The College Board has officially dropped the SAT essay and SAT Subject Tests from its lineup. That’s right…there’s no SAT essay ever again! There also will be no more SAT Subject Tests.
Coronavirus hit the SAT pretty hard. For most of 2020, SAT sessions were canceled around the world. When they were allowed, it was hard to get seats. As a result, many colleges and universities made the SAT and SAT Subject Tests optional for admissions. Some states, like California, have vowed to phase the SAT out of the admissions process altogether. We’ll get to whether this is good or bad in a moment. For now, here’s what the College Board had to say about each cancellation.
No SAT Essay
From the College Board:
What This Means
The essay will only be administered when necessary after June 21, 2021. Reading and Writing are tested in other parts of the exam, so the College Board feels that not much is being lost.
What We Think
The essay wasn’t a popular section of the SAT. In the last four years, we’ve only had a handful of students decide to complete it. Moreover, many universities were not requiring the essay. So what was the point…we guess College Board figured it wasn’t worth it. After all, you do have your admissions essays to write…
What This Means for YOU
- Don’t rush out to prep for and sign up for the essay.
- Cancel your essay if you already registered to do it.
- Focus more on getting good grades in your English classes.
- Be sure to write stellar application essays.
No SAT Subject Tests
Canceling the SAT Subject Tests was a big shocker! Here’s what the College Board had to say:
What This Means
Not familiar with the SAT Subject Tests? Read this first. US students do not have a choice to take these anymore. The College Board is canceling registrations and giving out refunds! Students in Dubai can still take the May and June Subject Tests, but this is pointless because they will no longer be required by universities in the next application cycle.
What We Think
We actually think that canceling the SAT Subject Tests was not a great move by the College Board. First, the Subject Tests were an opportunity for students with middling GPAs to prove that they, in fact, understood the information. Maybe you go to a very challenging school and were only able to earn a 3.3, but you really know your stuff. Scoring a 700+ on the SAT Math Subject Test, for example, could demonstrate that competence. A student with a better GPA might not be as proficient if they attend an easier school.
Second, the SAT has long been a device for finding students with great raw talent, but challenging daily situations. SAT Subject Tests help reaffirm the potential and boost that student’s profile. Imagine you have a difficult home life. Getting to school, having something to eat, and being able to just make it through the day are challenges. Unfortunately, many low-income and minority students face these difficulties. Will they have great GPAs with hungry bellies? Probably not. We saw the SAT Subject Tests as a way to demonstrate their potential, not penalize them for their home lives.
The Rant Continues…
Next, The College Board thinks that APs test the same thing, so why bother with Subject Tests? Unfortunately, everyone’s high school doesn’t offer AP classes. Or they may not offer the right ones related to a student’s major. What is the aspiring engineer going to do without being able to prove that she is good a physics?
Lastly, many international universities were using the Subject Tests as a proxy for their tests for students graduating from US curriculum high schools. For example, a student who attends Dubai American Academy, but wants to go to City University London, would be required to take SAT Subject Tests or earn certain scores on AP exams. Believe us, it is easier to score well on a Subject Test than an AP exam. Furthermore, these exams are used by universities all over the world because they are in countries with exam based systems. However, the American system is NOT exam based. So how is a university supposed to compare the different students?
What This Means for You
- Don’t rush out to prep for and sign up for the subject tests.
- Plan your high school courses very carefully because you will need AP classes if they are offered.
- Know the requirements of colleges in the country to which you are applying.
No SAT Essay or Subject Tests: What This Means for Students in Dubai
1. Your GPA is even more important.
With SAT Subject Tests, you might have been able to offset a so-so GPA (3.3 and below). No more! Now you will have to bring it because there will be fewer tests to demonstrate your skills.
Up until a few years ago, some countries (we’re looking at you Canada) accepted students based on GPA ONLY. Since it looks like we are going back to those times, it’s time to hit the books.
2. You need to plan your ENTIRE high school courses properly and in advance. Take AP courses!
At the beginning of 10th grade, at the latest, you need to sit down with your guidance counselor and plan your courses. The levels and courses should match your career aspirations or at least what you think you want your college major to be. If you are in an American curriculum school in Dubai, you NEED to take relevant AP courses. Here’s some general advice:
- Engineering = AP Calculus (AP Stats won’t be sufficient) and at least 1 AP science (2 is better, physics and 1 other)
- Medicine = AP Biology and AP Stats (would be nice)
- Non-engineering science = AP Stats (ok) and 1 AP science (should be related)
- Law = AP English Language, AP World History, and 1 other AP (Stats would be good)
You will not be even eligible to apply to some universities if you haven’t fulfilled their general course requirements, which include APs. Think about things ahead of time and plan accordingly.
3. Your admissions essays are even more important.
It’s looking like the only pieces of writing a university will see from you are your college application essays. They NEED to be good! Prove you are literate with our help.
4. Read the university admissions page carefully!
Universities in the UK have very specific requirements for how many APs, which ones, and what scores you need for admission. Think about the universities you want to apply to and look at admissions pages often. Requirements tend to change every August, so you should be checking at least every few months.
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