Many high school parents have been wondering and worrying about the SAT, a standardized test that is part of the admissions process for many US universities. This information below is intended for Grade 11 students and their parents. The best thing parents of younger students can do is support their children in focusing the first two years of high school on their academic studies and community life, and not on preparation for standardized admissions tests. The role of standardized testing in US admissions is evolving, so parents are advised that this information may change from year to year.
Students in Grade 11 who intend to apply to universities in the US should sit down soon and make a plan about which standardized tests they will need to take and when is the best time to take them. Most US universities will allow students to submit either the SAT or the ACT (with Writing) as part of their admissions requirements. More detailed information about these standardized testing options is found on the Admissions Testing tab of the UAC Google Site.
Most students perform in the same range on both the SAT and the ACT; however some students may find that one test works better for them than the other. Most students are more familiar with the SAT. The main difference is that the ACT is more a measure of mastery of curriculum and less of an aptitude test. While both tests contain reading comprehension, math and writing components, the ACT has a section that tests scientific thinking, and it does not penalize for wrong answers. The SAT tends to place more emphasis on vocabulary and English grammar rules, and has more questions that measure reasoning ability. Students who take the ACT more than once are allowed to submit only their best overall score to universities, while students who take the SAT may find that they are required by some universities to submit the results of all of their SAT sittings.
UWCSEA-East will become a private test center for the SAT starting in January 2013. This means that only UWCSEA students will be allowed to take the test on campus. Instructions on how to register for this option will be distributed to Grade 11 students in October. Students must follow UWCSEA’s specific instructions before registering with the CollegeBoard.
We recommend that students take the SAT for the first time in January or May of Grade 11; the ACT is offered in April and June; if students feel it would be worthwhile to try a second time, both tests are offered again in October of Grade 12. We discourage students from taking these standardized tests prior to Grade 11. Taking the test too early or too often can be counterproductive and negatively affect students’ grades, which are definitely more important to American universities than standardized test scores.
Studies have shown that familiarization with these standardized test formats may modestly improve students’ scores. There are several methods of preparation to suit different learning styles:
• Study guides are available for purchase in Singapore bookstores or can be reviewed in UWCSEA’s library.
• There will be a commercial SAT preparation course offered by Testtakers on campus starting in mid-November for several Saturday afternoons prior to the January 26th SAT test.
• Starting next month, all Grade 11 students will have access to a school-based online subscription called PrepMe for SAT test preparation at no cost. PrepMe allows students to practice on their own online, at times convenient to them, with immediate feedback.
About 30 colleges and universities have additional testing requirements beyond the SAT Reasoning Test. SAT Subjects Tests focus on a single subject. Some universities will accept the ACT with Writing in lieu of both the SAT Reasoning Test and SAT Subjects Tests; it is important that students check the websites of each university they are considering to determine which tests are accepted. We advise students to plan to take SAT Subject Tests, if needed, in June of Grade 11, or October or November of Grade 12.
Several studies have suggested that standardized testing is not a strong predictor of success at university. More than 800 US colleges and universities do not use standardized testing in their admissions process. However, students who apply to these institutions should be aware that if they do not submit scores, there will be a heavier weighting on their grades and teacher references, so it will help to have a strong academic profile.
When US universities consider standardized testing in their admissions process, it is only one of many parts of a holistic application review. Universities do not have published minimums or cut-offs for scores. Students should not focus on SAT preparation at the expense of their IB subjects or commitments at UWCSEA. Planning ahead can help make this aspect of US admissions more manageable. University Advisors are here to answer any questions students might have.
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