Introduction: About the Test

The SAT Subject Tests are given in specific subject areas to assess your academic abilities for college. They are prepared by the College Board and give evidence about your readiness in specific academic areas. The test can complement and enhance your college admission credentials. The introduction of this book will give you all the basic information you need to know about the subject test in chemistry. To learn additional information about this testing program, go to the website https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/sat-subject-tests/about/at-a-glance and look under SAT Subject Tests.

All of the SAT Subject Tests are contained in the same test booklet. Each takes 1 hour of testing time, and you may choose any one, two, or three tests to take at one sitting.

Many colleges require or recommend one or more Subject Tests for admission or placement. The scores are used in conjunction with your high school record, results on the SAT, teacher recommendations, and other background information to provide a reliable measure of your academic achievements and a good predication of your future performance.

In addition to obtaining a standardized assessment of your achievement from your scores, some colleges use the test results for placement into their particular programs in the freshman year. At others, advisers use the results to guide freshmen in the selection of courses.

Is the SAT Subject Test in Chemistry Required?

The best information on whether SAT Subject Tests are required and, if so, which ones is found in the individual college catalogs or a directory of colleges. Some colleges specify which tests you must take, while others allow you to choose. Obviously, if you have a choice and you have done well in chemistry, you should pick the SAT Subject Test in Chemistry as one of your tests. Even if the test is not required by the colleges to which you are applying, you can add the result to your record to support your achievement level.

When Should You Take the Test?

You will undoubtedly do best if you take the test after completing the high school chemistry course or courses that you plan to take. At this time, the material will be fresh in your mind. Forgetting begins very quickly after you are past a topic or have finished the course. You should plan a review program for at least the last 6 weeks before the test date. (A plan is provided later in this book for such a review.) Careful review definitely helps—cramming just will not do if you want to get the best score of which you are capable!

Colleges that use SAT Subject Test results as part of the admissions process usually require that you take the test no later than December or January of your senior year. For early-decision programs, the latest test time is June of your junior year. The optimum time to take the test is the June test date of the year you take your last chemistry class in high school. At that time, the material you learned will be the easiest to recollect, and your preparations will likely correspond with the final exam in that course.

When Is the Test Offered?

The chemistry test is available every time the SAT Subject Tests are given, that is, on the first Saturday of October, November, December, May, and June. They are also given on the last Saturday of August. Be sure that the testing site for which you plan to register offers the SAT Subject Tests on each of these six times. Remember that you may choose to take one or two additional tests besides chemistry on any one test day. You do have to specify in advance which tests you plan to take on the test date you select; however, except for the Language Test with Listening, you may change your mind on the day of the test. Keep in mind that the SAT Test and the SAT Subject Test in Chemistry can’t be taken on the same day.

How Do You Register?

You may get all of your registration information by going to sat.collegeboard.org/register. This is the quickest and easiest way to register for the test. This site will give you all the information you need to complete your registration. You can choose your test date and center as well as receive immediate registration confirmation. This website also gives you instructions for how to register by mail.

The deadline for registration is approximately one month before the test date.

How Should You Prepare for the Test?

Barron’s SAT Subject Test in Chemistry will be very helpful. The more you know about the test, the more likely you are to get the best score possible for you. This book provides you with a diagnostic test, scoring information, four practice tests, and the equivalent of one more test incorporated with the chapter review tests that allow you to become familiar with the question types and the wording of directions. You will get a feeling for the degree of emphasis on particular topics and the ways in which information may be tested. Each of these aspects should be consciously pursued as you use this book.

What Topics Appear on the Test, and to What Extent?

The following charts show the content of the test and the levels of thinking skills tested:




Topics		 Percent of Test (Approx.) Number of Questions (Approx.)
Structure of Matter 25 21
 
  1. Atomic theory and structure, energy levels, quantum numbers, orbitals, electron configurations, periodic trends
  2. Molecular structures, shapes, Lewis structures, polarity, three-dimensional shapes
  3. Bonding (ionic, covalent, metallic), relationships to properties and structures, intermolecular forces, hydrogen bonding, London dispersion forces, dipole-dipole forces
    
States of Matter   16 14
 
  1. Gases, kinetic molecular theory, gas law relationships, molar volume, density and related problems
  2. Liquids and solids, forces in these, types of solids, phase diagrams, phase changes
  3. Solutions; molarity; percent by mass; solution preparation and related problems, solubility factors for solids, liquids, and gases; qualitative aspects of colligative properties
    
Reaction Types   14 12
 
  1. Acids and bases, including Brønsted-Lowry theories, strong and weak forms, pH, titration problems, indicators
  2. Oxidation-reduction, combustion, using oxidation numbers, use of activity series, precipitation, use of basic solubility rules
    
Stoichiometry   14 12
 
  1. Mole concept, molar mass, Avogadro’s number, empirical and molecular formulas, chemical equations, balancing equations, solving related problems, determining percent yield, limiting factors
    
Equilibrium and Reaction Rates   5 4
 
  1. Equilibrium systems, factors affecting, Le Châtelier’s Principle in gaseous and aqueous systems, equilibrium constants, expressions, rates of reactions, factors affecting rates, activation energies, reaction diagrams
    
Thermochemistry   6 5
 
  1. Conservation of energy, calorimetry, specific heat, thermal curves, enthalpy (heat) changes, entropy (randomness) changes
    
Descriptive Chemistry   12 10
 
  1. Physical and chemical properties, nomenclature of elements, compounds, ions, properties and trends related to the Periodic Table, reactivity of elements and prediction of chemical reactions, examples of basic organic compounds, environmental concerns
    
Laboratory   8 7
 
  1. Laboratory safety rules, nomenclature, use of equipment, making measurements and observations, data to analyze, interpreting graphical data, drawing conclusions
    
      Total Questions (85)

Note: Each test contains approximately five questions on equation balancing and/or predicting products of chemical reactions. These are distributed among the various content categories.



Thinking Skills Tested		 Percent of Test (approx.)
Recalling fundamental concepts, specific pieces of information, and basic terminology (low-level skill) 20
Showing a comprehension of the basics and the ability to apply this information in a rather straightforward manner to questions, situations, and the solution of qualitative or quantitative problem-oriented questions (medium-level skill) 45
Using the ability to analyze quantitative and/or qualitative data and to synthesize the knowledge learned to evaluate how and what ideas or relationships should be used to draw conclusions or to solve problems (high-level skill) 35

The first chart gives you a general overview of the content of the test. Your knowledge of the topics and your skills in recalling, applying, and synthesizing this knowledge are evaluated through 85 multiple-choice questions. This material is that generally covered in an introductory course in chemistry at a level suitable for college preparation. While every test covers the topics listed, different aspects of each topic are stressed from year to year. Add to this the differences that exist in high school courses with respect to the percentage of time devoted to each major topic and to the specific subtopics covered, and you may find that there are questions on topics with which you have little or no familiarity.

Each of the sample tests in this book is constructed to match closely the distribution of topics shown in the preceding chart so that you will gain a feel for the makeup of the actual test. After each test, a chart will show you which questions relate to each topic. This will be very helpful to you in planning your review because you can identify the areas on which you need to concentrate in your studies. Another chart enables you to see which chapters correspond to the various topic areas.

What General Information Should You Have About the Test?

  1. A periodic chart is provided in this test as a resource and as the source of atomic numbers and atomic masses of the elements.
  2. You will not be allowed to use an electronic calculator during the test.
  3. Mathematical calculations are limited to simple algebraic and numerical ones.
  4. You should be familiar with the concepts of ratios and of direct and inverse proportions, scientific notation, and exponential functions.
  5. Metric system units are used in this test.
  6. The test is composed of three types of questions as explained in the next section.

What Types of Questions Appear on the Test?

There are three general types of questions on the SAT Subject Test in Chemistry—matching questions, true/false and relationship analysis questions, and general five-choice questions. This section will discuss each type and give specific examples of how to answer these questions. You should learn the directions for each type so that you will be familiar with them on the test day. The directions in this section are similar to those on the test.

type 1. matching questions in part a. In each of these questions, you are given five lettered choices that you will use to answer all the questions in that set. The choices may be in the form of statements, pictures, graphs, experimental findings, equations, or specific situations. Answering a question may be as simple as recalling information or as difficult as analyzing the information given to establish what you need to do qualitatively or quantitatively to synthesize your answer. The directions for this type of question specifically state that a choice may be used once, more than once, or not at all in each set.