As a part of the application process, most American colleges and
universities require scores from one of the U.S. standardized
admissions tests. However, some colleges and universities do not
require international applicants to take admissions tests, and some
schools do not ask for admissions test scores from any applicant. To
find specific admissions test requirements, use U.S.-university
directories such as the International Student Handbook of U.S.
Colleges (The College Board, New York, NY) and Applying to Colleges
and Universities in the United States: A Handbook for International
Students (Peterson's, Princeton, N.J.). Also note that community
colleges do not usually require applicants to take standardized
admissions tests.
U.S. standardized admissions tests are primarily multiple-choice
aptitude tests that are intended to measure the skills necessary for
undergraduate study. American colleges and universities use
admissions tests as a means of assessing all applicants (from the
United States and other countries) against the same standard. Keep
in mind that secondary school diplomas and examinations are not an
equivalent to admissions tests, and that tests are only one part of
the application — good test scores alone do not guarantee admission
to the schools of your choice.
There are three main undergraduate admissions tests:
- SATI
- SAT Subject Tests
- The ACT
Some universities may have their own in-house examinations or
additional tests that applicants are required to take. For further
information, make a list of the colleges you want to apply to, and
then use general college directories or the colleges' own catalogs
and websites to find out each institution's specific test
requirements. |
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The SAT is given several times throughout the year at locations
worldwide. Preregistration is required, and deadlines are usually
six weeks prior to the exam. More specific information about dates,
test centers, fees, and registration procedures is available in the
SAT registration bulletin or on the SAT website at
https://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/sat/about.html. You can
get copies of the registration bulletin from the College Board in
the United States or from your nearest EducationUSA advising center.
You may be asked to pay postage costs for these bulletins. U.S.
centers also usually have sample questions and other test
preparation materials for the SAT tests available for reference use,
loan, or purchase.
The SAT is a measure of the critical
thinking skills you'll need for academic success in college. The SAT
assesses how well you analyze and solve problems—skills you learned
in school that you'll need in college. The SAT is typically taken by
high school juniors and seniors. It is administered seven times a
year in the U.S., Puerto Rico, and U.S. Territories, and six times a
year overseas.
SAT Subject Tests are also primarily multiple choice, but are only
one hour long. They measure knowledge in specific subject areas. The
subjects currently offered are:
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Chinese with Listening
- French
- French with Listening
- German
- German with Listening
- Italian
- Japanese with Listening
- Korean with Listening
- Latin
- Literature
- Mathematics Level 1
- Mathematics Level 2
- Modern Hebrew
- Physics
- Spanish
- Spanish with Listening
- United States History
- World History
Many U.S. colleges and universities, especially those that have more
competitive admissions criteria, either require or recommend one or
more SAT Subject Test scores for admission and/or placement
purposes. Be sure to check each institution's requirements before
registering for an SAT Subject Test. While some colleges specify
which subject tests you must take, others leave the option up to
you. In this case, it is advisable to take exams in your strongest
areas of study.
Each section of the SAT is scored on a
scale of 200-800, and the writing section will contain two subscores.
Therefore, the highest possible combined score on the SAT would be
2,400. Scores are reported separately to colleges for the
mathematical and verbal sections. Most college directories and
catalogs quote average scaled scores for each institution to give
some guidance on relative selectivity. SAT Subject Tests are also
scored on a 200 to 800 scale.
Administered by ACT, Inc., the ACT is used by every 4-year college
and university in the United States. The ACT is given up to five
times annually at testing locations around the world. Unlike the
SAT, the ACT is curriculum based, meaning it directly tests students
on the subjects they are learning in school. Because of this, some
students tend to feel more comfortable with its format.
International students register for the ACT online at
www.actstudent.org. Registration deadlines are around five weeks
prior to the exam. More specific information about dates, test
centers, and free test preparation materials is available at
www.actstudent.org.
The ACT is a curriculum-based
multiple-choice exam that measures student achievement in English,
math, reading, and science reasoning. It also contains an optional
writing component. Students can go to www.actstudent.org to see
whether the college or university to which they are applying
requires the writing component.
For each of the four subject areas, you
receive a raw score, which is the total number of correct responses.
The score is then converted into a scaled score from 1 to 36. A
composite score is then calculated by adding together the scaled
scores and dividing the sum by four. The highest possible composite
score is 36, and the lowest is 1. Scores take several weeks to reach
universities. |
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