The SAT World History subject test is a comprehensive history exam that is offered twice a year in December and June. The test content covers nearly all regions of the earth from ancient to modern times.
High school students may take this subject test for a variety of reasons, including to earn college credit or to fulfill a basic curricular requirement. Regardless of the reason, this exam covers a breadth of content that requires more than a few weeks of studying. As you begin to prepare, follow these three steps.
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1. Determine where to focus your studying: Much of the SAT World History exam covers the pre-1900 C.E. time period, with 25 percent concentrating on prehistory and civilizations before or up to 500 C.E.; 20 percent on 500 to 1500 C.E.; and 25 percent on 1500 to 1900 C.E. The remaining 30 percent of the exam focuses on post-1900 C.E. and aspects that span different time periods.
Thirty percent of geographical material on the exam covers Asia, divided into questions on East, South and Southeast, and Southwest Asia. The second most covered region is Europe, at 25 percent of the exam. The remaining 45 percent is split between Africa and the Americas (excluding the U.S.), at 10 percent each , and 25 percent on global or comparative material that involves several areas of the world.
With these content breakdowns in mind, divide your study time accordingly. High school world history courses vary by school, so take into account the content you have already studied in-depth in class and the material that is less familiar to you. Then fill in your knowledge gaps with a careful review.
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2. Develop an understanding of chronology: In global history, sequencing of events is extremely significant. Rarely do important events occur in isolation without influence from prior happenings. The interconnectedness of events in world history is important to note.
To learn the chronology of big-picture events in global history, create a timeline for each tested area of the world, such as East Asia. Don’t attempt to record every single detail, though. Instead, jot down events such as civil wars, eras of poverty or prosperity, golden ages for the humanities, revolutions and other noteworthy events.
Whenever possible, complete practice test questions to gain familiarity with how concepts like chronology manifest in the exam. Practice question sets that break down content by region and timespan can be particularly helpful.
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3. Familiarize yourself with image-based questions: Some of the multiple-choice questions on the SAT World History subject test are purely textual. Others may have graphs, maps, pictures or tables that require you to make sense of data or interpret images. For example, see question 7 on page 12 of this official ” SAT Subject Tests Student Guide.”
If you are not yet comfortable with maps, online quizzes can help you learn to recognize landforms and bodies of water. Start by looking at labeled maps to memorize key geography. Then practice recalling the names on your own. You can even print blank maps and label the key areas.
To become more accustomed to images, practice writing the first thoughts that come to mind when you see a picture. For instance, what is the main idea of the graphic?
For charts, summarize the information in your own words. Think about trends and, again, main ideas. Ask yourself, “How would I express this information using everyday language?”
With just 60 minutes to complete 95 multiple-choice questions, you must ensure that you properly prepare for the SAT World History exam. Know how to divide your study time, familiarize yourself with the question formats and organize key content chronologically. These steps will put you on solid footing to master the exam.
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3 Steps to Prepare for the SAT World History Subject Test originally appeared on usnews.com
