Foreign Language SAT Subject Tests

• If you are considering taking a Foreign Language SAT Subject Test, there’s a chance you’ll have to decide whether to sit for the Listening or Reading-based format depending on the language you intend to test for.
• But how do you know which is the best-fit for your abilities? And how should you prepare for any Foreign Language SAT Subject Test, depending on if you’re a native, heritage, or non-native speaker?

Why and When to Take a Foreign Language SAT Subject Test

• Some colleges and universities require or recommend that students submit SAT Subject Test scores as part of their college application, and some schools might even recommend that students take at least one foreign language SAT Subject Test. If a school on your list has these expectations, this may be reason enough to prepare for one of these tests.
• Even schools that don’t explicitly require such scores do look favorably on high SAT Subject Test scores. In particular, a high score on a Foreign Language SAT Subject Test allows you to demonstrate to admissions committees that you have a competitive proficiency level in that language and can undertake upper-level coursework.
• The ideal scenario is to take a test in a language that you genuinely enjoy and in which you feel strongly prepared and confident to excel.
• At what point are you ready to take a Foreign Language SAT Subject Test and which one(s) should you pick? It’s worth noting that Foreign Language Subject Tests are designed for native English speakers who are non-native speakers of the languages in question.
• With this in mind, the recommended preparation for most Foreign Language Subject Tests is generally between two to four years of coursework, with three to four years recommended for Spanish and French, regardless of whether you choose the Reading or Listening format.
• It’s advisable at the very least to be in Level III of your chosen language(s), and preferable to be in Level IV or V/AP, or as close to the highest level of preparation as possible.

Languages Offered

Did you know that the College Board offers 12 Foreign Language Subject Tests? Half of them are Reading-based tests, while the other half are Listening-based tests. The breakdown is as follows:

Reading-based tests:
• Spanish
• French
• German
• Italian
• Modern Hebrew
• Latin

Listening-based tests
• Spanish with Listening
• French with Listening
• German with Listening
• Chinese with Listening
• Japanese with Listening
• Korean with Listening

Notice that some languages have both Reading and Listening-based tests, while others have only a Reading or Listening-based version.
So how do you decide which format is the best-fit for you if you have both options to choose from? Let’s take a look at the differences between Reading and Listening-based tests below.

• For example, the Spanish Reading-based test is 60 minutes long and contains 85 multiple choice questions, split evenly across the following areas: vocabulary and structure; paragraph completion; and reading comprehension. The Spanish Listening-based test is also 60 minutes long and contains 85 multiple choice questions, with the following differences: 20 minutes are allotted for the Listening section, which is worth 40% of the total score, and 40 minutes are allotted for the Reading section, which is worth 60% of the total score. The Reading sections across both formats test the same skills, but the Reading test contains only Reading questions, while the Listening test contains fewer of them to make room for Listening questions.
• You might wonder whether colleges and universities prefer one type over another. If a particular language offers the choice between the two formats, the Listening version is typically the more “impressive” of the two, since it tests more skills than the Reading-only test. However, this is not usually a make-or-break factor. So which format should you choose? Well, it depends: are you a native or heritage speaker, or a non-native speaker? Generally, you should choose the format that you are most likely to excel in, and it will depend on your language skills, preparation, and proficiency level.