SAT Subject Tests — also called SAT IIs — were a series of one-hour, subject-specific exams in areas like Math, Biology, Chemistry, US History, and foreign languages. College Board permanently discontinued them in January 2021. Here is what replaced them and what current applicants need to know.
Why SAT Subject Tests Were Discontinued
College Board cited the COVID-19 pandemic's disruption to testing access, along with research showing that the exams had not been widely used by many colleges in making admissions decisions, as reasons for discontinuation. The pandemic accelerated a trend that had already been in motion — many schools had already made Subject Tests optional or irrelevant in recent years before the formal discontinuation.
What Replaced Them
AP exam scores now serve the closest equivalent role in demonstrating subject-area mastery. Strong AP scores (particularly 4s and 5s) signal subject-specific academic competence in ways that the old SAT Subject Tests did. Additionally, the general SAT and ACT provide overall academic benchmarking. For language proficiency specifically, many colleges now accept AP language exam scores, IB scores, or language-specific standardized tests like the STAMP or ACTFL assessments.
For Current Applicants
If you are applying to college now, SAT Subject Tests are simply not part of the process. Do not worry about them. Focus on AP exam preparation, the SAT/ACT, and the rest of your application. If you encounter outdated information online suggesting Subject Tests are required at specific schools, that information is pre-2021 and no longer accurate.