Information on the SAT II Subject Tests and How They Differ from the SAT I

It is that time of year again. It is the time for filling out college applications, deciding which college or university is the best choice, and taking the SAT's. While most high school students know that they will have to take the SAT I (also known as the SAT Reasoning Test) to enter the college or university of their choice, some may not be aware of the SAT II Subject Tests that they may be expected to undergo. Many students may ask "What are the SAT II subject tests? What tests are included in the SAT II battery? How does the SAT II differ from the SAT I? We will address these questions in the upcoming paragraphs.

The SAT II

The SAT II is composed of 20 multiple choice standardized tests that are given on various individual subjects. A student usually chooses which of these tests to take based on the entrance requirements of the college or university which he or she wishes to attend. Each of the SAT II subject tests requires one hour to take, and a student can take up to three of these tests on any given test date which usually coincides with the dates that the SAT I is administered. The purpose of the SAT II subject tests is to measure a student's knowledge and skills in a particular subject or area of study and the student's ability to apply that knowledge. Before a student registers to take any of the SAT II subject tests, he or she should check with the educational institutions to which he or she is applying to see which of these tests are required for admission.

Subject Tests Included in the SAT II

The SAT II collection of tests covers approximately seventeen different individual subjects. These subjects include English Writing, English Literature, United States History, World History, Biology E/M (Ecological and Molecular), Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics, French, German, Modern Hebrew, Italian, Latin, Spanish, Chinese, Japanese, and Korean.

The English Writing test is composed of 60 multiple choice questions as well as a 20 minute essay that is to be written on an assigned topic. The English Literature test has approximately 60 multiple choice questions that are based on 6-8 prose and poetry reading passages.

The United States History test contains 90 to 95 multiple choice questions on topics such as politics, economics, social and cultural history, and foreign policies. This format is also the case with the test on World History.

The Biology E/M test consists of 80 multiple choice questions that cover such areas as Cellular and Molecular Biology, Ecology, Classical Genetics, Organismal Biology and Evolution and Diversity while the Chemistry test includes 85 multiple choice questions on such topics as Structure and State of Matter, Stoichiometry, Equilibrium and Reaction Rates, Reaction Types, Thermodynamics, and Descriptive Chemistry. The Physics test contains 75 multiple choice questions addressing such issues as Mechanics, Electricity and Magnetism, Heat, Kinetic Theory and Thermodynamics, Modern Physics, and others. The Mathematics test has 50 multiple choice questions on such topics as Algebra, Geometry, Trigonometry, Statistics/Probability, and other miscellaneous areas.

The French test is composed of 85-90 multiple choice questions that focus on listening questions that are based on pictures, dialogues, and monologues as well as a reading section that covers vocabulary, grammar, sentence structure, and reading comprehension; the structure of the German test is almost identical to that of the French test.

The Modern Hebrew test contains 85 multiple choice questions that focus on vocabulary, grammar, sentence structure, language patterns, and reading comprehension. The format of the Italian test is similar to the Modern Hebrew test, but the Italian test includes questions related to familiarity with the appropriate usage of idioms and phrases within the Italian language.

The Latin test is made up of 70-75 multiple choice questions that concentrate on vocabulary, grammar, sentence completion, translation, and reading comprehension. The Spanish test consists of 85 multiple choice questions that contain listening questions which are based on pictures and short conversations as well as a reading section that covers vocabulary, grammar, sentence structure, familiarity with appropriate usage of idioms and phrases, and reading comprehension.

The Chinese, Japanese, and Korean tests are all identical in their formats; they contain 85 multiple choice questions that center on listening comprehension, reading comprehension, sentence completion, and familiarity with appropriate usage of idioms and phrases of the particular language.

Differences Between the SAT I and The SAT II

While both the SAT I and the SAT II tests are scored on a 200-800 scale and provide educators with a standard measure of academic performance, several differences between the two sets of tests exist. The SAT I (SAT Reasoning Test) is composed of three main sections (Critical Reading, Mathematics, and Writing) that are scored on an 800 point scale per section while the SAT II subject tests only concentrate on one area that is worth 800 points total. The SAT I test takes 3 hours and 45 minutes to complete while the individual SAT II subject tests only take an hour to finish. The SAT I provides those in the college admissions department with a general idea of academic performance while the SAT II subject tests demonstrate students' knowledge of certain areas of academics and the students' abilities to apply the knowledge of the subject for which they are being tested.

Sources:

http://www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SAT

http://www.a2zcolleges.com/exams/sat%20II.htm

http://www.satprep.ca/sat2_test.asp