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 university applications by providing universities 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 university 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 university 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

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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

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Biology E/M (Ecological/ Molecular)

Æ– Assesses understanding of general biology

Covers knowledge of fundamental concepts, 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

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Æ– 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

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Chemistry

Æ– 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

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Æ– 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

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Physics Æ– Assesses understanding of the major

concepts of physics and the ability to apply these principles to solve specific problems

Æ– 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

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Subject Description Course Work Preparation

–ÆAssesses how well the student has learned to read and interpret literature

Covers poetry, prose, and drama in English and American literature from the Renaissance to the present

–ÆThree or four years of college-preparatory literary study–ÆLiterature

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

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

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World History

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

Æ– 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 socialand economic

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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

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

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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 universities, 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 universities 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/international. If paper registration is required students can use supplies sent to schools and agencies. Educators can order these for free at sat.org/order-materials.

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 university 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 universities, 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/international

Test Dates* 2015 2016

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

SAT • • • • • •

SAT Subject Tests

Literature • • • • • • 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.

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

The calendar above does not apply across all countries. Visit sat.org/international for the most up-to-date schedule of tests,

Sunday test dates, and country-specific information.

Registration Deadlines 2015 2016

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

Aug 27 Oct 1 Oct 29 Dec 17 Mar 31 Apr 28Early Registration Deadline**

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

Deadlines expire at 11:59 p.m. U.S. Eastern Time. ** If registering through a representative, you will need to submit by the early registration deadline.

© 2015 The College Board. College Board, 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. All other products and services may be trademarks of their respective owners. Visit the College Board on the Web: www.collegeboard.org. 783143 00097_022