Literature Subject Test

Introduction

The Literature Subject Test gives you the opportunity to highlight your strengths in reading and interpreting literary texts from a variety of historical periods and genres. Taking the test also gives you the opportunity to showcase your interests and enhance your college application.

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Important Notes

Offered in Oct., Nov., Dec., Jan., May, and June

Test Basics

Scoring, Timing, Number of Questions

Points	Minutes	Questions
200-800	60	~60 (Multiple Choice)

Getting Ready for the Test

Anticipated Skills

Knowledge of basic literary terminology, such as irony, stanza, image, tone, alliteration, and speaker (highly specialized terms are not covered).
Understanding of the following literary concepts:
- Overall meaning, including effect and theme
- Form, including structure, genre, and organization
- Use of language, including word choice, imagery and metaphor
- Meanings and connotations of specific words in context
- Narrative voice, including tone and attitude
- Characterization in narrative and dramatic selections

Recommended Preparation

Topics on the Test

Three sets of classifications describe the selections on the Literature Subject Test.

Source of Questions	Approximate % of Test
American literature Written by authors from the United States	40–50%
English literature Written by British authors	40–50%
Other literature written in English Past tests have included writers from India, Ireland, Canada, and the Caribbean	0–10%

Chronology	Approximate % of Test
Renaissance and 17th century	30%
18th and 19th centuries	30%
20th century	40%

Genre	Approximate % of Test
Prose passages Primarily excerpts from fiction and essays	40–50%
Poetry Primarily entire poems, although some selections are excerpted from longer works	40–50%
Drama and other	0–10%

Download the SAT Subject Tests Student Guide (.pdf/6.3MB) for more information on the topics.

Practice Resources

Practice online for free:

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Download for free:

The SAT Subject Tests Student Guide (.pdf/6.3MB) contains information on all 20 SAT Subject Tests, official sample questions, test-taking tips and approaches and more.
Answer Explanations to the Literature Practice Questions (.pdf/183KB)

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The Official Study Guide for All SAT Subject Tests, Second Edition

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Features include:

20 full-length, previously administered Subject Tests
New, detailed answer explanations for all test questions
The most up-to-date tips and approaches on selecting which tests to take, the best time to take the tests, and how to best be ready for test day
The latest versions of the instructions, background questions and answer sheet
Detailed descriptions of every Subject Test, including topics covered and recommended course work
Two audio CDs for all six Language with Listening Tests

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Additional Things to Know

There are six to eight sets of questions on the test, each based on a different literary text.

Each selection is followed by a date (usually of first publication). Questions don’t ask about the historical background of the content, but you may find the date helpful when orienting yourself to the selection.

Each set of questions addresses some features of the literary selection that may be distinctive or even unique. For example, if a poem presents a complex reading task, the set may also include some questions that focus on the meaning of specific words or lines in order to measure your ability to read and understand the poem accurately.

Please note that this test reflects what is commonly taught in high school. Due to differences in high school classes, it’s likely that most students will find questions on topics they’re not familiar with. This is nothing to worry about. You do not have to get every question correct to receive the highest score (800) for the test. Many students do well despite not having studied every topic covered.