Help students show what they know.

2015-16

SAT Subject Tests™

A Guide for Educators

MATHEMATICS | HISTORY | SCIENCE | LITERATURE | LANGUAGES

Showcase achievement STUDENTS CAN BENEFIT FROM TAKING SAT SUBJECT TESTS™ BY:

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Differentiating themselves on their college applications by providing colleges with a more complete picture of their academic achievements and interests

Highlighting their strengths in particular subjects or programs of study, such as STEM (science, technology, engineering, math), the humanities, or foreign languages

Fulfilling college requirements; many schools require or recommend SAT Subject Tests for admission or placement purposes.

SAT Subject Tests™ at a glance WHAT THEY ARE

Hour-long college entrance exams based on high school course work

20 tests offered across five subject areas: mathematics, languages, science, history, and literature

Each test is scored on a 200- to 800-point scale

HOW UNIVERSITIES USE THEM

To gain greater insight into student academic achievement

To contextualize student grades and other credentials to make admission decisions

To place students in the appropriate college course level

What the SAT Subject Tests cover Subject Description Course Work Preparation

Mathematics Level 1

Æ– Assesses mathematics knowledge through the first three years of college-preparatory mathematics course work

Æ– Three years of college-preparatory mathematics: –Two years of algebra – One year of geometry

Mathematics Level 2

Æ– Assesses mathematics knowledge through the first three years of college-preparatory mathematics course work and precalculus

Æ– More than three years of college-preparatory mathematics: –Two years of algebra – One year of geometry – Elementary functions (precalculus)

and/or trigonometry

Biology E/M (Ecological/ Molecular)

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Assesses understanding of general biology

Covers knowledge of fundamental concepts, application, and interpretation skills

Æ– Biology E focuses on biological communities, populations, and energy flow

Æ– Biology M focuses on biochemistry, cellular structure, and processes, such as respiration and photosynthesis

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One-year college-preparatory course in biology

One-year course in algebra and familiarity with simple algebraic concepts such as ratios and direct and inverse proportions

Laboratory experience is helpful

Chemistry

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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

One-year college-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

Physics Assesses understanding of the major concepts of physics and the ability to apply these principles to solve specific problems

One-year college-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

Familiarity with the metric system

Subject Description Course Work Preparation

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Assesses how well the student has learned to read and interpret literature

Three or four years of Covers poetry, prose, and drama in college-preparatory literary studyEnglish and American literature from the Renaissance to the present

Literature

U.S. History

Æ– Assesses knowledge of and ability to use material commonly taught in U.S. history and social studies courses in high school

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World History

Covers political, economic, social, intellectual, and cultural history, as well as foreign policy from pre-Columbian history to the present

Æ– One-year college-preparatory U.S. history course

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Assesses understanding of key developments in global history, the 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

Æ– One-year college-preparatory world history course

Foreign Language Tests

Languages (Reading Only) French, German, Italian, Latin, Modern Hebrew, Spanish

Languages with Listening Chinese, French, German, Japanese, Korean, Spanish

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Assesses the ability to read by testing vocabulary use, language structure, and comprehension of variety of texts

Assesses listening comprehension

Æ– Two to four years of study in high school or the equivalent, or two years of strong preparation

Advising your students HELP THEM CHOOSE WHICH TESTS TO TAKE

Students should take into account the admission requirements of colleges, but they should also consider taking the tests in subjects in which they have an interest or excel. Even if students haven’t chosen prospective institutions yet, they may still want to consider taking a Subject Test at the end of a course in a subject they are interested in. They can decide later whether or not to send their scores.

ENSURE THEY REGISTER

The easiest way to register is at sat.org/register. Sudents without online access can register by using supplies sent to high schools. Schools can order for free at sat.org/order-materials.

ASSESS THEIR ELIGIBILITY FOR FEE WAIVERS

Counselors can distribute SAT® Fee Waivers to eligible students to use for taking up to three SAT Subject Tests in each of two sittings (up to six tests in total). Fee waivers are available for students in grades 9–12 and are in addition to fee waivers given for the SAT.

HOW THE SAT SUBJECT TESTS AND ADVANCED PLACEMENT® WORK TOGETHER

SAT Subject Tests are high school-level tests, reflecting high school curricula. As such, in addition to the benefits they provide related to college admission, Subject Tests can serve as a useful barometer of readiness for AP Exams, which assess student knowledge at a college level.

INFORM THEM ABOUT SCORE CHOICE™

Score Choice™ is an optional feature allowing students to choose which SAT Subject Test scores to send to colleges, in accordance with each institution’s stated score-use practice. If Score Choice is not used, all scores are sent to the selected score recipients.

Practice resources

Your students can find this information, plus a range of updated practice tools, at SATSubjectTests.org.

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SAT Subject Tests online practice questions with detailed answer explanations — FREE

Getting Ready for SAT Subject Tests Practice booklet — FREE

The Official Study Guide for all SAT Subject Tests™ — with answer explanations for all 20 Subject Tests

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™

2015-2016

SAT® and SAT Subject TestTM Calendar Register at sat.org/register

Test Dates* 2015 2016

Oct 3 Nov 7 Dec 5 Jan 23 Mar 5 May 7 Jun 4 Redesigned SAT

SAT • • • • • • •

SAT Subject Tests

Literature • • • •

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ject Tests are no

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ate.

• • Biology E/M, Chemistry, Physics • • • • • • 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 •

*Sunday tests are given the next day, except for Oct. 11, 2015.

Please visit sat.org/register for the most up-to-date information.

Be sure to review the test calendar carefully as not all subjects are offered on every test date. The SAT Subject Tests

offered on each test date are subject to change. Please check online for the latest test schedule.

Registration Deadlines 2015 2016

Oct 3 Nov 7 Dec 5 Jan 23 Mar 5 May 7 Jun 4

Regular Registration Deadline Sep 3 Oct 9 Nov 5 Dec 28 Feb 5 Apr 8 May 5

Late Registration Deadline, Paper Sep 18 Oct 23 Nov 20 Jan 8 Feb 19 Apr 22 May 20

Late Registration Deadline, Online and Phone Sep 22 Oct 27 Nov 23 Jan 12 Feb 23 Apr 26 May 25

Deadlines expire at 11:59 p.m. U.S. Eastern Time.

© 2015 The College Board. College Board, Advanced Placement, AP, SAT, and the acorn logo are registered trademarks of the 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 the College Board. Visit the College Board on the Web: www.collegeboard.org. 00097_007 783140