Taking the SAT & SAT II Test for College

SAT II test were originally called Achievement Tests and then SAT Subject Tests and are still commonly known by all three of these names. They were created as an extension to the SAT test and are used as entrance exams to colleges. SAT tests your critical thinking skills by asking math and verbal questions, while the SAT II Subject Tests examines your knowledge and skills in a particular subject and the student's ability to apply that knowledge.

The SAT is a multiple-choice test designed to measure your verbal and mathematical reasoning skills and takes 3 hours to finish everything. It is organized into seven sections which include three verbal sections, three mathematics sections, and a section of equating questions.
The SAT II tests are divided into five general subject areas which includes English, History, Mathematics, Science, and Languages. These tests are divided into 20 smaller categories. All Subject Tests are multiple-choice tests and lasts one-hour each.

Many colleges require their applicants to take the SAT test and also take one to three SAT II test. Some colleges tell you which SAT II tests you must take to be accepted into their school, while other colleges let you make your own choice of which SAT II test to take.

In order to take the SAT II, you must be registered. At time of registration, you must choose which SAT II test you are going to be taking. You may take up to three SAT II category tests on the same day, but because these test are so gruelling, it is recommended that you take no more than two in one day and take the third on a different date.

The SAT IIs are administered by the College Board and are usually given on the same days as the SATs, except for the ones done in March. The language tests with listening are usually only given once a year, usually in November. Special arrangements can be made to take the test on Sunday instead of on Saturday for students who cannot test on Saturday due to religious observance.

Most students take the SAT II tests toward the end of their junior year or at the beginning of their senior year. Most students prefer to take the World History, Biology E/M, Chemistry, or Physics as soon as possible after completing the course in the subject, usually right after final exams in May and June while the material is still fresh in their mind. For the foreign language tests, it might be better if you take it after at least two years of studying it.
The SAT II tests are curriculum-based so it is much easier to study for them than it is for the SAT which is more general based.
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SAT II tests as lisited on www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/sat/about/SATII.html:
English
* Literature
History
* U.S. History (formerly American History and Social Studies)
* World History
Mathematics
* Mathematics Level 1 (formerly Mathematics IC)
* Mathematics Level 2 (formerly Mathematics IIC)
Science
* Biology E/M
* Chemistry
* Physics
Languages
* Chinese with Listening
* French
* French with Listening
* German
* German with Listening
* Spanish
* Spanish with Listening
* Modern Hebrew
* Italian
* Latin
* Japanese with Listening
* Korean with Listening

Resources:
1) http://www.a2zcolleges.com/exams/sat%20II.htm
2) http://www.eguidancecounselor.com/sat_ii.htm
3) http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/sat/about/SATII.html