You might be wondering, I'm taking the SATs and I've heard of the SAT II but I have no idea what that is or what that means. No worries. In this lesson, we'll give you a step by step guide on what they are, whether you need them and what they cover.
Also known as the SAT IIs, SAT Subject tests are multiple choice standardized tests given on 20 different subjects. They are additional tests that can be done on top of the regular SAT as required by the specific schools you're applying to. Here's a list of the different tests offered according to the Wikipedia site…
| Test | Subject | Notes |
| SAT Subject Test in Literature | Literature | |
| SAT Subject Test in United States History | U.S. History | |
| SAT Subject Test in World History | World History | |
| SAT Subject Test in Mathematics Level 1 | Mathematics | Consists of algebra, geometry, basic trigonometry, algebraic functions, elementary statistics and a few miscellaneous topics. |
| SAT Subject Test in Mathematics Level 2 | Mathematics | Formerly Math II or IIC. Consists of algebra, geometry, trigonometry, functions, statistics and a few miscellaneous topics. |
| SAT Subject Test in Biology E/M | Biology | Students have a choice of taking either an ecology or molecular biology oriented test |
| SAT Subject Test in Chemistry | Chemistry | |
| SAT Subject Test in Physics | Physics | |
| SAT Subject Test in Chinese with Listening | Chinese | |
| SAT Subject Test in French | French | |
| SAT Subject Test in French with Listening | French | |
| SAT Subject Test in German | German | |
| SAT Subject Test in German with Listening | German | |
| SAT Subject Test in Modern Hebrew | Modern Hebrew | |
| SAT Subject Test in Italian | Italian | |
| SAT Subject Test in Japanese with Listening | Japanese | |
| SAT Subject Test in Korean with Listening | Korean | |
| SAT Subject Test in Latin | Latin | |
| SAT Subject Test in Spanish | Spanish | |
| SAT Subject Test in Spanish with Listening | Spanish |
That all depends on where you're applying and whether your school requires that you complete a subject test on top of the standard SAT examination. Visit Compass Admission Requirements for an up-to-date listing of the major colleges and universities within the United States that require you to take these.
Usually, these tests can be given to you on the same day as your regular SAT examination and you are able to write up to 3 different SAT Subject Tests a day. Each test takes an hour to complete and each test has different requirements.
For example, if I were in anticipation of attending a school later on for medicine, my school of choice could require of me to do an SAT Subject Test on Biology.
Using Biology as an example, according to College Board who creates these tests, you canThen when you get into your test, you just select which one you'd like to write. You cannot write these two tests on the same day, so pick the one you'd like to do and stick with that. Each test comes with its own preparations and things to know.
Using our biology example once more, there are a few things you're to anticipate…
Not a problem, post below, or start a discussion and we'll help you find what you're looking for!
Dear pranky109,
Generally most of the schools require SAT. But very few colleges, based upon your course of study and your academic background, require SAT II. So you should check this with the respective schools that you are planning to join. You can find this info in their websites.
Also, SAT and SAT II are separate. You don’t need to pass the SAT first in order to take a topic SAT II, although most people do it in this order because the regular SAT is generally more important, so it’s better to get it out of the way first.
I’m not sure whether it’s a good idea to take both tests on the same day, because you’ll have to prepare for both, which can affect your scores negatively. I’m pretty sure you’re can’t (or at least not supposed) to take both math1 and 2, you should only take the one that fits what you’ve learned already according to the topics. A variation in subjects isn’t completely necessary (for example you could take biology, physics, and chemistry or literature instead of biology, it wouldn’t matter). However, if a school requires you to take certain subject tests, make sure you’ve checked with them and know which ones to take. If you can choose whichever ones you want, just take the ones you’re best at. You can find more information on the CollegeBoard site.
Enter your information to get matched with top Undergraduate programs across the USA & Canada. Get your life off on the right path with a Top Bachelor Degree:
The beautiful thing about learning is that no one can take it away from you.
© 2008–2010 Savvica, Inc. All rights reserved. Service Agreement and Privacy Policy .
Are you a college recruiter? See our Recruiting Services! Looking for Colleges in India or Practice Tests?
Are you an indian student planning on attending college? Our expert counselling can help.
How does counselling work?
Colleges
Study Abroad
Post Comments
The difference between math1 and 2 is the level of difficulty and types of questions. Colleges may require 1 or 2 depending on the type of program you’re going in- math heavy programs are more likely to require math2 but basic science programs may only require math1.