of specific subjects. Subject Tests can also serve as a useful barometer of readiness for AP Exams.

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For Admission n Fulfill admission requirements for colleges that require or recommend SAT Subject Tests as

part of the application, especially if students are interested in specific programs or majors.

n Contextualize other admission factors, such as grades and course choices.

n Provide colleges with even more insight into the academic achievement of students whose best language is not English, or students who come from nontraditional schooling backgrounds (e.g., home-schooled students or students taking courses online).

For Placement and Advising

n Help place students or help them earn credit for certain courses based on Subject Test performance at more than 140 colleges and universities nationwide.

n Allow students to satisfy basic requirements for certain majors or programs of study.

How colleges use SAT Subject Tests

For more informationTo order copies of this or other publications, or to help students get more information about the SAT Subject Tests, be sure to check out sat.collegeboard.org/guidance.

*College Board Curriculum Survey of 10,000 high school teachers and college professors.

SAT Subject Tests are important for college readiness

About 90 percent of math and English high school teachers and college professors indicated that Subject Tests measure knowledge and skills that are valuable for college.*

SAT Subject Tests cover what is taught in high schoolThe knowledge and skills measured by Subject Tests were taught in classrooms by*:

n About 97 percent of high school English teachers.

n Approximately 80 percent of high school math teachers.

n Over 82 percent of high school science teachers.

SAT Subject Tests can indicate interest in specific majors

n In a recent College Board study (in press), students who took an 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 took non-Math or Science Subject Tests.

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What the research shows

SAT Subject Tests and other national, standardized college admission testsColleges that require or recommend SAT Subject Tests often do so in conjunction with other standardized college admission tests, like the SAT®.

n 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.

n SAT Subject Tests assess students’ grasp of fundamental concepts in specific subjects and their ability to apply that knowledge. As such, 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 in-depth content knowledge.

Subject Description Course Work Preparation

U.S. History • Assesses knowledge of and ability to use material commonly taught in U.S. history and social studies courses in high school

• Covers political, economic, social, intellectual and cultural history as well as foreign policy from Pre-Columbian history to the present

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

World History • 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

Literature • 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

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

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What the SAT Subject Tests Cover

SAT Subject Tests

Subject Description Course Work Preparation

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 ratios and 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 physical 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 ability to apply these to physics problems

• Familiarity with the metric system

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 testing vocabulary use, language structure and comprehension of a variety of texts

• Listening tests assess listening comprehension

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

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Visit www.SATSubjectTests.org/guidance for more information

Oct 1 Nov 5 Dec 3 Jan 28 Mar 10 May 5 Jun 2

Registration Deadlines

Early (International Only) Aug 23 Sep 27 Oct 25 Dec 20 N/A Mar 27 Apr 24

Regular (Domestic & International) Sep 9 Oct 7 Nov 8 Dec 30 Feb 10 Apr 6 May 8

Late (Domestic Only) Sep 21 Oct 21 Nov 20 Jan 13 Feb 24 Apr 20 May 22

Notes: In March, only the SAT is offered, and it is only administered in the United States and U.S. territories. Sunday test dates immediately follow the Saturday test dates. Domestic mail must be postmarked by the deadlines. International mail must be received by the deadlines. Students applying through an SAT International Representative must submit their registrations by the early deadline. Registered test-takers who miss a test should call Customer Service to reschedule (the change fee applies). Deadlines expire at midnight Eastern Time.

SAT® • • • • • • •

SAT Subject Tests

Literature • • • • • •Biology E/M, Chemistry, Physics • • • • • •Mathematics Levels 1 & 2 • • • • • •U.S. History • • • • • •World History • •

Languages: Reading Only

French, Spanish • • • • •German, Modern Hebrew •Latin • •Italian •

Languages with Listening

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

Registration and TestingSAT .....................................................................$49SAT Subject Tests Basic Subject Test Fee (per registration) .....$22 Language with Listening Test .............. add $22 All other Subject Tests .................add $11 each

Additional Processing (Add to total testing fees)Register by phone .............................................$15 (available only if you have registered before) Test Type, Center or Date Change Fee .............$25Late Fee .............................................................$26Standby Fee .......................................................$43International Processing Fee .............................$29 Additional surcharge (India & Pakistan) .......$24

Note: Standby testing is not allowed in Benin, Cameroon, Ghana, Kenya, Korea, Nigeria, Thailand, Togo or Vietnam.

Receiving Your ScoresScores by Web ...............................................FREEOfficial Score Report .......................................FREEScores by phone (per call) .................................$15

Sending Your ScoresScore report requests at registration .....4 includedEach additional score report request* .........$10.50(Fee-waiver users, see The Paper Registration Guide for information about flexible score reports.)RUSH order (per order) ....................................$30 Archived (older) scores (per order) .................. $28

Refunds* Fees are nonrefundable except as noted with an asterisk. To receive a refund for items with aster-isks, you must have missed your test date. Orders cannot be returned or canceled after shipment.

Refunds for overpayments and duplicate payments are subject to a $7 processing fee.

Score Verification ServicesSAT Question-and-Answer Service* .............$18SAT Student Answer Service* ..................$13.50Hand-Scoring/Score Verification Request:

Multiple-choice score verification ..............$55 Essay score verification...............................$55

Payment NotesDo not send cash. We will return unprocessed all registrations and orders received with cash or checks drawn on non-U.S. banks or other forms of payment not listed as acceptable in our content. We reserve the right to electronically collect payments by check. Checks returned to the College Board for insufficient funds will be re-presented electronically, and your account will be debited for the amount of the check plus the state-allowed fee. See The Paper Registration Guide for more information.

© 2011 The College Board. College Board, Advanced Placement, AP, SAT and the acorn logo are registered trademarks of the College Board. achieve more, 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. All other products and services may be trademarks of their respective owners. Visit the College Board on the Web: www.collegeboard.org. 11b-3651

SAT and SAT Subject Tests Calendar 2011-12

Fees for 2011-12

Language with Listening tests are only offered in November. You may take only one listening test at that time.

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Score Reports: Most scores are available online and by phone about three weeks after the test date. Official score reports are delivered about five weeks after the test. Some scores may take longer to report. Visit sat.collegeboard.org/scores for a list of approximate score availability dates.