SAT

SAT: GENERAL

Besides presenting the colleges with your high school grades (A-Level or IB grades), most colleges will require you to submit your SAT scores too. There are two kinds of SAT tests: Reasoning and Subject. The SAT Reasoning Test  is a standardized aptitude test that measures students’ test-taking skills in math, writing and critical reading, and it mostly consists of multiple-choiced questions.

• When should I take the test, and when should I start preparing?

Most college applications are due in the December or January before the academic year. October would be a good time so that you will be able to send your SAT scores to colleges on time or re-take your SAT if necessary.  Register for the SAT at CollegeBoard’s website a month before your intended test date.

It is generally recommended to start preparing for the SAT three months before your test date. This will give you enough time to expand your vocabulary for the SAT critical reading section and to grasp test-taking techniques.

• What resources can I use to prepare?

SAT study guides by companies like CollegeBoard, The Princeton Review, Kaplan can help you learn how to approach the type of problems presented in the SAT.

CollegeBoard’s website contains more information about the SAT and the college application process. It also has an app called ‘My Organizer’ which helps you stay on top of your college application process.

You can select which colleges to include in your organizer, and these details for each college will show up on the front page of your organizer. On the sidebar, there are reminders of upcoming deadlines for different colleges (since different colleges have different deadlines and requirement). Click for enlarged views of screenshots.

For a more complete list of deadlines, click on My Calendar on the sidebar.

You can also compare details and statistics between different colleges, as illustrated below. It shows details such as size of each college, admissions rate and average SAT test scores.

 

• Where can I take the test?

The SAT test center in Brunei is at Jerudong International School and their phone number is (673)-241-1000 ext 1108 / 1403. Do not forget to register for the SAT a month before your intended test date at CollegeBoard’s website!

• What is a good SAT score?

The SAT score is out of 2400, with the Mathematics, Critical Reading and Writing sections weighing 800 points each. What is a good SAT score can be subjective, depending on which colleges you plan on applying to. Perform some online research on average SAT scores of different colleges to gain a sense on what score you want to achieve and which colleges to apply to (more on this on Choosing Colleges).

• How much does it cost?

• What are APs and GPA?

Those pertain to the American high school education system. APs are their version of the A-Levels but you do not have to worry about this if you are doing A-Levels or the International Baccalaureates.

GPA is short for grade point average and is the grading system that is used in America. You do not have to worry about this for now unless you went to an American high school but this is definitely something you should care about once you are in college! More on this here.

SAT: SUBJECT TEST

For some colleges, it is required or recommended for applicants to take the SAT Subject Tests on top of their regular high school exams and the SAT General Test. The Subject Tests are also mostly, if not completely, based on multiple-choiced questions. Find out if the programs you are applying to require SAT Subject Tests scores. For example, certain colleges may require engineering applicants to submit scores for SAT Subject Test Math Level 2.

It is also recommended spend some time preparing for the Subject Tests. Some of the material that you will be tested may not have been covered in your classes because of different syllabi, and you also have to get used to answering multiple-choice problems swiftly.

Once again, CollegeBoard’s website has more details on the SAT Subject Tests.