While high school Freshmen and Sophomores are not facing college applications in the next year, in my experience, a little forward thinking can give 9th & 10th graders as many options as possible for college.
SAT Subject Tests are separate exams from the commonly known SAT Reasoning Test. Each SAT Subject Test is an hour-long, single academic topic, multiple choice test. In previous generations, the SAT Subject Tests were known as Achievement Tests or SAT II’s.
Taking SAT Subject Tests are one forward planning task that can strengthen a future college applicant’s competitiveness for admissions. While some college admissions eligibility requirements include SAT Subject Tests, more often, SAT Subject Tests add value to a student’s college applications, since the student extended their efforts beyond the minimum eligibility requirements for college admissions.
As Freshmen and Sophomores complete classes, like Biology or World History, taking the corresponding SAT Subject Test in June of the appropriate school year will add to a college resume, without adding more preparation time or effort. Students can always retake the SAT Subject Test, if unsatisfied with their scores. (Note: just because a student finishes a class, where s/he could take an SAT Subject Test, doesn’t mean s/he should take the tests. That decision depends on the individual student and his/her goals.)
While seeking college admissions doesn’t have to become a Freshman or Sophomore’s primary focus, a small amount of foresight can prevent, “If only I knew…” regrets as a Senior and position students for the greatest range of options when time comes to apply to college.
If you have questions specific to a student, seek further advising. While I write from my professional experience, not every student who we’ve advised, who’s now in (or graduated from) college, took SAT Subject Tests in the 9th or 10th grades.
