SAT History Subject Test: U.S. History, World History, Syllabus, Topics, Score
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Content Writer at Study Abroad Exams | Updated On - Aug 31, 2022
SAT history is one of the subject tests offered by the College Board apart from Mathematics, Science, Languages, and English. SAT history subject test consists of two components on which the candidate can take the exam: US history subject test and World history subject test. Both the history of the SAT exam papers are marked on a score range of 200 - 800 having 90 - 95 MCQs and 60 minutes.
SAT History Subject Test Syllabus
The SAT test dates for taking the history exams are May, June, August, October, November, and December. It is a mandatory exam for university-level courses with a specialization in US History or World History. Both the SAT US history and SAT subject world history have similar scores, and duration, only US history has 90 MCQs, whereas World History has 95. Both the US history SAT subject test and the world history subject test tests the candidate’s
- knowledge of familiarity with the US historical concepts,
- cause, and effect relationships, and
- information required for finding crucial historical changes,
- knowledge about concepts required for historical analysis, and
- competent to interpret graphs, maps, or charts for historical analysis
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SAT US History Subject Test - Syllabus
To be able to understand the SAT history passages of US history, candidates need to have proper knowledge of the college-preparatory level topics. The following is the detailed syllabus of the SAT US history subject test:
| Material | Weightage in Test (%) |
|---|---|
| Political History | 31 - 35 |
| Economic History | 13 - 17 |
| Social History | 20 - 24 |
| Intellectual and cultural history | 13 - 17 |
| Foreign Policy | 13 - 17 |
| Periods | |
| Pre-columbian history to 1789 | 20% |
| 1790 to 1898 | 40% |
| 1899 to the present | 40% |
SAT World History Subject Test
To opt for the World history subject test, candidates need to have a comprehensive knowledge of the college-preparatory level of world history. The following is a detailed syllabus:
| Chronological Material | Weightage in Test(%) |
|---|---|
| Prehistory and civilizations to the year 500 Common Era (C.E.) | 25 |
| 500 to 1500 C.E. | 20 |
| 1500 to 1900 C.E. | 25 |
| Post-1900 C.E. | 20 |
| Cross-chronological | 10 |
| Geographical Material | |
| Global or comparative | 25 |
| Europe | 25 |
| Africa | 10 |
| Southwest Asia | 10 |
| South and Southeast Asia | 10 |
| East Asia | 10 |
| The Americas (excluding the US) | 10 |
The SAT history questions are multiple-choice types. However, there can be sets of questions and the question may have a graph or chart, or map in it.
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Is SAT World History Hard?
In terms of difficulty level, both the modules of SAT history are moderately difficult. Finding out “Is the SAT World History Subject Test hard?” Well, in terms of the areas covered, it will not be wrong to conclude that the syllabus of SAT World History test is larger and it can give more difficulty to the candidates.
In case you are looking for “Should I take the World History SAT Subject Test?” – you should only take it if your goal is higher studies in world history.
SAT History Score
Alike the other SAT subject tests scores, the score range of SAT US History is 200-800 and the same is applies to SAT World History. From 2017-2019, the mean score obtained in SAT US History was 647 and the obtained mean score in SAT World History was 629.
By answering a question correctly, the candidates can receive one full point. SAT subject test score calculation includes the distinct penalty rules which are as follows:
- 1/4 point deduction for each 5-choice question
- 1/3 point deduction for each 4-choice question
- 1/2 point deduction for each 3-choice question
Even after having tough penalty rules, SAT subject tests do not have a penalty for skipping an answer.
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SAT Subject Test Score Calculation
To calculate the obtained historical SAT scores in a range of 200-800, first of all, the raw scores are calculated. In SAT US History as well as SAT World History, the highest raw score is equal to the number of questions. It is because each question carries one point only. So, the highest scorable raw point in US History is 90 and for World History, it is 95 (based on the number of questions). The raw score is the nearest rounded value of the point obtained with the number of the correct answer after deducting the penalty for wrong answers.
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Once the raw score is obtained, check the table below to understand the equivalent scaled score of SAT US History and the scaled score of SAT World History.
| Raw Score | SAT US History Scaled Score | SAT World History Scaled Score |
|---|---|---|
| 95 | — | 800 |
| 90 | 800 | 800 |
| 85 | 800 | 800 |
| 80 | 800 | 800 |
| 75 | 770 | 780 |
| 70 | 730 | 750 |
| 65 | 700 | 720 |
| 60 | 670 | 690 |
| 55 | 650 | 670 |
| 50 | 620 | 640 |
| 45 | 600 | 610 |
| 40 | 570 | 580 |
| 35 | 540 | 560 |
| 30 | 520 | 530 |
| 25 | 490 | 500 |
| 20 | 460 | 470 |
| 15 | 440 | 440 |
| 10 | 410 | 410 |
| 5 | 390 | 380 |
| 0 & below | 230-360 | 220-360 |
What Is a Good SAT US History Score?
From 2018-2020, mean score obtained in SAT US history is 647 and for world history, the obtained mean score is 634. So, to be on the safe side, candidates can keep a target 650 or higher for SAT US history and SAT world history.
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SAT History Subject Test - Preparation
The areas mentioned about SAT 2 world history and SAT 2 US history are all taught in the college preparatory level books. The candidates can derive more ideas in simpler language from their school-level books. The following are a few of the SAT history passages tips:
- Imagine yourself giving the speech as most of the SAT reading history passages are excerpts from history books;
- Get your hands on SAT US history study guide and the official SAT subject test in world history
- Recognize the thesis during the US history or SAT world history practice test
- Skimming is necessary for finding meaning and not details
- During the SAT ii World history or SAT subject US history practice test treat the passages like paired ones
- Respond to detailed questions at first
- Translate the complex sentences for simplification.
SAT History Practice Paper
The syllabus of SAT world history is wider compared to SAT US history and naturally SAT US history is easier. Proper practice of SAT history questions can help the candidates to secure a sufficient SAT subject test score in this test.
So, that’s all about SAT history subject test – the candidates can check the official practice materials of SAT US History and SAT World History for better history of SAT scores.
*The article might have information for the previous academic years, please refer the official website of the exam.