Frequently Asked Questions

The SAT Reasoning Test (commonly referred to as the SAT), combined with your high school grade-point average (GPA), helps colleges to determine how likely it is that you will do well at the school. Since course content and grading standards vary so much between different schools, scores on standardized tests, like the SAT, help colleges compare the academic ability of students from different schools and backgrounds.

Unlike the SAT, the PSAT scores are not sent to colleges and are not used for the college admissions process. Instead, the PSAT is the qualifying test for the National Merit Award. The PSAT contains questions that are designed to be slightly easier than those on the SAT and is approximately half as long as the SAT. However, since the SAT and the PSAT measure similar skills and have similar structures, preparing for and taking the PSAT can be excellent practice for taking the SAT.

Since colleges have different admission requirements, you should contact colleges you are interested in attending to determine admission and application requirements. Most colleges require the SAT for admission. Some schools do not require any SAT II test scores; other schools require up to three different SAT II scores. In addition, some schools will require specific SAT II tests, while others allow you to choose which tests to take.

There are 22 SAT II Subject Tests. The 22 Subject Tests include: Writing (with an essay), Literature, U.S. History, World History, Math Level IC, Math Level IIC, Biology E/M, Chemistry, Physics, French Reading, French Reading with Listening, German Reading, German Reading with Listening, Spanish Reading, Spanish Reading with Listening, Modern Hebrew Reading, Italian Reading, Latin Reading with Listening, Japanese Reading with Listening, Korean Reading with Listening, Chinese Reading with Listening, and the English Language Proficiency Test.

Most students take the test in spring of their junior year or fall of their senior year. Since the SAT II: Subject Tests focus on specific subjects, it is helpful to take tests such as math, history, or science as soon as you have completed a course in the subject, while the information is still fresh in your mind. You may not take the SAT test and a SAT II test on the same day, so you should schedule two different test dates for the SAT and any SAT II tests.

First, a raw score for each section is calculated. The raw score consists of one point for each correct answer minus one-fourth point for each incorrect multiple choice answer. The raw scores are then converted into scaled scores from 200-800, one score for each of the three sections, which together form a combined score on a 600 - 2400 scale.

The writing section scaled score is the combination of the multiple choice subscore and the essay subscore. The multiple choice subscore counts for approximately twice as much as the essay subscore.

You can take the test as many times as you like. However, schools receive all available scores, including scores from previous test administrations.