SAT Subject Test in Chemistry

The SAT Subject Test in Chemistry is the name of a one-hour multiple choice test given on chemistry by The College Board. A student chooses whether to take the test depending upon college entrance requirements for the schools in which the student is planning to apply. Until 1994, the SAT Subject Tests were known as Achievement Tests; until January 2005, they were known as SAT IIs; they are still well known by this name.

Format

The first 25 questions numbered 1-25 are 'classification questions'. The next 15 questions, numbered 101-115, are called 'relationship analysis questions'. The SAT Subject Test in Chemistry is currently the only SAT that incorporates the relationship analysis questions. Relationship Analysis Questions require the student to identify the truth value of two statements. If both statements are true, the student will then have to analyze the relationship between the two statements to see if the second statement correctly explains the first statement. The last 45 questions numbered 26-70 are standard multiple choice questions. The Metric System of measurement is used.

coring

The test has 85 multiple choice questions that are to be answered in one hour. All questions have five answer choices. Students receive 1 point for every correct answer, lose ¼ of a point for each incorrect answer, and receive 0 points for questions left blank. This score is then converted to a scaled score of 200-800, although in 2006-07 test administrations no one received a score of less than 450. The mean score for the 2006-07 test administrations was 629 with a standard deviation 110.

Preparation

The College Board's recommended preparation is a one-year college preparatory course in chemistry, a one-year course in algebra, and experience in the laboratory. However, this is somewhat misleading. This is because the second-year algebra concept of logarithms is tested on this subject test. It would be highly difficult for a student to score high, if the student did not understand the basics of logarithms. However, this does not mean a student has to complete a second-year algebra course to succeed on this subject test. As long as a student has gone through a first-year algebra course, and understands the second-year algebra concept of logarithms, the student should be able to do the math required by the test.

Resources

The student is not allowed to use notes, textbooks, or a calculator on this test, even though there are questions that involve math. However, the math on the test can be done without a calculator. However, logarithms are on the test. Though logarithms typically are very difficult to do without a calculator, the usage of a calculator is not necessary as the logarithms are very basic. The only resource a student may use is a pencil and a periodic table of elements. The Periodic Table is provided with the test booklet, but a pencil is not provided and a student must bring his/her own pencil.

ee also

*SAT
*SAT Subject Tests
*PSAT/NMSQT

External links

* [http://collegeboard.com/student/testing/sat/lc_two/chem/chem.html?chem College Board on the SAT Subject Test in Chemistry]