Whatever you may feel about the value of admissions tests, they are still required for most applicants to most colleges. Therefore, it is to your advantage to create a testing plan that will work for you. There are two ways to approach this task. One way is to first determine the test requirements of the colleges that interest you, and then plan to take all of the tests needed. That way, if none of your proposed colleges requires subject tests, you can eliminate these from your testing schedule. The drawback of this plan, however, is that lack of appropriate tests could reduce your college options when you do create your final list.
A second option is to take all the tests you could possibly need for the most selective colleges and in that way keep your options open. With this plan, you would take an SAT Subject Test when you complete the terminal course in that subject area, assuming you have done well in that class. Thus, you might take the Spanish language exam after taking Spanish IV, or the U.S. History exam at the conclusion of that subject. Take two to four subject exams as you progress through high school, and you’ll have completed all of the subject tests that you could possibly need for college admission.
Although relatively few colleges require subject exams, most do want to see the results of SAT or ACT testing. Many students choose to take an initial test in each format and then focus on retesting in the format that yielded you the higher score. One way to keep your options open is to opt for taking the ACT with Writing. Many colleges are willing to accept the ACT plus writing in lieu of subject tests. To follow this part of the testing plan, you’ll need to allow for three separate testing dates, preferably all during your junior year. Get out a calendar and create a long range plan. Most juniors test between January and June, but other commitments, such as participation in sports events, may create conflicts. Although you can take both SAT and ACT in the same month (such as in June), you cannot take both the SAT Reasoning Exam and SAT Subject Tests on the same date. For these reasons, you may wish to begin testing earlier (perhaps in January or February of junior year) or you may have to delay some testing until the early part of senior year.
In January, May and October, the College Board offers a Question and Answer Service for the SAT reasoning test, at an additional $18.00 charge – worth getting in order to review your wrong answers closely and avoid making similar mistakes in the future.
