College Board to Discontinue
SAT Subject Matter Tests
and Essay Section.
On January 19, the College Board announced
its decision to terminate two key aspects
of the SAT for students in the United States. .
They are the optional essay section, which
boosted the SAT’s total score by 800 points ...
... and subject matter tests, a multiple-choice
exam that allowed students to demonstrate
proficiency in certain subjects.
Although the decision was “accelerated”
by the COVID-19 pandemic, it had already been “underway”
to reduce and simplify demands on students.
In a note published to its website, the College Board
said SAT subject tests are “no longer necessary” because
AP availability has been “expanded.”.
The expanded reach of AP and its widespread
availability for low-income students and students
of color means the Subject Tests are no longer
necessary for students to show what they know, College Board, via statement.
U.S. students who are signed up for
subject tests will automatically have their
registrations canceled and be given a refund. .
The optional essay was discontinued because
the College Board recognized there were “other ways for students to demonstrate their mastery of essay writing.”.
The SAT essay will now only be available in
states where it’s required for SAT School Day.
In addition, the College Board said it was
working to create a more “streamlined” SAT that
is “digitally delivered” and “flexible.”.
The pandemic has highlighted the importance
of being innovative and adaptive to what lies
ahead. We are committed to making the SAT
a more flexible tool, and we are making
substantial investments to do so. , College Board, via statement
