The SAT
Subject Tests
™
Help Students
Spotlight
Their Skills
AN OVERVIEW FOR
INTERNATIONAL EDUCATORS
Test
Descriptions
Practice
Resources
Registration
Deadlines
What You
Can Do
Advise Your Students
HELP THEM CHOOSE WHICH TESTS TO TAKE
Students should check out the admission requirements of
colleges and universities they’re looking at, but they should also
consider taking tests in subjects they excel in or are interested in.
Even if students haven’t chosen their schools yet, they may still
want to consider taking an SAT Subject Test at the end of a course
in a subject they like. They can decide later whether or not to send
their scores.
MAKE SURE THEY REGISTER
The easiest way to register is at SATSubjectTests.org. If students
need to use paper registration, they can use supplies available to
schools and agencies. Educators can order these for free at
sat.org/order-materials from May through October each year.
TELL THEM ABOUT SCORE CHOICE
Score Choice
™
is an optional feature that lets students choose
which SAT Subject Test scores to send, in accordance with each
institution’s stated score-use practice. If any students decide not
to use Score Choice, they should be advised that all scores are
sent to their selected score recipients.
Help Them Get Ready
Your students can find the following resources, plus a range of
updated practice tools, at SATSubjectTests.org.
§ SAT Subject Tests online practice questions with detailed
answer explanations—FREE
§ The SAT Subject Tests Student Guide—FREE
§ Video lesson playlists from Khan Academy®—FREE
§ The Official Study Guide for all SAT Subject Tests™—with
answer explanations for all 20 Subject Tests
§ Individual, subject based study guides for:
w Mathematics 1
w Chemistry w U.S. History
w Mathematics 2
w Physics w World History
w Biology
Learn more at SATSubjectTests.org.
Get to Know the
SAT Subject Tests
At a Glance
SAT Subject Tests
™
help your students spotlight their
academic strengths and get an edge in admission.
WHAT THEY ARE
§ Hour-long admission tests based on high
school coursework.
§ 20 tests across 5 subject areas: mathematics,
languages, sciences, history, and English.
§ All tests scored on a 200–800 scale.
Showcase Achievement
HOW THEY BENEFIT STUDENTS
By taking SAT Subject Tests, students can:
§ Fulfill university requirements—many schools require
or recommend SAT Subject Tests to make admission or
placement decisions.
§ Stand out on university applications and give a more
detailed picture of academic achievements and interests.
§ Highlight strengths in particular subjects or fields, such
as STEM (science, technology, engineering, math), the
humanities, or languages.
HOW THE SAT SUBJECT TESTS AND
ADVANCED PLACEMENT® WORK TOGETHER
SAT Subject Tests are high-school-level tests and reflect
what’s being taught in the high school classroom. Besides
offering benefits related to university admission, Subject
Tests serve as a barometer of readiness for AP® Exams, which
assess student knowledge at a university level.
HOW COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES USE THEM
§ To gain deeper insight into student academic achievement.
§ To inform decisions on admission to selective
departments or majors.
§ To place students in the appropriate course level.
Students can register at
SATSubjectTests.org.
What the SAT Subject Tests Cover
SUBJECT DESCRIPTION COURSEWORK PREPARATION
Mathematics
Level 1
§ Assesses mathematics knowledge through
the first 3 years of university-preparatory
mathematics coursework
§ 3 years of university-preparatory
mathematics:
w 2 years of algebra
w 1 year of geometry
Mathematics
Level 2
§ Assesses mathematics knowledge through
the first 3 years of university-preparatory
mathematics coursework and precalculus
§ More than 3 years of
university-preparatory mathematics:
w 2 years of algebra
w 1 year of geometry
w Elementary functions (precalculus)
and/or trigonometry
Biology E/M
(Ecological/
Molecular)
§ Assesses understanding of general biology
§ Covers knowledge of fundamental
concepts, and 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
§ 1 year university-preparatory course
in biology
§ 1 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
Physics
§ Assesses understanding of the major
concepts of physics and the ability to apply
these principles to solve specific problems
§ 1 year university-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
§ 1 year university-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 the ability to apply these to
physics problems
SUBJECT DESCRIPTION COURSEWORK PREPARATION
Literature
§ Assesses how well the student has
learned to read and interpret literature
§ 3 or 4 years of university-preparatory
literary study
§ Covers poetry, prose, and drama in
English and American literature from
the Renaissance to the present
U.S. History
§ Assesses knowledge of and ability to use
material commonly taught in U.S. history
and social studies courses in high school
§ 1 year university-preparatory
U.S. history course
§ Covers political, economic, social,
intellectual, and cultural history, as well as
foreign policy from pre-Columbian history
to the present
World History
§ Assesses understanding of key
developments in global history, the
application and weighing of evidence, and
the ability to interpret and generalize
§ 1 year university-preparatory
world history course
§ 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 economi
c
Languages
(Reading Only):
French, German,
Italian, Latin,
Modern Hebrew,
Spanish
§ Assesses the ability to read by testing
vocabulary use, language structure, and
comprehension of a variety of texts
§ 2–4 years of study in high school
or the equivalent, or 2 years of
strong preparation
Languages
with Listening:
Chinese,
French, German,
Japanese, Korean,
Spanish
§ Assesses listening comprehension § 2–4 years of study in high school
or the equivalent, or 2 years of
strong preparation
© 2019 College Board. College Board, Advanced Placement, AP, SAT, and the acorn logo are registered
trademarks of College Board. 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 College Board.
Visit College Board on the web: collegeboard.org.
Khan Academy is a registered trademark in the United States and other jurisdictions.
01434-100
2019 2020
Test Dates*
OCT
5
NOV
2
DEC
7
M AY
2
JUN
6
International
Registration Deadline
Sep 6 Oct 3 Nov 8 Apr 3 May 8
International Early Registration Deadline** Aug 21 Sep 18 Oct 23 Mar 18 Apr 22
The SAT Subject Tests
Biology E/M, Chemistry, Physics
Literature
Mathematics Levels I and II
United States (U.S.) History
World History
Languages: Reading Only
French, Spanish
German, Italian, and Modern Hebrew
Latin
Languages with Listening
You may take only one listening test on this date.
Chinese, French, German,
Japanese, Korean, and Spanish
The SAT Subject Tests
™
Calendar 2019-20
Deadlines expire at 11:59 p.m. U.S. ET.
International Registration: sat.org/international
International Fees: sat.org/intl-fees
* Sunday tests are given the day after the Saturday test.
**If registering through a representative, students need to submit by the early registration deadline.
Advise students to review the test calendar carefully because not all subjects are offered on every test
date. The SAT Subject Tests are offered internationally in October, November, December, May, and June.
