SAT Subject Tests: Pattern 2020

Important update (2026): SAT Subject Tests were discontinued by the College Board in 2021 and are no longer offered. The current Digital SAT has Reading and Writing and Math sections; it does not include separate subject tests. This guide remains available as historical context for families reviewing older requirements.

SAT Subject Tests are discontinued: a current application approach

• Check each college’s current testing policy rather than relying on historic lists of exams.
• Build the strongest course plan available to you in your school curriculum.
• Prioritise sustained academic performance, essays, recommendations and activities.
• Keep your college list aligned to current requirements for international applicants.

Historical SAT Subject Test format (pre-2021)

Mathematics Level 1 Subject Test

Subject Test Score Range: 200-800

Time: 60 Minutes

Questions: 50 (Multiple Choice)

Mathematics Level 2 Subject Test

Score Range: 200-800

Time: 60 Minutes

Questions: 50 (Multiple Choice)

Biology E/M Subject Test

Score Range: 200-800

Time: 60 Minutes

Questions: 80 (Multiple Choice)

Chemistry Subject Test

Score Range: 200-800

Time: 60 Minutes

Questions: 85 (Multiple Choice)

Physics Subject Test

Score Range: 200-800

Time: 60 Minutes

Questions: 75 (Multiple Choice)

Literature Subject Test

Score Range: 200-800

Time: 60 Minutes

Questions: 60 (Multiple Choice)

U.S. History Subject Test

Score Range: 200-800

Time: 60 Minutes

Questions: 90 (Multiple Choice)

World History Subject Test

Score Range: 200-800

Time: 60 Minutes

Questions: 95 (Multiple Choice)

Spanish Subject Test

Score Range: 200-800

Time: 60 Minutes

Questions: 85 (Multiple Choice)

Spanish with Listening Subject Test

Score Range: 200-800

Time: 60 Minutes (20 minutes for listening questions and 40 minutes for reading questions)

Questions: 85 (Multiple Choice)

French Subject Test

Score Range: 200-800

Time: 60 Minutes

Questions: 85 (Multiple Choice)

French with Listening Subject Test

Score Range: 200-800

Time: 60 Minutes (20 minutes for listening questions and 40 minutes for reading questions)

Questions: 85 (Multiple Choice)

Chinese with Listening Subject Test

Score Range: 200-800

Time: 60 Minutes (20 minutes for listening questions and 40 minutes for usage and reading questions)

Questions: 70–75 (Multiple Choice)

Italian Subject Test

Score Range: 200-800

Time: 60 Minutes

Questions: 80–85 (Multiple Choice)

German Subject Test

Score Range: 200-800

Time: 60 Minutes

Questions: 85 (Multiple Choice)

German with Listening Subject Test

Score Range: 200-800

Time: 60 Minutes (20 minutes for listening questions and 40 minutes for reading questions)

Questions: 85 (Multiple Choice)

Modern Hebrew Subject Test

Score Range: 200-800

Time: 60 Minutes

Questions: 85 (Multiple Choice)

Latin Subject Test

Score Range: 200-800

Time: 60 Minutes

Questions: 70–75 (Multiple Choice)

Japanese with Listening Subject Test

Score Range: 200-800

Time: 60 Minutes (20-minutes for listening section and 40 minutes for usage and reading section)

Questions: 80 (Multiple Choice)

Korean with Listening Subject Test

Score Range: 200-800

Time: 60 Minutes (20 minutes for listening section and 40 minutes for usage and reading section)

Questions: 80 (Multiple Choice)

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