SAT Subject Test in United States History

The SAT Subject Test in United States History is the name of a one-hour multiple choice test given on United States History 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 test has 90-95 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. The student's score is based entirely on his performance in answering the multiple choice questions.

The questions cover a broad range of topics. Approximately 32-36% of questions focus on political history, 18-20% focus on economic history, 18-22% focus on social history, 10-12% focus on intellectual and cultural history, and 13-17% focus on United States foreign policy.

The questions also vary with respect to time period; approximately 20% focus on period of the Pre-Colombian Era to 1789, 40% focus on the period between 1790 and 1898, and 40% focus on the period between 1899 and the present day.

Preparation
The College Board suggests as preparation for the test a year-long course in United States History at the college preparatory level. The test requires understanding of historical data and concepts, cause and effect relationships, geography, and the ability to effectively synthesize and interpret data from charts, maps, and other visual media.