Preparing for SAT and SAT 2 in Hong Kong

The Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) is used by almost all colleges and universities in the United States to which admission is selective, i.e. the institution is free to choose the students to whom it allocates places, and thus competitive. The SAT Reasoning Test (usually just called SAT) is a basic requirement for many of these, although some classify it as preferred and therefore are willing to consider other measures of aptitude. For a Hong Kong student wishing to undertake their higher education in the US it is best simply to take the SAT. Some institutions may also require a candidate to sit SAT Subject Tests, which are subject specific. The subjects a candidate may be asked to sit would generally be relevant to the course they wished to study.

The SAT is one of a number of programmes developed by the College Board. This is a membership organization of roughly 4000 US schools and its primary purpose is to facilitate the move from high school to university.

Writing: 1x25 minute multiple choice, 1x10 minute multiple choice and 1x25 essay writing. You will have to identify sentence errors and improve sentences and paragraphs. The essay speaks for itself.

The Un-scored Section: There is 1x25-minute un-scored section, known as the variable or equating section. It will be another one of the multiple choice sections you are already prepared for. This un-scored section does not count toward the final score, but is used to try out new questions for future editions of the SAT and to ensure that scores on new editions of the SAT are comparable to scores on earlier editions of the test.

The 25-minute essay will always be the first section of the SAT, and the 10-minute multiple-choice writing section will always be the final section. The remaining six 25-minute sections can appear in any order, as can the two 20-minute sections. Test takers sitting next to each other in the same testing session may have test books with entirely different sections. In other words, don’t even think about cheating!

When registering for each test you take from the College Board, make sure you are consistent. Always enter the same personal data or your scores may be delayed or even lost. You do not have to complete the Student Descriptive Questionnaire if you don’t want to, but about 90% of test-takers do. The questionnaire addresses your background, your school courses and grades, your extra-curricular activities, and your college plans. The information goes to the schools to which you are reporting your scores as part of your overall profile.

You are allowed to select up to four colleges, universities, scholarship programmes, or other programmes to which your scores will be sent. You can submit your scores to more than four recipients if you pay but it is generally best to focus on the four schools you really want to gain a place at. You do not have to make a final decision about reporting scores until your final year. In fact, it is often a good idea not to send your first SAT scores to any college. Use your first attempt as a practice. Get used to the whole process and to coping with the organization and stress. First-timer scores often do not reflect true ability. Most people try out the SAT during a junior year (year 10 or 11 in Hong Kong). This is a good idea. Then go for a reported score in year 12 or 13. You shouldn’t be making school choices until then anyway. The test is administered six times a year overseas. Check out the dates as far ahead as possible and then choose one that doesn’t clash with other important dates in your school calendar.

The numbers on your SAT score report range from 200-800 per section. The reports are cumulative which means that each successive report includes all the previous scores you have reported. Taking the test twice or three times is quite usual; more than this is going over the top and just doesn’t help you. While some colleges consider your highest total score as your best, most will use your highest sectional scores as an aggregate, regardless of when you sat them. A few schools will calculate an average score; a few will use only your most recent scores.

The Subject Tests are formulated to assess your knowledge and skills in particular subject areas and your ability in applying that knowledge or skill. As the tests are curriculum-based, it is much easier to study for them than it is for the SAT Reasoning Test. The biggest problem for Hong Kong students is that their curriculum does not match that of most US high schools. You will need to compare your own curriculum – usually Hong Kong or UK-based – against the requirements of the Subject Tests. The most popular colleges often require their applicants to take one, two, or three Subject Tests as competition is so high for places. Others specify the subjects you must take but others allow you to choose. It is essential you check the Subject Test requirements for each of the colleges to which you apply.

Subject Tests currently offered are: English Literature, US History (formerly American History and Social Studies), World History, Mathematics Level 1 (formerly Mathematics IC), Mathematics Level 2 (formerly Mathematics IIC), Biology E/M, Chemistry, Physics, Chinese with Listening, French, French with Listening, German, German with Listening, Spanish, Spanish with Listening, Modern Hebrew, Italian, Latin, Japanese with Listening, and Korean with Listening. All of the tests last one hour and are purely multiple-choice questions.

As you can study for the Subject Tests, it is considered better to take them soon after you complete respective courses so that you do not have to do too much extra revision. Alternatively, take them after you have taken your public examination in Hong Kong. Make sure you have studied a language for at least two years before you consider it as one of your Subject Test choices.

Scores for the Subject Tests are also on a scale of 200 to 800. Some colleges use the scores in awarding places; others use them for streaming purposes for students who have been accepted. The tests you actually take and when you take them (or at least report them) can be as important in the admission formulas of the schools you apply to as the scores themselves.

When registering for the Subject Tests, you can choose to withhold your scores. No college can see the score until you give permission for it to be released to your SAT score record. When, and if, you make the decision to release certain Subject Test scores, only then will they become a part of your cumulative test record.

Studying for SAT

There are a number of options for studying for both the Reasoning Test and the Subject Tests. There are many books in the market for self-study. They take you through strategies for taking the tests and provide diagnostic and practice tests which allow you to familiarize yourself with SAT. For Subject Tests you will want to combine a prep book with your school notes. If you are disciplined, and study a little each day for SAT in addition to your other school work, you will quickly learn to adapt what you have been taught to the SAT. Chat to other people who have taken the test, and make sure you have read all instructions. If you like working online then use www.collegeboard.com – it’s their test, they know what they’re talking about.

However, recent studies have shown that using self-study books on their own has no significant impact on scores compared to students who do no extra preparation at all. The impact comes when students combine the prep books with extra classes focused at SAT. These classes may be provided at school, by profit-making institutions, or by private tutors. According to a study by Claudia Buchmann, associate professor of sociology at Ohio State University, Vincent Roscigno, professor of sociology at Ohio State, and Dennis Condron of Emory University and presented August 14^th 2006 in Montreal at the annual meeting of the American Sociological Association, it seems that having additional, focused help improves scores by up to 60 points. In Hong Kong it is unlikely that your school will have any special classes just for SAT, so it is important that if you have the time you join an SAT class or use a private tutor with experience in SAT work. In fact, with most Hong Kongers being second-language speakers of English, it becomes even more likely that having additional teaching support will make a huge impact on SAT scores achieved.

Danny Harrington (BA Oxon.) has been tutoring in Hong Kong for ten years. He is the co-owner and Manager of ITS Tutorial School.

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Preparing for SAT in Hong Kong by Danny Harrington

Studying for SAT