It is designed to measure mastery of knowledge basic to success in a chosen discipline. These field tests have been developed by authorities in various disciplines and attempt to emphasize fundamental concepts and principles, although considerable depth of experience in a field is needed to achieve a high score. Subject tests are not offered in all disciplines, nor are they always required with the General Test. Check on the requirements of the departments and graduate schools being applied to. The exams are also given in December, and April.
Registration is approximately four weeks in advance of the test date for the written test.
The dates of the tests change annually so it is important to check these in order to register before deadline dates. It may be that students have been studying one foreign language only. Competition for top awards is great, yet with careful planning and determination, worthy candidates can expect to receive some financial aid. In addition to lucrative fellowship programs administered by outside agencies, there are considerably larger sums of money invested each year in graduate students by American graduate institutions. Nearly every graduate school has aid available for a promising student, including first- year applicants.