<p>Can someone please explain to me the difference/what they are? Do you have to take both? What subjects are there?</p>
<p>For most colleges you must take either the SAT or ACT for admission (some actually do not require any test). The SAT has three sections, math, critical reading, and writing. It is mostly a general knowledge/thinking test. Math covers anything you get in high school or before through some but not much trig (no calc). Reading is reading passages and then answering questions about what you read. Writing is mainly a grammar section and actually writing an essay. </p>
<p>Sat IIs are specific subject tests that basically test what you should have learned in a high school subject such as US history, world history, literature, math, language, chemistry, physics, biology, some others. and you choose which ones to take. Vast majority of colleges neither require nor consider SAT IIs for admission. However, most of your high rank colleges require or at least recommend you submit two (and some three) scores from different SAT II subject tests. </p>
<p>Colleges on their websites tell you what tests are needed for admission.</p>
<p>You can learn a lot about the basics of the SAT and SAT IIs by going to collegeboard.com. College Board administers those tests. You can also learn about the ACT by going to act.org.</p>