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JUKO
November 2017
College Admissions Testing
Testing, Testing, Testing—To Test or Not to Test
● Should I take the SAT or ACT?
● But what if I am doing the IB?
● Do AP tests/courses improve my chances at admission?
● I took the PSAT twice; isn’t that enough?
● Why do I need the subject tests if I’m taking the SAT?
● Join us as we discuss what these tests mean, how they are used, and how to best navigate them.
What to expect today?
● SAT
● SAT SUBJECT TEST
● ACT
● TOEFL
● IELTS
● IB Diploma
● AP
Basics
● Meet with your counselor to create a testing plan
● When in doubt, ask your college counselor
● It is the responsibility of the student to be aware of each specific universities requirements
HIGH SCHOOL CODES
ACT
www.actstudent.org/intl
HS Code: 705720
Test Center Code: 867480
SAT
sat.collegeboard.org
HS Code: 705720
Test Center Code: 74905
SAT Reasoning Test
What?∗ Critical Reading & Math with an optional essay ∗ 1600 is the highest score possible∗ 3 hours plus 50 min for the optional essay
Who? ∗ Students applying to US & Asia and ∗ Students without IB Diploma
How? ∗ Register at www.collegeboard.org
Where? ∗ ISM ☺ Test Center: 74905 (confidential)
SAT
Two Sections: ○ Math (80 minutes long including 25 min no calculator section)
○ Evidence Based Reading and Writing ( 1 hour and 40 minutes)
● Scoring 400-1600 (800 per section)
● No Penalty for guessing
● Optional Essay (Some require, some recommend)
● Less questions than ACT
● Less obscure words (more vocabulary in context)
● More advanced math○ Math without Calculator section
Test Optional: International Students
Loyola Maramount Univeristy
Test Flexible
Flexible:
SAT Score Choice
College Board and ACT allows you to choose which scores you submit from specific test dates.
But what if a college requires all test scores?
∗ The College Board says they are your scores
∗ Colleges will require you to sign a statement saying you have submitted all scores
∗ College board does not report if you use Score Choice
∗ Using score choice typically does not make you a better applicant
SAT Subject Tests
What?∗ 1 hour exams in English Literature, History, Languages,
Math, SciencesWho? ∗ Generally those who are applying to selective US colleges∗ Specific majors might require specific tests
How Many? ∗ You can take up to 3 in one sitting∗ 2 is often required (Ex. Georgetown & Johns Hopkins recommend 3)
When?∗ Cannot take them on the same test date as the SAT ∗ Language with Listening (preferred) is offered only in Nov∗ Recommended in May/June Junior year or Early Senior
Advice for Subject Tests
● Study – you can learn the material for them
● What is a good score?
○ 700 + is competitive at the most selective colleges
● What if it’s not required?
○ If you can score well, it can help your application
○ Do not take too many
● Take what you can score well on, play to strength and interest
● Score choice can be used on individual exams within a single test date
● It is not recommended to take a language subject test in your first
language.
ACT
∗ What? ∗ College admission exam similar to the SAT, includes science section
∗ Who? ∗ Students applying to US universities
∗ Why?∗ A few US colleges will accept the ACT in lieu of the entire SAT
Reasoning and two SAT Subject Test requirement∗ When and Where?∗ Five times per year at ISM ∗ Coming up: December 9 (NOV 3th Deadline), April 14 & June 9
∗ How?∗ Register at www.actstudent.org
ACT- Computer Adaptive Test
● Fall 2017
● Increased security and test validity
● Will adapt questions to the test taker
● Computer banks needed
TUFTS University- ACT vs. SAT + Subjects
TEST Prep
TOEFL
∗ What?
∗ Test Of English as a Foreign Language
∗ Who?
∗ Passport holders of non-English speaking countries (including the Philippines) are often expected to submit a TOEFL score
∗ Where and When?
∗ Offered several times per month at various locations in Manila – but not at ISM
∗ If possible take TOEFL before senior year begins
∗ How?
∗ Register at www.ets.org/toefl
TOEFL
● Reading, Writing, Listening, and Speaking
● 0-120 score range
○ 0-30 score range per subtest
● 90+ needed for most schools
● Expectations dependant on the school○ UCLA likes a 108+
Potential TOEFL Exemptions
∗ Check individual college requirements
∗ 650 on SAT Critical Reading
∗ English A HL (sometimes with a prediction of 5+)
∗ Entirety of high school education in a Western
nation accredited school with instruction in
English (similar to ISM)
IELTS
● International English Language Testing System
● Offered about 3x a month in Manila
● Take if you are going to a school in the UK
○ UK will not issue a Tier Four visa without an IELTS
IELTS
IB
∗ IB Diploma “generally” required in Europe and Australia
∗ IB Diploma students are exempted from the SAT requirement in Canada and at some universities in Asia
∗ ISM reports predicted scores for all IB Diploma candidates
∗ All university offers are conditional
∗ UK and Australia set strict IB score conditions
∗ North American universities expect you to achieve close to your predictions
Advanced Placement
∗ Myth: US colleges prefer AP to IB
∗ ISM offers AP US History and AP Human Geography
∗ US colleges do not expect ISM students to submit AP scores,
unless the student has taken AP US History
∗ ISM courses do not line up with AP course material
∗ AP exams are offered at ISM for a wide scope of subjects
∗ If taken in junior year, you can submit AP scores as part of
your application to US colleges
∗ Please don’t sacrifice grades and health by studying for a
bunch of AP exams
Generic Timeline
Junior Year: ∗ November-February: Take SAT/ACT for
first time
∗ February-May: If needed take SAT/ACT again
∗ TOEFL: Junior Year
∗ June: SAT subject test
Senior Year:∗ Last time for the SAT/ACT
∗ SAT Subject tests
An Additional thought
● Junior Year Transcripts are important.
● Find a balance between testing and school work.
Additional Resources
● College Board Sample Questions
● College Board: SAT Suite of Assessments
● New York Time: Everything you need to know about the New SAT
● https://www.khanacademy.org/
● http://www.usnews.com/education/best-colleges/slideshows/10-top-ranked-colleges-that-are-flexible-with-test-scores
Questions?
