Science / SAT Subject Tests

Information About Taking the
SAT Subject Tests in
Science

Ø Tests Offered:

· Biology E/M

· Chemistry

· Physics

Ø Who should take it?

We recommend that students enrolled in Honors or AP courses take the SAT subject test.

Ø When should you take it?
We recommend that students register to take the exam in June.

Ø Why should you take it?

The SAT is an international standardized test that offers a comparison of a student’s subject comprehension. Many of the first-tier colleges recommend that students take at least two subject tests for admission.

Ø What do you need to do to prepare for it?Students should purchase an SAT subject test review book to prepare for the test. In addition, they should consult with their classroom teachers for areas in which they may need extra help and attend remedial classes.

Subject	Test Description	Additional Review Suggested
Biology E/M Ecological/Molecular	In addition to taking a core set of Biology questions the Biology E/M test allows you to select a second set of questions on either Ecology or Molecular arenas. You must indicate Biology E or Biology M on the answer sheet on test day. You cannot take both tests on the same test date but can take them on two different test dates. · Take Biology E if you feel more comfortable answering questions about biological communities, populations and energy flow. · Take Biology M if you feel more comfortable answering questions about biochemistry, cellular structure and processes, such as respiration and photosynthesis.	All units for the SAT Biology are covered in Honors and AP during the school year. Units that are not covered in as much depth are: classification and medicine (Please note that this unit is covered in health classes). We recommend that students review these units independently and seek remediation prior to taking the exam.
Chemistry	The Chemistry Subject Test assesses your understanding of the major concepts of chemistry and your ability to apply these principles to solve specific problems. Please note that students are not permitted to use a calculator on the exam and will not receive a full reference table, they will be provided only a periodic table.	All units for SAT Chemistry are covered in the Honors and AP course. Organic chemistry is taught in late May/early June, so students are recommended to review this material independently.
Physics	The Physics Subject Test measures your knowledge of the basic principles of physics and your ability to use these concepts to solve specific problems. Please note that students are not permitted to use a calculator on the exam and will not receive a full reference table	Most units for the SAT Physics are covered in Honors and AP during the school year. Units that students should review independently are: heat and thermodynamics (This unit is covered in Chemistry) and Astrophysics. We recommend that students review these units independently and seek remediation. prior to taking the exam.