The COVID pandemic has brought numerous changes to standardized testing over the past few months, and the most drastic change has just been announced. Effective immediately, subjects tests will no longer be offered and students who have already registered will receive a refund. International students will still be able to take the subject tests for 2 more sessions in May and June. The SAT Essay section will also be discontinued for all students starting in June, so it is still possible to take the essay portion in the next few months.
In a statement on their blog, the College Board explained that this decision was to “adapt to new realities and changes to the college admissions process” and to “reduce demands on students.” In our expert opinion, it seems like announcements by the University of California system, Harvard University, and other universities to drop their SAT requirements have pushed the College Board to move away from relying on the SAT as their main offering.
7EDU’s analysis on how this impacts you:
The SAT Essay was already an optional section, so it comes as no surprise that they would discontinue it. However, if you are a student who is particularly strong at writing already and would still like to demonstrate your abilities, you should think about taking the SAT before they discontinue it in June. If you are confident that you can get a high score, it can only help you to show that off to colleges.
Meanwhile, the SAT Subject Test cancellation can only mean one thing: colleges will start to place a much greater emphasis on your AP test scores. AP tests are now the only objective scores that college admissions officers will be able to use when determining your ability in particular subjects, besides your grades. Previously, if you messed up on your AP Biology test and scored low, you could still take the SAT Biology Subject Test and hope for a better score to demonstrate your proficiency. With AP tests right around the corner in May, it’s now more important than ever to start your studying early and guarantee a perfect score.
7EDU specializes in helping students prepare for their AP tests through group classes or one-on-one lessons and has helped many students achieve a perfect 5 each year. Schedule a consultation with us today or give us a call at (408) 384-2690 to find out more about our classes.
Make sure to check out 7EDU’s guides to getting a 5 on some of the most difficult AP tests:
How to Get a 5 on AP US History