Which Schools Require SAT Subject Tests?

Given that schools and teachers and schools grade differently, colleges look to SAT Subject Tests to provide them with an additional, standardised assessment of your knowledge in a particular subject. The tests can support your application and help you stand out from the crowd. However, unlike AP tests, SAT subject tests do not earn you college credit.

Please use the following (non-exhaustive) list to see if the school that you are applying to requires SAT subject test/s. Also realize that this information is subject to change, and so contact your targeted college (or check its website) to be certain about its policies.

Amherst: 2 Subject Tests required if submitting SAT scores; No Subject Tests required if submitting the ACT with Writing Barnard: 2 Subject Tests required if submitting SAT scores; No Subject Tests required if submitting the ACT with Writing Boston College: 2 Subject Tests required if submitting SAT scores; No Subject Tests required if submitting the ACT with Writing Brown: 2 Subject Tests required if submitting SAT scores; No Subject Tests required if submitting the ACT with Writing Bryn Mawr: Test Flexible Policy (2 Subject Tests or 2 AP Tests required if submitting SAT scores; No Subject Tests required if submitting the ACT ; An additional option asks for 3 SAT Subject Tests within specific categories in lieu of the SAT) California Institute of Technology: Math II Subject Test plus one of the following Subject Tests: Biology (ecological), Biology (molecular), Chemistry or Physics Carleton: Recommended, not required Carnegie Mellon: 2 Subject Tests required (Test content area depends on program to which you’re applying) Colby: No Subject Tests required if you submit the ACT or SATv Colgate: No Subject Tests required Colorado College: No Subject Tests required (Subject Tests can be used as part of their Flexible Testing Option) Columbia: 2 Subject Tests required (If applying to Columbia Engineering, a Math test with Physics or Chemistry is required) Cornell: Requirements vary by each college (Arts and Sciences requires 2 of your choice; Agriculture and Life Sciences has no requirement; Architecture, Art and Planning requires a Math test (either level) for Architecture; Engineering requires a Math (either level) and Science test; Industrial and Labor Relations requires Math (either level) for SAT test takers, but exempts ACT test takers from this requirement Dartmouth: 2 Subject Tests required Davidson: No Subject Tests required, but recommended with the SAT (If submitting the ACT, the Writing section is recommended) Duke: 2 Subject Tests required if submitting SAT scores; No Subject Tests required if submitting the ACT with Writing Emory: Encouraged, not required George Washington University: No Subject Tests required for general admissions (2 Subject Tests recommended for University Honors Program; Science and Math Subject Tests required for admission to Seven Year BA/MD Program) Georgetown: 3 Subject Tests strongly recommended Georgia Tech: No Subject Tests required, but can be used for Chemistry and/or English course credit Hamilton: No Subject Tests required, but can be taken in lieu of the SAT and ACT Harvard: 2 Required (Cannot both be Math; If English is a second language, the student shouldn’t use a test of his or her first language.) Harvey Mudd: 2 Subject Tests required, and one of those must be the Math II Haverford: 2 Subject Tests required if submitting SAT scores; No Subject Tests required if submitting the ACT with Writing Johns Hopkins: Submission of up to 3 Subject Tests is strongly encouraged for general admissions; Students who may major in Engineering are strongly encouraged to submit scores from the Math II and one Science Subject Test Lafayette: Recommended, not required Lehigh: Recommended, not required Middlebury: No Subject Tests required (3 Subject Tests can be submitted in lieu of the SAT and ACT) MIT: One Math and one Science SAT Subject Test are required NYU: No Subject Tests required (3 Subject Tests can be submitted in lieu of SAT and ACT) Northwestern: No Subject Tests required unless applying to the Honors Program in Medical Education or the Integrated Science Program Oberlin: No Subject Tests required, but 2 are recommended for the College of Arts and Sciences Occidental College: Recommended, not required Pomona: SAT plus 2 Subject Tests required (2 tests cannot be in the same subject area) Princeton: 2 Subject Tests Required Rice: 2 Subject Tests required if submitting SAT scores; No Subject Tests required if submitting the ACT with Writing Scripps: Recommended, not required Skidmore: No Subject Tests required, but submission of 2 Subject Tests strongly recommended Stanford: No Subject Tests required, but submission of 2 Subject Tests recommended Swarthmore: 2 Subject Tests required if submitting SAT scores; No Subject Tests required if submitting the ACT with Writing (Recommended that potential Engineering majors take the Math II Subject Test) Trinity: No Subject Tests required (Subject Tests can be submitted in lieu of SAT and ACT) Tufts: 2 Subject Tests required if submitting SAT scores; No Subject Tests required if submitting the ACT with Writing Union College: No Subject Tests required (Subject Tests required for the 8 year medical program) University of California - Irvine: No Subject Tests required, but Subject Tests recommended University of California - Los Angeles: No Subject Tests required (School of Engineering and Applied Science recommends Math II and a Science Subject Test) University of California - San Diego: No Subject Tests required (School of Engineering and Division of Biological Sciences recommends Math II and a Science Subject Test) University of California - Santa Barbara: No Subject Tests required (Specific tests are recommended depending on planned major) University of Miami: No Subject Tests required except for entrance to the Honors Program in Medicine University of Pennsylvania: 2 Subject Tests required if submitting SAT scores; No Subject Tests required if submitting the ACT with Writing University of Rochester: Recommended, not required University of Southern California: Recommended, not required University of Texas - Austin: No Subject Tests required (Subject Tests can be used for credit) University of Virginia: Strongly recommended, not required Vanderbilt: No Subject Tests required (Applicants to the School of Engineering are strongly encouraged to take the Math I or Math II Subject Test) Vassar: 2 Subject Tests required if submitting SAT scores; No Subject Tests required if submitting the ACT with Writing Washington and Lee: No Subject Tests required (Submitting 2 Subject Tests is strongly recommended) Wellesley: 2 Subject Tests required if submitting SAT scores; No Subject Tests required if submitting the ACT with Writing Wesleyan: 2 Subject Tests required if submitting SAT scores; No Subject Tests required if submitting the ACT with Writing Whitman: No Subject Tests required (If Subject Tests were taken, students are asked to submit scores) Williams: 2 Subject Tests required Yale: 2 Subject Tests required if submitting SAT scores; No Subject Tests required if submitting the ACT with Writing