Originally, SAT was an acronym for the Scholastic
Aptitude Test. In 1993, the test was renamed the SAT I:
Reasoning Test, and the former Achievement Tests were
renamed the SAT II: Subject Tests. The SAT I is a three-hour
test that measures verbal and mathematical skills. Scores
are used for college admission because the test predicts readiness
for college work. The SAT II: Subject Tests are one-hour,
primarily multiple-choice tests in specific subjects. These
tests measure knowledge or skills in a particular subject
and your ability to apply that knowledge. Many colleges require
or recommend one or more of the Subject Tests for admission
or placement. View
frequently asked questions at CollegeBoard.com.
The New SAT
The SAT changed in March 2005. Changes include:
A student-written essay
Analogies eliminated
Shorter reading passages added
New content from third-year college preparatory math
