RIP: SAT Essay and Subject Tests

Cause of death: Covid-19

It’s almost been two years, and Covid-19 has changed everything to the point that we’re all sick of hearing about it. I won’t bore you too much with a recap of the last couple years and how the SAT was affected, we were all there. Basically, test dates were postponed (sometimes eventually cancelled) to keep everyone safe.

Many colleges chose to waive the requirement for SAT/ACT scores entirely during the pandemic in an attempt to help students who were unable to register for test dates due to the chaos. While some schools are waiving the standardized test scores requirement indefinitely, a large portion are returning to pre-apocalypse standards, meaning SAT scores remain important for admission going forward.

It totally depends on which school you’re applying to as to what the admissions requirements are, so make sure you check with each school you apply to so you’re not missing anything you may need. The elimination of the essay and subject tests College Board offers is due to a few factors, but essentially the world of higher education is trying to reduce the demand on students and consolidate their offerings. 

If the SAT is Back On, Why Aren’t the Essays?

Simply put, College Board is trying to make the load on students applying to college lighter. Most colleges don’t care a ton about your essay score anyway. Well, maybe not most, but enough where it feels redundant to offer it. Most schools get a good idea of your ability to write with application essays that are already required, and the Writing & Language section on the SAT. The optional essay just solidifies what they already know from the other requirements, so scores often aren’t even considered. 

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If the same conclusions can be reached without the essay, it becomes less cost effective for both College Board and the student to opt into the essay. You don’t have to spend the extra money on it, and College Board doesn’t have to pay a person to grade it. The rest of the SAT can be graded digitally without the need for too many employees, saving them a ton of money in labor costs.

It’s really a win-win for both College Board and the student.  The elimination of the SAT essay isn’t because writing isn’t important, it just takes pressure off the students already studying for a million other things and allows and College Board to make room for other more popular tests and scores that essentially say the same thing.

What if I Registered for the SAT with Essay in 2021?

If you’re already registered to take the essay with your SAT, you can do so through June 2021. After June this year, the essay will no longer be an option unless it is required through your school’s SAT School Day. You can either be one of the last to take it, or you’re able to cancel on College Board’s website with no extra fees until the registration deadline for that test date.

What Even Was the Point of the Subject Tests, Anyway?

Subject tests have become less and less important in recent years. Typically used for admission into certain programs or for international students applying to college, subject tests are meant for a select group of students, unlike AP tests which are more widely administered.

College board also administers the AP tests, which are structured a little differently in some cases, but essentially test for the same things. College Board has recently decided that subject tests are no longer relevant amid the rise of AP students.

Also, while they frame discontinuing subject tests as trying to take some pressure off of students, especially amidst Covid concerns, it also saves College Board money to limit the number of tests they produce. AP tests are more expensive than subject tests, and considerably more popular, so it makes sense to consolidate what they offer into what sells the most, particularly since they’re so similar.

Some students have used subject tests in place of AP exams if they are homeschooled or attend a school that doesn’t offer AP courses, or if they’re don’t have the financial ability to afford the AP test fee. A huge downside to the subject tests disappearing is losing the option for a cheaper subject specific exam, in comparison to the AP exams.

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Historically, subject tests have also been a quick way to boost your SAT score and add some cushion to your resume. Especially if you’re lacking in extracurriculars or have a few dark spots on your transcripts, high subject test scores can balance you back out in admissions eyes. If your transcript shows you failed History, but you receive high marks on your History subject test, it shows that you know the material regardless of the grade your (probably) awful teacher gave you.

Also, the most selective schools have used subject test scores to differentiate between students who all score highly on the SAT. With proper test prep, many students can score in the 90^th percentile and up. Students are increasingly scoring higher on tests like the SAT, making it harder to differentiate between applicants, particularly if they’re applying to Ivy Leagues and other competitive schools.

Anyone who has a chance at admission to an Ivy League has top notch test scores, so what sets them all apart? The subject tests are just another score colleges could use to put you above or below your peers.

What if I Already Registered for a Subject Test?

There are only two subject test dates left in 2021 before they go away forever. These test dates, however, are not going to be offered for domestic students, even if you already signed up. If you live in the United States, you don’t have to worry about canceling your subject test. College Board has already cancelled and refunded all subjects tests for American students.

If you’re an international student, you can still take the subject tests in May and June, but keep in mind that most colleges are already aware that College Board is restructuring, and they may or may not take your scores into account. It totally depends on the schools you’re applying to, though. Many honors colleges and medical programs are still taking SAT Subject test scores into consideration for the rest of the year.

Pros and Cons of the Change

Pros:

• Without the essay and the subject tests to prepare for, now you have time to relax for a second and binge watch that show you’ve been putting off. Its not lost on College Board that a lot is asked of high school juniors and seniors preparing for college. You need good grades, extracurriculars, volunteer work, SAT scores, AP scores, and admissions essays. Throwing SAT essay scores (and however many subject tests you can manage) on top of it is overwhelming to say the least. Now its one less thing you have to worry about, and one less thing to study for. That’s a pro in anyone’s book!
• If you’re applying to a small school or a state school with a high acceptance rate, more good news is that the subject tests and the added essay did little to help you with admission in the first place, and now you can take the money you saved from not taking them, and get yourself a well-deserved burrito. Some schools wouldn’t even look at your subject tests scores meaning you put time, effort, and money in for nothing. No more wasted resources! Treat yourself to some guac too.
• Covid restrictions are lifting slowly in some places, but its still stressful to be in crowded public spaces. Also wearing a mask for hours while you test is… not great. The added pressure from the pandemic on top of normal academics is enough to make anyone crack. You don’t have to worry about scheduling extra pandemic test dates, and that is great!

Cons:

• You might be a student who was counting on solid subject test and essay scores to boost your SAT and get you into your dream school, but that safety net no longer exists. While subject tests typically have functioned this way in the past, fear not because AP tests seem to be replacing them. If you’re applying to top colleges that would require a boost from subject tests to set you apart, you’re probably already taking AP classes too. Put your energy into prepping for the SAT everyone takes and boosting your score that way, as well as acing your AP exams to show colleges how great you are!
• AP tests are more expensive than subject tests. Although very similar in concept, AP tests are significantly pricier, but somehow more popular. Subject test popularity has been on a steady decline in the last 10 years while AP popularity has skyrocketed. The benefit of AP over subject tests is that some colleges accept high AP scores as course credit, allowing you to skip remedial subjects you don’t need to review, but earning credit for it anyway. The minimum AP scores colleges accept for credit varies by school, and sometimes course. For example, you may need a 4 in AP Literature and a 5 in AP Stats to earn college credit for those courses. If you’re able to earn scores high enough for credit, the $95 fee is definitely worth it, but if you’re just looking for a boost for college admissions, $95 can be hard to swallow.
• If you’ve been preparing for subject tests and now they’re all cancelled, you might be frustrated about the time you feel like you wasted with nothing to show for it. How I see it, if you learned something and helped your mind grow in any way, nothing was wasted. Sure, you don’t have the opportunity to show what you’ve learned in the same way, but the study skills you practiced and the knowledge you’ve gained can’t hurt you either. I’m not sure if we can even count this as a con, honestly.

The Takeaways

Depending on how you look at it, the death of SAT subject tests and the SAT with essay could be a blessing or a curse. The ultimate goal for restructuring the supplemental tests SAT offers, is to take pressure off of students applying for college in a post-pandemic world.

So much is asked of high school juniors and seniors already, and when redundant things can be consolidated, they should be. Covid-19 changed the world of higher education forever and colleges are doing their best to accommodate difficulties brought on by the global pandemic.

The elimination of subject tests and the essay are just the beginning of what could be many changes to the admission processes used by colleges in this unprecedented time. Stay tuned for more updates!