What I Learned From Taking SAT Subject Tests

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When your standardized test scores feel like the be-all, end-all of your college applications, it’s no wonder it feels like everyone around you is stacking AP/IB exams and SAT Subject tests on top of their SAT I. So should you follow in suit?

I took three SAT Subject Tests during my high school career, according to either what I thought I was going to major in at the time, or to what I was good at or needed to boost – you can, after all, take them across a wide range of subjects not unlike the AP course selection. Looking back, I’m not entirely sure whether they were an active deciding factor for my college application process, but I think they were helpful enough to be worth the experience.

Yeah, yeah, waking up early after you thought you were done after the SAT I wasn’t fun (and I can definitely relate), but clearly many high school students are finding it well worth their time. This is what I discovered from taking these tests:

Find and Display Your Strengths and Interests

The actual subjects of SAT Subject Tests range widely, from Biology to Literature to U.S. or World History to a variety of languages. If you feel you’re a beast at stoichiometry or redox equations, consider taking the Chemistry Subject Test, while your friend who effortlessly memorizes dates from the Civil War should sign up for the U.S. History exam. This way you can show your skill and knowledge in one particular subject, rather than just tackling a broad range of problem types with the SAT I.

I personally took the Biology and Chemistry SAT Subject Tests because I expected to major in some science field – perhaps become a pharmacist or, dreaming big, a pediatrician. Studying for these was not easy no matter how hard I tried to keep up a positive attitude; it felt like the minute details of cellular respiration and every other biological process were going in one ear and straight out the other! Only now have I realized that science may not be my calling after all. Still, I may not have applied as a Biochemistry major, but my exams showed admissions officers that I was genuinely interested in these subjects on top of what the rest of my business and literature-focused application said.

Fill in Past Holes

One of my friends who’s a current high school senior decided to take the Literature Subject Test in an effort to boost a not-so-stellar Critical Reading score on her SAT I. This is just as good a strategy as any if you need to play your SAT Subject Test card on the table, and I used it myself when I took the Math Level 2 Exam to balance out my lower math grades on my transcript (oh, calculus, the bane of my existence).

If you feel you have weaknesses in any area – and believe me, most people do and that’s okay – then putting in the time to study and prepare for the SAT Subject Test of your particular weak spot will show colleges you’re taking the initiative to patch up these holes. Especially if you’re going to take the AP or IB exam for these subjects, why not knock out two targets at once? (A pro-tip for you sophomores and juniors: this strategy works for your PSAT and SAT studying as well! You have to study for the SAT anyway, so you might as well start during PSAT season.)

Build a Stronger Academic Profile Overall

SAT Subject Tests are no walk in the park. Although they’re only an hour long each (quick and painless), that often means you have only 60 minutes to answer 80-85 questions, leaving less than a minute per question. Make sure to time your practice tests so you won’t run out of time during the real test.

These tests may also cover coursework that your regular high school-level class doesn’t – for instance, the SAT Biology Subject Test contained some material that was only taught in my school’s AP Biology course, so attempting the exam after merely taking freshman Biology probably wasn’t my best and brightest idea. This demands extra studying, whether it’s in a supplementary class or by yourself with some test prep books, but your efforts will pay off when colleges note down your impressive scores.

Some schools may even require you to have one or two SAT Subject Test scores, such as Carnegie Mellon University. Most will recommend having them (Georgetown University, for example, recommends having three) or say they’ll consider them if scores are sent in; others will require them only for prospective students applying to their Honors Program. Some schools do not even consider SAT Subject Tests at all (such as the University of Denver), so double-check the schools on your college list for their policies about SAT Subject Tests before you pay CollegeBoard’s registration fee.

As Boston College says, consider taking an SAT Subject Test to “highlight a talent in a specific area.” (Click “Standardized Test Scores” to see for yourself!) Some scores can even be used for placement in higher-level classes, so you won’t need to be learning introductory material you already know. Whether you’re boosting your strengths or fixing your weaknesses, SAT Subject Tests are the way to go.

Have you taken any SAT Subject tests, or are you considering taking any in the near future? Why did you choose to take (or not to take) them? Tell us in a comment below.

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