Do I need to take SAT Subject tests?

<p>I always see people concerned about taking their SAT II subject tests, but are these really necessary? How many do I need to take? Math,, Physics, English, and what else?</p>

<p>Generally depends on which college you're going to and if you want to exempt some college courses. I think if you do really well on a specific subject test, say for instance Physics, you can exempt the general Physics in college. I think that's right.</p>

<p>These are the subject tests you can take: Literature, U.S. History, World History, Math (IC and/or IIC), Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and the broad genre of foreign languages (Chinese, French, German, Spanish, Modern Hebrew, Italian, Latin, Japanese, and Korean). You can also decide if you want to take listening or not for those languages, but you have to take the listening for Japanese and Korean. There is no listening for Modern Hebrew, Latin, or Italian.</p>

<p>Most schools ask for them on your app, and a lot of those require them. Have you decided which schools you're applying to? Their Web sites will tell you if you need to take any SAT IIs. Usually they want Math I or II (take II; it's more impressive) and at least one "liberal arts" kind of test or a science test depending on your major.</p>

<p>Vast majority of colleges do not require and do not consider SAT IIs to determine admission. However, most high ranked colleges do. Go here for a list of colleges that require, recommend or consider IIs and also provides number required: Compass:</a> Admissions Requirements</p>

<p>If the colleges to which you are applying aren't on the list, you don't need to take IIs. In meeting number required, you can usually take any IIs as long as they are in different subjects and it is not correct that most want to see a math Sat II. At any particular college requiring IIs, they will often require math if you are applying to math, science or engineering but otherwise it makes no difference. Stanford, which does not require IIs but highly recommends them, recommends that one of them be math IIc. The UCs which require IIs do not accept the math Ic and will only take the math IIc if you choose to submit a math but do not require a math or even prefer it.</p>

<p>I think for some schools you can take the ACT instead.</p>

<p>That is correct, some colleges that require IIs will take the ACT in lieu of both the SAT and SAT IIs. Go to the webpage I listed above. Look in the required column. Those that have an * next to the number required are colleges that take the ACT in lieu of both the SAT and SAT IIs.</p>