The SAT, a standardized test widely recognized for undergraduate college admissions in the United States, holds significance for many universities across the United States and Canada. It is the College Board, a non-profit organization in the United States, that owns, publishes, and manages the development of this test. Previously, the Educational Testing Service (ETS) was responsible for its development, publication, and scoring, but ETS now administers the exam.

The SAT encompasses two main components: the General SAT Reasoning Test and the SAT Subject Test, providing a comprehensive evaluation of students’ academic readiness for college.

SAT REASONING TEST

• Duration: 3 hours and 45 minutes
• Measures skills in critical reading, math, and writing
• Includes a 25-minute essay
• Assesses critical thinking skills necessary for college success
• Typically taken by high school juniors and seniors
• Important resource for colleges and a strong predictor of college performance
• Scores range from 200 to 800 for each section
• Comprises 10 testing sections:
  • 1st: 25-minute essay
  • Last: 10-minute multiple-choice writing
  • Sections 2-7: 25-minute segments
  • Sections 8-9: 20-minute segments
• Content order for sections 2-9 may vary among test-takers
• Widely used by colleges and universities for admissions.

SAT SUBJECT TEST

The SAT Subject Tests are concise one-hour examinations, primarily consisting of multiple-choice questions, designed to assess a student’s knowledge in specific subjects. These tests not only gauge a student’s comprehension of particular subjects such as English, history, mathematics, science, and language but also evaluate their ability to apply that knowledge effectively.

Students opt to take the Subject Tests as a means to showcase their expertise in specific academic areas to colleges. These scores are utilized by colleges for various purposes, including admission decisions, course placement, and providing guidance to students regarding course selection. When considered alongside other pertinent information like a student’s high school performance, scores from other tests like the SAT Reasoning Test, and teacher recommendations, the Subject Tests offer a reliable indicator of a student’s academic accomplishments and serve as a valuable predictor of their future academic performance.