The SAT

Subject Tests ™

Help Students
Test
Descriptions

Spotlight Practice
Resources

Their Skills Registration

Deadlines

AN OVERVIEW FOR EDUCATORS

What You
Can Do
Advise Your Students
HELP THEM CHOOSE WHICH TESTS TO TAKE
Students should review 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 for
schools and agencies. Educators can order these for free at
sat.org/order-materials from May through December 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. Tell students if they don’t
use Score Choice we’ll send all their Subject Test scores from their
six most recent Subject Tests dates.

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 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 HOW THE SAT SUBJECT TESTS AND
ADVANCED PLACEMENT® WORK TOGETHER
SAT Subject Tests™ help your students spotlight their
SAT Subject Tests are high-school-level tests and reflect
academic strengths and gain an edge in admission.
what’s being taught in the high school classroom. Besides
offering benefits related to university admission, Subject
WHAT THEY ARE
Tests serve as a barometer of readiness for AP® Exams, which
§ 1 hour admission tests based on high school coursework.
assess student knowledge at a university level.
§ 20 tests across 5 subject areas: mathematics,
languages, sciences, history, and English. HOW COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES USE THEM
§ To gain deeper insight into student academic achievement.
§ Tests that deliver scores on a 200–800 scale.
§ To inform decisions on admission to selective
departments or majors.
Showcase Achievement
§ To place students in the appropriate course level.
HOW THEY BENEFIT STUDENTS
By taking SAT Subject Tests, students can:

§ Fulfill university requirements—many schools require

Students can register at
or recommend SAT Subject Tests to make admission or SATSubjectTests.org.
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.
What the SAT Subject Tests Cover
SUBJECT DESCRIPTION COURSEWORK PREPARATION

Mathematics § Assesses mathematics knowledge through § 3 years of university-preparatory

Level 1 the first 3 years of university-preparatory mathematics:
mathematics coursework
w 2 years of algebra

w 1 year of geometry

Mathematics § Assesses mathematics knowledge through § More than 3 years of

Level 2 the first 3 years of university-preparatory university-preparatory mathematics:
mathematics coursework and precalculus
w 2 years of algebra

w 1 year of geometry

w Elementary functions (precalculus)

and/or trigonometry

Biology E/M § Assesses understanding of general biology § 1 year university-preparatory course

(Ecological/ in biology
§ Covers knowledge of fundamental
Molecular) concepts, and application and § 1 year course in algebra and familiarity with
interpretation skills simple algebraic concepts such as ratios
and direct and inverse proportions
§ Biology E focuses on biological
communities, populations, and energy flow § Laboratory experience is helpful

§ Biology M focuses on biochemistry,

cellular structure, and processes, such as
respiration and photosynthesis

Chemistry § Covers the major concepts of chemistry § 1 year university-preparatory

and the ability to apply these concepts in course in chemistry
problem-solving scenarios
§ Familiarity with simple algebraic
§ Requires the ability to organize and relationships and applying these to solving
interpret results obtained by observation word problems
and experimentation
§ Familiarity with concepts of ratio and direct
and inverse proportions, exponents, and
scientific notation

§ Laboratory experience is helpful

Physics § Assesses understanding of the major § 1 year university-preparatory

concepts of physics and the ability to apply physics course
these principles to solve specific problems
§ 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 § 3 or 4 years of university-preparatory

learned to read and interpret literature 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 § 1 year university-preparatory

material commonly taught in U.S. history U.S. history course
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

World History § Assesses understanding of key § 1 year university-preparatory

developments in global history, the world history course
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

Languages § Assesses the ability to read by testing § 2–4 years of study in high school
(Reading Only): vocabulary use, language structure, and or the equivalent, or 2 years of
French, German, comprehension of a variety of texts strong preparation
Italian, Latin,
Modern Hebrew,
Spanish

Languages § Assesses listening comprehension § 2–4 years of study in high school

with Listening: or the equivalent, or 2 years of
Chinese, strong preparation
French, German,
Japanese, Korean,
Spanish

© 2020 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.
01675-116
The SAT Subject Tests ™
IMPORTANT: To see more
dates and any changes
to the testing calendar,

Calendar 2020-21 check sat.org or

sat.org/international.

Deadlines expire at 11:59 p.m. U.S. ET.

2020 2021

AUG OCT NOV DEC MAY JUN

Test Dates* 29 3 7 5 8 5
Domestic
July 31 Sep 4 Oct 7 Nov 5 Apr 8 May 6
Registration Deadline

Domestic Late Registration Deadline

Paper Aug 11 Sep 15 Oct 20 Nov 17 Apr 20 May 18

Online and Phone Aug 18 Sep 22 Oct 27 Nov 24 Apr 27 May 26

International
July 31 Sep 4 Oct 7 Nov 5 Apr 8 May 6
Registration Deadline

International Early Registration Deadline** July 15 Aug 19 Sep 23 Oct 21 Mar 24 Apr 21

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

Domestic Registration: sat.org/register International Registration: sat.org/international

Domestic Fees: sat.org/us-fees International Fees: sat.org/intl-fees
Fee Waivers: sat.org/fee-waivers

* Sunday test dates immediately follow the Saturday test dates except for October 18, which is shifted later to
avoid conflict with a religious holiday.
**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 August, October, November, December, May, and June.