Planning for the SAT Subject Tests

Not all subject tests are created equal...

For parents of Juniors, the SATs and ACTs are rapidly approaching. Although SAT/ACT scores are an integral part of your child’s college application, top schools will also expect applicants to have taken two to threeSAT Subject Tests.  Students must be prepared to choose tests that play to their strengths and require as little extra time and preparation as possible. Some Sophomores may decide to take Chemistry or even Math I or II, so SAT Subject Tests are not just for Juniors. Here is a link to all of the possible SAT Subject Tests: College Board's recommendations for SAT Subject Test preparation.

We've made a graph to give you a better sense of the mean SAT scores for each of the SAT Subject Tests:

As you can see, these tests are different in terms of their curves, so students need to think carefully about which Subject Tests they take. Moreover, some high school courses better prepare students for these Subject Tests than others, so while one US History course will leave students with only a little extra work to get ready for the SAT Subject Test in US History, another may not.

In the coming months, we'd be happy to discuss a strategy based on past data, diagnostic testing and your child's school.