Standardized Admissions Tests: SAT, ACT, & SAT Subject Tests

SAT

Content: The SAT is a measure of the critical thinking skills you'll need for academic success in college. The SAT assesses how well you analyze and solve problems—skills you learned in school that you'll need in college. The SAT is typically taken by high school juniors and seniors. It is administered seven times a year in the U.S., Puerto Rico, and U.S. Territories, and six times a year overseas.

SAT Subject Tests

Primarily multiple choice, only one hour long. Measure knowledge in specific subject areas. The subjects currently offered are:

• Biology
• Chemistry
• Chinese with Listening
• French
• French with Listening
• German
• German with Listening
• Italian
• Japanese with Listening
• Korean with Listening
• Latin
• Literature
• Mathematics Level 1
• Mathematics Level 2
• Modern Hebrew
• Physics
• Spanish
• Spanish with Listening
• United States History
• World History

Many U.S. colleges and universities, especially those that have more competitive admissions criteria, either require or recommend one or more SAT Subject Test scores for admission and/or placement purposes. Be sure to check each institution's requirements before registering for an SAT Subject Test. While some colleges specify which subject tests you must take, others leave the option up to you. In this case, it is advisable to take exams in your strongest areas of study.

Scores: Each section of the SAT is scored on a scale of 200-800, and the writing section will contain two subscores. Therefore, the highest possible combined score on the SAT would be 2,400. Scores are reported separately to colleges for the mathematical and verbal sections. Most college directories and catalogs quote average scaled scores for each institution to give some guidance on relative selectivity. SAT Subject Tests are also scored on a 200 to 800 scale.

The American College Testing Assessment (ACT)

Administered by ACT, Inc., the ACT is used by every 4-year college and university in the United States.  Unlike the SAT, the ACT is curriculum based, meaning it directly tests students on the subjects they are learning in school. Because of this, some students tend to feel more comfortable with its format. 

The ACT is given up to five times annually, and ACT Test Centers are located in nearly 100 countries and territories around the world.  To see the specific dates and locations that the ACT is being offered in your country or territory, go to http://www.actstudent.org/regist/outside.html and select your country from the drop-down list under "Look up a test center".  To locate Test Centers in the United States, U.S. Territories, Canada, and Puerto Rico, use http://www.actstudent.org/regist/centers.html instead.

International students register for the ACT online at http://www.actstudent.org/. Registration deadlines are around five weeks prior to the exam. More specific information about dates, test centers, and free test preparation materials is available at http://www.actstudent.org/. 

Scores:For each of the four subject areas, you receive a raw score, which is the total number of correct responses. The score is then converted into a scaled score from 1 to 36. A composite score is then calculated by adding together the scaled scores and dividing the sum by four. The highest possible composite score is 36, and the lowest is 1. Scores take several weeks to reach universities.

Content: The ACT is a curriculum-based multiple-choice exam that measures student achievement in English, math, reading, and science reasoning. It also contains an optional writing component. Students can go to http://www.actstudent.org/ to see whether the college or university to which they are applying requires the writing component.

The SAT is given several times throughout the year at locations worldwide. Preregistration is required, and deadlines are usually six weeks prior to the exam. More specific information about dates, test centers, fees, and registration procedures is available in the SAT registration bulletin or on the SAT website. You can get copies of the registration bulletin from the College Board in the United States or from your nearest EducationUSA advising center. You may be asked to pay postage costs for these bulletins. U.S. centers also usually have sample questions and other test preparation materials for the SAT tests available for reference use, loan, or purchase.