SAT Subject Tests Discontinued by College Board

In January 2021, the College Board announced that it was no longer providing SAT subject tests in the US. After the June 2021 test date, they would no longer offer them internationally as well. Students who have signed up for the subject tests will have their registration canceled and will be refunded. What are SAT subject tests? SAT subject tests are college admission exams that are focused on one certain subject. These are the only national admission tests where you can choose to take the tests that demonstrate your skills in your best subject. There are 20 SAT Subject Tests in five topic areas: English, history, language, mathematics, and science. Each test is an hour long. All tests are multiple choice and are scored on a 200-800 scale. Subject tests test you on the knowledge that you have accumulated on a high school level. SAT Subject tests are usually given six times a school year, occurring at the same time and place as the SAT. However not all 20 SAT Subject tests are offered on every SAT date. You must look up and check to see what date specific tests will be available. The College Board released a statement, stating that they are cancelling the SAT Subject tests to reduce demands on students. AP tests have been becoming more popular, taking the necessity of SAT Subject Tests away. The College Board has not been the only one to make changes to national college admission exams. The cancellation of the SAT Subject Test can be highly beneficial to some individuals. People who are not strong test takers will have one less to worry about. Additionally, this cancelation benefits students who perform better on the SAT, allowing them to prioritize the SAT. Although, some students worry that this cancellation will put them at a disadvantage in regards to getting into a college. This can be balanced by taking more Advanced Placement tests as an alternative to SAT Subject Tests. Taking APs can help you be more rounded and showcase your strengths in a certain area. Harvard, the University of Pennsylvania, and the University of California system have rescinded their SAT and ACT requirements for the year.