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