As more schools discontinue using SAT subject tests, does it still make sense to take them?

Frosh daughter needs to sign up for bio SAT subject test prep if she is going to take it in May/June. From what I can tell, however, that many schools, even highly selective ones, are no longer requiring them. Should she put that prep time into her current classes and maintain/augment her GPA? I doubt she will apply HYP, but might for some of the other Ivies and Stanford. She is more of a STEM than humanities student so the math/science subject tests are her best bets for high score. Would love to hear others’ opinions, especially from parents/students who are currently going through admissions season. TIA!

If she thinks she may apply to any college that requires/recommends/considers, then she should take them at the appropriate time. If she later changes her mind on her college list, and none of her schools need, then she will have wasted a few bucks and a few hours time. I find that preferable than scrambling at the last minute. Sending scores to those that recommend/consider them won’t hurt and may help.

Alas, more than a few bucks and a few hours. Her school teaches approximately 75% of what is on test, so students hire tutors and it is not a few bucks. The demands of the tutor class is the rough equivalent of a 6th academic subject.

Well, she’s a freshman, and perhaps bio is not the best Subject Test for her to take. If, after conversations with the GC and science chair, they all concur that they are not adequately preparing students in chem and/or physics, then you’ll need to weigh the financial/time impact of a prep class for one or both of those tests. My own experience, though, is that students that are targeting the top colleges that ask for Subject Tests are able to fill in the gaps on their own with a prep book. But perhaps it is different for the students in your area.

Independent school that does not teach to test. Bio department is strongest of all science departments @ school. Nearly all instructors have their PhD. Traditionally many frosh take the bio science test and nearly all take the tutor class. The goal is to get subject tests out of the way before junior year. Chemistry department not as strong as bio and not as many kids take the Chem subject test. Her other subject test options would be physics and Math 2, but she would not be able to take till junior year.

While many schools no longer require SAT II tests, they are still “recommended” by most of the T20s. Recommended means take them unless there is an undue hardship. I would personally say to take it, especially since this is the normal time for your daughter’s school. What she takes as her second test will depend on her intended major but if its STEM, she’ll probably need math II.

I would also take the bio test now, to get it over with. My D left subject tests until Jun of junior year and it was not good. In the last 6 weeks of the semester, she had her junior research paper due, an AP test, 2 subject tests and finals. Thank goodness she was done with the ACT test.

Those two statements are contradictory. In almost all cases, it’s advantageous for one of the subject tests to be math. If the proper time for her is to take it junior year, then she should take it junior year. There should be minimal prep that needs to be done for the M2 exam. And yes, I know that she’ll have SATs and maybe AP exams, but so does everybody. There is no advantage to taking it early, other than to get off the plate. But that won’t work if the student is not prepared with the subject.

There’s still something wrong with this picture if a prep course for a one hour test is “the rough equivalent of a 6th academic subject.” Personally, I think either the prep company is selling you a bill of goods or past students are exaggerating the prep involved. But the main question - should she take the Subject Test? Yes she should. And if you feel that the prep course is needed, then that’s a family decision.

Finally, this independent school where the kids “only” take 5 academic classes probably has a more effective college counseling office that the local public where the kids are taking 7-8 classes. These guys generally are well equipped to work with your daughter on coming up with the appropriate college list and also know what tests should be taken and submitted for said colleges. Having come from one of these HSs where the teachers don’t teach to the test, I know from experience that we’re able to figure it out.Good luck.

The statements are not contradictory - the goal is to get subject tests out of the way before junior year, but the only test she can get out of the way before junior year is the bio test as she is neither a lit nor history student. (Many students at her school take the history/lit tests at end of sophomore year.) I’m not crying a river - just asking people here if it makes sense to do this if even top NESCAC schools are dropping the subject test requirement.

That sounds really hectic. Has your daughter graduated or did she apply for schools this year? Thanks for your insights.

“Does not require or recommend subject tests, because I do not want to take them,” was one of my kid’s college selection criteria. It’s possible that belongs in the “stupidest reasons kid refused to look at a school” thread, but still, her college, her choice.

D graduates this year, and will be going to a NESCAC. FWIW I don’t think you need subject tests for any of the NESCACs, but others may feel differently.

If you have T20 unis on the list, your D would be a more competitive candidate with subject tests. Georgetown recommends 3, so if that’s on the list she needs those. Some Cornell schools require certain subject tests. Bottom line, do your research, and expect things to continue to be dynamic with regard to standardized testing.

As you know it’s best to take subject tests when the corresponding HS class is finishing up, and tutoring up can be necessary…you have to compare what is covered in the HS curriculum and what is on the subject test. D’s AP Bio class did not cover everything on the SAT subject test, but she did fine supplementing on her own with a review book. Math 1 is typically taken after alg II, Math 2 after pre-calc.

Following this with interest.

S2 attends “one of those” independent schools with very strong, well informed college counselors. Their advice is that while “recommended” more or less does mean “take it,” “considered” means “no good reason to take it” UNLESS it adds something to your story or supports some other part of it.

It’s really hard to contemplate having a kid not take subject tests, having lived through D and S1’s application cycles, pretty much at the absolute height of testing frenzy (the late oughts). And I do respect the opinions of many experienced posters here.

On the other hand, S2 is spread pretty thin already, and if he can realistically have one less prep-and-test, it would be a good thing.

Right now, his list has several "considered"s, a couple of not-even-mentioneds, and one or two "recommended"s.

It’s the “recommends” that is the issue.IMO, recommend = required unless low SES or in a really bad district where nobody knows about Subject Tests. For “one of those” independent schools, even with low SES since there are fee waivers, there really is not an excuse not to take for the upcoming admissions cycle. Keep in mind that the other 40K applicants will mostly have Subject Tests.

I’m certainly cognizant of over-testing, but often the ones that complain about it are the ones that are taking the SATs 4 times. And I really think that kids who have not taken Subject Tests (and their parents) sometimes drastically overestimate the amount of prep truly needed.

Keep in mind, though, that testing requirements seem to change every application cycle. When I applied 4 years ago, “recommended” was not even an option,and we had the 3 part SAT. 4 years later, the SAT went back to EBRW+M (plus essay) and many colleges have gone from required to recommended.on Subject Tests and have dumped the SAT/ACT essay. It may further evolve for the OP’s kid in the next 3 years.

Seems hard to believe that an academic-focused private school’s courses would not be sufficient preparation for the SAT subject tests, even if they were not specifically teaching to the tests. What I remember way back when was that, even in a then-rather-ordinary public school (about 1/3 of graduates directly to 4-year college), doing well in the related high school course (not AP) was enough to do well (> 700) in the Achievement test (as they were called then) without additional prep.

DD is interested in a NESCAC - of course, that can change, but is where her head is now. Thanks for your post - very helpful!

Well, that’s how it is at DD’s school. FWIW, most of her peers are shooting for 770-800, hence the prep.

So much has changed in admissions over the last 12 months. While I doubt schools will pivot quickly back to requiring subject tetss, perhaps they may still be a thumb on the scale at highly selective schools.

@BEsMama Same story with my D as school did not cover all the material. She got the Barron’s books for both Bio and Chem and studied on her own. It was’s that bad. She put most of the work during spring break when she had some free time and took some final practice tests labor day weekend. The college board now sells two extra real tests ($11?) which are great to practice in the end and see where you stand. My D managed really high scores. She is a junior now so at the time they were still required by some schools. After the rules changed she though it was probably a waste of time. However, she took the SAT recently and her score is just meh. Not bad but nowhere near her SAT subject tests. She ll take it again but now she is glad she has those two high scores to fall back. First it is a confidence boost second there are schools that are test flexible and accept SAT subjects instead of SAT. She will make a list of appropriate colleges according to her meh score but the SAT subjects I think will strengthen her application and offer some other options. In the end of course you will never know for sure what got you or not got you admitted. I would say for her to go ahead and take the test and if it is great score it is a positive. If it is a bad score don’t send and forget about it. I am not sure though about the high cost of tutoring.