Carol Blythe Interim Director Office of International Education Washington, DC
Overview
The SAT is a university admission test that measures the critical thinking and problem solving skills that are learned in high school and important for success in college.
It is made up of 3 parts:
Writing
Mathematics
Critical Reading
Overview
There are 6 International test dates per year
October, November, December, January, May and June
Fees
SAT Reasoning Test………………$45
International Processing Fee……..$25
Register on the Web………...……..FREE
www.collegeboard.com
Format
Section
Content
No. of Items
Time
Critical Reading
Extended reasoning
36-40
70 minutes (two 25-minute sections and one 20-minute section)
Literal comprehension
4-6
Vocabulary in context
4-6
Sentence completions
19
Total
67
Mathematics
Number & Operations
11-14
70 minutes (two 25-minute sections and one 20-minute section)
Algebra & functions
19-22
Geometry & measurement
14-16
Data analysis, statistics, & probability
5-8
Total
54
Writing
Essay
1
60 minutes (one 25-minute essay and one 25-minute multiple choice section and one 10-minute multiple choice section)
Improving sentences
25
Identifying sentence errors
18
Improving paragraphs
6
Total
50
Format
The SAT has 10 total testing sections.
The first section is always a 25-minute essay
The last section is always a 10-minute multiple-choice writing section.
Sections two through seven are 25-minute sections.
Sections eight and nine are 20-minute sections.
Test-takers sitting next to each other in the same session may have test books with entirely different content orders for sections two through nine (math, critical reading, and writing).
Format (Writing Section)
The writing section:
The SAT begins with an essay. You'll be asked to present and support a point of view on a specific issue. Because you have only 25 minutes, your essay is not expected to be polished—it is meant to be a first draft.
The SAT writing section also includes three types of multiple-choice questions:
Improving sentences (25 questions)
Identifying sentence errors (18 questions)
Improving paragraphs (6 questions)
Format (Writing Section)
Time
60 min.
Content
Grammar, usage, and word choice
Item Types
Multiple choice questions (35 min.) and student-written essay (25 min.)
Score
200-800
Format (Critical Reading)
Time
70 min. (two 25-min. sections and one 20-min. section)
Content
Critical reading and sentence-level reading
Item Types
Reading comprehension, sentence completions, and paragraph-length critical reading
Score
200-800
Format (Mathematics)
Time
70 min. (two 25-min. sections and one 20-min. section)
Content
Number and operations; algebra and functions; geometry; statistics, probability, and data analysis
Item Types
Five-choice multiple-choice questions and student-produced responses
Score
200-800
Format (Time)
The total testing time for the SAT is 3 hours and 45 minutes—not including breaks, check-in time, and pre-administration activities. The total time you should plan on being at the test center is approximately five hours.
Format (Time)
The total testing time for the SAT is 3 hours and 45 minutes—not including breaks, check-in time, and pre-administration activities. The total time you should plan on being at the test center is approximately five hours.
When should you take the SAT?
Students need to plan to take the test so that the results reach the university by the university application deadline.
Many students take the test in May or June of their Junior year (Grade 11)
Students might also take the test in October, November, or December of their senior year (Grade 12)
Why do colleges value the SAT?
Helps them overcome the challenges of unequal opportunities, variable standards and grade inflation.
Provides a valid, nationally consistent measure of what students have learned and how well they apply that knowledge.
Helps colleges match the right student with the right institution to maximize student success.
High correlation between SAT scores and college success
SAT writing section used in admission and placement
Preparation Tips
Become familiar with the test
If available take PSAT or PSSS
Challenge yourself with a rigorous high school curriculum.
Take an official SAT practice test (on-line, preparation booklet…)
Reinforce your test-taking skills
Learn which areas need additional study
Practice with the same directions found on the actual SAT
Understand how to complete the grid-in, student-produced response section
Free Test Preparation Tips
www.collegeboard.com
Official SAT Practice Questions
The Official SAT Question of the Day™ Practice with a daily question, hint, and explanation.
Official SAT Practice Test Print and take a practice test, then get a score report and answer explanations.
The Official SAT Online Course™
The online course features:
Six official SAT practice tests
Answer explanations for every question
Interactive instruction
Immediate essay scoring
Price $69.95
The Official SAT Study Guide™
Price $19.95
Other Test Preparation Tips
Coming soon in May 2008 SAT Skills Map
The SAT Skills Map is a free, online resource that shows students exactly the types of skills that are tested on the SAT.
The SAT Skills Map shows students how specific academic skills yield specific scores, and provides sample SAT questions and answers for skills that are taught in high school and measured on the SAT.
The SAT Skills Map shows students which skills they can sharpen to do better in school, on the test, and in college.
Scores
The SAT has three scores, each on the scale of 200 to 800.
Your score includes writing (W 200-800), mathematics (M 200-800), and critical reading (CR 200-800).
Two subscores are given for the writing section: a multiple-choice subscore on a scale of 20-80, and an essay subscore on a scale of 2-12.
Scores
The SAT Online Score Report
The SAT online score report is available free to every student who takes the SAT—all you need is a free collegeboard.com account.
While you'll still receive your SAT score report in the mail, the SAT online score report contains additional features to help you understand your SAT scores.
Fall 2007: the SAT online score report now shows you more about how you performed on each section of the SAT Reasoning Test™. It gives you the types of questions, level of difficulty, and how many in each group of questions you answered correctly, incorrectly, or omitted. Percentile information has also been enhanced to give you better comparisons with other groups of test-takers.
Student’s Score Report
Scores
Sending SAT Scores
In addition to the score reports you chose to send when you registered for the SAT, you can send scores to other colleges and scholarship programs for an additional fee. We will report scores that are available and reportable at the time your request is received.
Only score reports from completed and scored tests will be sent. You can only send scores that appear next to test dates on your SAT Status page. Scores from future tests for which you have registered, but have not yet completed, will not be included.
Scores are mailed to you, and the additional colleges and programs requested, approximately four weeks after we process your request. Please remember that an additional week may be needed for the score recipients to process your scores, once they receive them.
Rush reporting is available for an additional fee. Rush scores are sent two business days after your request is received. Be sure to check with the institutions before requesting this service: not all colleges can accept rush reporting.
Remember, most colleges and universities require official score reports sent from the College Board.
Additional Information
Your official printed score report will be mailed to you, your high school, and to colleges and scholarship programs designated on your Registration Form about five weeks after the test.
You may also get your SAT scores with Scores by Phone. An additional fee applies.
It is used by colleges and universities in the United States and elsewhere.
They use it to evaluate applicants to their institutions, as well as to place incoming students in first-year courses of appropriate difficulty.
Overview What Does the ACT Measure?
The ACT measures a student’s ability to perform university-level work.
It contains five curriculum-based tests: English, Mathematics, Reading, Science, and Writing.
Because the ACT is curriculum based, performance on these five tests has a direct relationship to a student’s educational achievement.
In short, the ACT measures what students are learning in high school and what they are expected to know when entering university.
Overview Philosophy Behind the ACT
The ACT is based on the philosophy that the best way to measure students’ readiness for postsecondary education is to measure as directly as possible the knowledge and skills students will need to perform university-level work.
ACT chose to focus on the curriculum for the exam because these are skills that students can learn.
The ACT has Two Parts
The Multiple-Choice Exam
The Optional Writing Exam
Format
Exam Duration
Total testing time for the multiple-choice exam is 2 hours and 55 minutes.
Total testing time for the optional Writing exam is 30 minutes.
Format Cost to Take the ACT
The ACT (just multiple choice) – US$30.00
The “ACT Plus Writing” – US$44.50
Note: If taken outside the US and Canada, an international surcharge of US$22.00 applies.
Format Multiple-Choice Exam
The multiple-choice exam covers the following content areas:
English
Mathematics
Reading
Science Reasoning
The four multiple-choice tests are scored individually (1-36) and as an overall Composite score (also 1-36)
The Composite score is the average of the scores from the four individual multiple-choice tests.
Format ACT English Test
Measures understanding of standard written English (punctuation, grammar & usage, sentence structure).
Spelling, vocabulary, and rote recall of rules of grammar are not tested.
75 questions, 45 minutes
Usage/Mechanics
Punctuation (10 questions)
Grammar and Usage (12 questions)
Sentence Structure (18 questions)
Rhetorical Skills
Strategy (12 questions)
Organization (11 questions)
Style (12 questions)
Format ACT Math Test
Measures the math skills students typically acquire in courses taken up to the start of their last year in secondary school.
Requires students to use reasoning skills to solve practical problems in math.
Assumes knowledge of basic formulas and computational skills, but does not require memorization of complex formulas or extensive calculation.
Calculators are permitted.
60 questions, 60 minutes
Pre-Algebra (14 questions)
Elementary Algebra (10 questions)
Intermediate Algebra (9 questions)
Coordinate Geometry (9 questions)
Plane Geometry (14 questions)
Trigonometry (4 questions)
Format ACT Reading Test
Measures reading comprehension as a product of referring and reasoning skills.
Requires students to derive meaning from texts by (1) referring to what was explicitly stated in the text, and (2) reasoning to find implicit meanings.
Uses four prose passages representative of the level and types of writing encountered in first-year university study.
40 questions, 35 minutes
Prose Fiction (10 questions)
Humanities (10 questions)
Social Studies (10 questions)
Natural Sciences (10 questions)
Format ACT Science Test
Measures the student’s interpretation, analysis, evaluation, reasoning, and problem solving skills required in the natural sciences.
Four content areas are covered: (1) Biology, (2) Earth/Space Sciences, (3) Chemistry, and (4) Physics.
40 questions, 35 minutes
Three stimulus formats are used to present information for students to react to:
Data Representation (15 questions)
Research Summaries (18 questions)
Conflicting Viewpoints (7 questions)
Format ACT Writing Test (Optional)
In addition to the standard multiple-choice exam, students also have the option of taking the ACT Writing Test.
Measures writing skills emphasized in high school English classes and in entry-level university composition courses.
One prompt, 30 minutes
The prompt defines an issue and describes two points of view on that issue.
Students are asked to write in English about their position on that issue.
Format Why is the ACT Writing Test Optional?
It’s optional because not all colleges and universities use it.
Before deciding whether to take the ACT Writing Test, students can go to www.actstudent.org to find out if the institutions they are applying to require or recommend it.
Importance of the ACT to Universities
The ACT is used by every 4-year college and university in the United States. In addition to admissions, the ACT is used for—
Student recruitment
Academic advising
Freshman course placement decisions
Awarding course credit, especially for English and Math courses
Awarding scholarships
Talent identification
When Should Students Take the ACT?
Students should consider taking it during the Spring semester of their 11th grade, as they will likely have taken the necessary ACT subject material in school by that time.
Testing in 11th grade gives them enough time to re-test if their scores aren’t what they had hoped for.
Also note that the optional Writing test is currently offered internationally in April and in October.
When Should Students Take the ACT? Available International ACT Test Dates
The ACT is offered internationally in October, December, February, April, and June.
Students wishing to take the ACT should go to www.actstudent.org to see exact dates and locations.
How to Prepare for the ACT General Preparation
Since the ACT is a curriculum-based exam, it is ACT’s belief that the best way to prepare for the test is to take challenging courses in school and to work hard in those courses to learn the material.
Specific Preparation
Students will also find it helpful to take a practice test to familiarize themselves with the structure and organization of the ACT and the types of questions they will see.
ACT offers a free sample test in the booklet “Preparing for the ACT,” which we send to all guidance counselors who request it, free of charge. Students can also download it at www.actstudent.org/testprep/index.html.
Students can find many free sample questions for each of the four multiple-choice tests by going to www.actstudent.org/sampletest/index.html.
Students can find a free sample Writing prompt and sample responses by going to www.actstudent.org/writing/sample/index.html.
How to Prepare for the ACT ACT Prep Materials for Purchase
In addition to the free materials described in the earlier slide, ACT also offers the following two additional test prep materials for purchase:
“The Real ACT Prep Guide”
“ACT Online Prep”
“The Real ACT Prep Guide”
Three practice tests used in previous actual test administrations—each with an optional Writing Test
Explanations for all right and wrong answer choices
An in-depth look at the optional Writing Test and how it is scored
Valuable test-taking strategies for each test section: English, Mathematics, Reading, Science, and the optional Writing
All you need to know about the ACT—formatting, structure, registration, and how colleges interpret your scores
A review of important topics in English, math, science, and writing
How to prepare—physically, mentally, and emotionally—for test day
Price: $25.00
“ACT Online Prep”
Practice tests with real ACT test questions
Practice essays for the new optional ACT Writing Test, with real-time scoring
Comprehensive content review for each of the ACT's four required tests—English, Math, Reading, and Science
Diagnostic test and personalized Study Path
Anywhere, anytime access via the Internet
Price: $19.95
ACT Test-Taking Tips
Pace yourself – don’t spend too much time on a single passage or question.
Answer the easy questions first, then go back and answer the more difficult ones.
Answer every question. Scores on the ACT multiple-choice tests are based on the number of questions you answer correctly. There is no penalty for guessing.
Go to www.actstudent.org/testprep/tips/index.html for many more test taking tips.
The composite score is the average of your scores on the four multiple-choice subject area tests, rounded to the nearest whole number. (If you left any multiple-choice test completely blank, no Composite score is computed.) Your rank is expressed in numeric and graph form as the percentage of ACT-tested students the same as or lower than your score in your state and in the U.S.
Understanding Your ACT Scores
This section shows your scores on each of the multiple-choice subject area tests and your associated subscores. Subscores give you information about your specific strengths and weaknesses in the areas these tests cover. The subscores are computed separately; there is no arithmetic relationship between subscores and a test score (i.e., the test score is not the sum of the subscores). If you left any multiple-choice test completely blank, that test score is reported as a dash (--).
The graph represents your ranks, expressed as the percent of ACT-tested high school students in the U.S. who scored the same as or lower than your scores on the multiple-choice subject area tests and your subscores. These ranks allow you to compare your scores to others.
Understanding Your ACT Scores
If you took both the English Test and the optional Writing Test, this section shows two additional scores: (1) a Combined English/Writing score and (2) a Writing subscore. Taking the Writing Test does not affect your Composite score.
The Combined English/Writing score takes into account your English Test score and your Writing subscore from the same test date.
The Writing subscore is the sum of the ratings from 1 (low) to 6 (high) given to your essay by two trained readers. Your report also provides some comments about your essay. One of the readers who rated your essay selected these comments to give you feedback on the strengths and weaknesses of your essay.
Understanding Your ACT Scores
This section provides information about each of your first four college choices that you listed at the time you registered or tested, along with your self-reported information. You can compare information colleges provided about the profile of the colleges' enrolled first-year students.
The <> field is calculated based on the grades that you provided when you registered.
Understanding Your ACT Scores
This section allows you to compare important factors about your college choices you listed at the time you registered, such as the availability of your program of study, college costs, and percentage of students receiving financial aid.
Career-Planning with the ACT
As part of the registration process for the ACT, students answer 72 questions about their likes and dislikes. Students answer whether they would Like, Dislike, or Are Indifferent To certain activities.
Sample activities among the 72 asked:
Help someone make an important decision
Teach people a new hobby
Discuss a misleading advertisement with a salesperson
Present information before a group
Develop new rules or procedures
Find errors in a financial account
When students receive their ACT scores, they also receive information about careers and occupations that match to their interests using our World-of-Work Map.
World-of-Work Map
All college majors and occupations differ in how much they involve working with four basic work tasks: working with People (care, services), Things (machines, materials), Data (facts, records), and Ideas (theories, insights). These four basic tasks are the compass points on the World-of-Work Map.
The map is divided into 12 regions, each with a different mix of work tasks. The map shows the locations of 26 Career Areas (A-Z). Each Career Area contains many occupations that share similar work tasks.
Education & Career Planning Report
Education & Career Planning Report
The ACT Interest Inventory measures preferences for working with four basic work tasks: working with people, things, data, and ideas. The Interest Inventory results are shaded on the World-of-Work Map.
This section lists Career Areas in line with your preferences. Students can use these results to explore educational and career options.
Education & Career Planning Report
This section shows the college major the student you indicated when registering or testing. Because many students consider several options before selecting a major, this section lists related majors for the student to explore.
Education & Career Planning Report
This section shows the occupation the student indicated when registering or testing. Because many students consider several options before making definite career plans, this section lists related occupations for the student to explore.
Education & Career Planning Report
The student’s interest inventory results are expressed as shaded regions of the ACT World-of-Work Map.
The world of work is huge, so ACT makes career exploration easier by dividing the map into 12 regions.
The map regions contain groups of Career Areas in line with the student’s interests.
Registering to Take the ACT
Three Simple Steps:
Visit www.actstudent.org
Establish your free student Web account
Register for the ACT
TOEFL® iBT … Go Anywhere
Terry Axe
Associate Director, TOEFL
ETS, Princeton, NJ USA
What is the TOEFL Test and Who Takes It?
The Test of English as a Foreign Language™ measures the ability of nonnative English speakers to use and understand English as it is spoken, written, and heard in college and university settings
Primary reason to take TOEFL – Application for admission into universities or colleges where English is the language of instruction
Also used for immigration, licensing, scholarships, and placement
The World’s Leading Academic English Proficiency Test
20 million test takers since 1964
Nearly 1 million registrations in 2007
Available in more test centers in more countries than any other English language proficiency test
Recognized by more agencies and institutions than any other English language proficiency test
The Official Guide to the New TOEFL® iBT, book/audio CD
Why Do Universities Value TOEFL iBT?
40 years of experience using TOEFL scores
Objective, valid and reliable scores
Simulates actual university communication
More authentic academic material
Provides information universities want about your ability to communicate in English
What TOEFL iBT Offers You
More convenience
More flexibility
More relevant academic communication
More fair and objective testing and scoring
More feedback
More opportunities
“Truly an International Test of English…”
Because of “the coordination of marking for all tests…done centrally, rather than in individual countries”
Jeffrey Smart, Director of International Admissions at Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, Australia
“The Most Important Beneficiaries Are the Test Takers…
Who will now have the confidence of knowing they have the skills they need to communicate effectively on campus.”
“The integration of skills provides a real-world foundation from which score users can make admissions decisions with more certainty and clarity.”
Fred Davidson, University of Illinois at
Urbana Champaign
TOEFL iBT – Gold Standard in English Language Testing
Evaluates language skills in the way you will use them at colleges and universities
Authentic test content – Based on actual materials and activities used in universities
Standardized test delivery - Fair to all test takers
Most objective and valid scoring
Used by universities for over 40 years to select qualified international students
Show What You Know
Impress universities with your ability to communicate in English
Take the test universities know and trust
Take TOEFL iBT and Go Anywhere!
For More Information
TOEFL iBT
Website: www.ets.org/toefl
Take the online tour
Contacts:
Abu Einain Ibrahim: iabueinain@etsmiddleeast.org
toefl@ets.org
IELTS – Opening doors and creating opportunities for students worldwide
Craig McWilliam Regional Development Manager –Middle East and North Africa University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations Cambridge, UK
What is IELTS?
IELTS is the International English Language Testing System
Designed to assess the English language ability of people who intend to study or work where English is the language of communication
What is IELTS?
Original four-skills English language test – since 1989. Covers all four skills – listening, reading , writing, speaking - and includes a face-to-face speaking test to ensure that candidates can really communicate effectively in English
Test of communicative proficiency in English – not a test of grammar
What is IELTS?
Close to one million people rely on IELTS every year to access opportunities in study, careers and migration throughout the English-speaking world and beyond
The increasing popularity of IELTS
A global test for a modern world
IELTS is a truly international test in every aspect
The IELTS international partnership
British Council
IDP:IELTS Australia
University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations
Test production - item writers in Australia, New Zealand, UK and the U.S.
Test content – sourced globally, covering all the main national varieties of English
Test delivery – Available in over 120 countries
Test recognition- recognised by over 6,000 institutions
Fair and Reliable
Every aspect of the IELTS test - from test design and administration, to the marking and reporting of results – is subject to the highest quality controls, security procedures and integrity management practices
The rigorous processes used to produce the test materials ensure that every version of the test is of a comparable level of difficulty
IELTS Quality Assurance and Examiner Management Systems assure that results are consistent wherever and whenever the test is taken
Fair to anyone who sits the test, regardless of nationality, background, gender or lifestyle
Proven
Since 1989, it has been trusted by both candidates and institutions to provide a secure, global, authentic test which measures true to life ability to communicate in English
Trusted by institutions worldwide to provide a true indication of candidates English language proficiency
Trusted by students worldwide to take them where they want to go
Face-to-face Speaking
Realistic interactive conversation
Shows your real life communication skills
... interview is the top advantage of IELTS…
said Andrea Scott, director of graduate admissions and recruiting for the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities…
In IELTS, the person is trained to gauge the student’s ability, and to increase or decrease the difficulty of the conversation to tell more,” Scott said.
– Inside Higher Ed, 7 August 2006
Accessible and convenient
Available in over 300 locations across 120 countries worldwide
You can choose from up to 4 test dates each month
Results available 13 days after the test
Test fee payable in local currency
Wide range of practice materials to help you prepare for the test
One personal copy of your Test Report Form
Up to five Report Forms sent free to receiving organizations
IELTS is trusted and accepted by over 6,000 education institutions and organizations worldwide.
IELTS is trusted and accepted by over 6,000 education institutions and organizations worldwide.
Institutes of further and higher education:
Australia, Canada, Germany, France, Hong Kong, New Zealand, South Africa, the United Kingdom, United States and many other countries worldwide
In the USA, IELTS is accepted by close to 1,400 institutions including Harvard, Yale and Princeton
Exit test at Hong Kong universities
Global acceptance – one test for many countries and many purposes
Professional bodies:
Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, the UK and USA
Immigration authorities:
Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the UK
Government agencies and departments:
Australia, Canada, Europe, New Zealand, UK, USA
Academic Test
For entry to universities, colleges
For professional registration
General Training Test
For immigration
Check before you enrol
Fit for purpose test – IELTS is available in two formats
IELTS Test Format
Listening
30 minutes, 4 sections, 40 items
General Training Reading
60 minutes, 3 sections, 40 items
Academic Reading
60 minutes, 3 sections, 40 items
General Training Writing
60 minutes, 2 tasks
Academic Writing
60 minutes, 2 tasks
Speaking
11 - 14 minutes, 3 parts
Listening
30 minutes
40 questions, 4 sections
Each question is worth one mark
No penalty for wrong answers
Spelling is important – can use both British and American spelling
Candidates listen to a number of recorded texts. Includes monologues and conversations in a variety of English accents
Academic Reading
60 minutes
40 questions in 3 sections
Each question is worth one mark
No penalty for wrong answers
Spelling is important- can use both British and American spelling
Texts are taken from books, magazines, journals and newspapers, all written for a non-specialistaudience
At least one of the text contains a detailed argument
Academic Writing
2 Tasks in 60 minutes
Allocate about 20 minutes Task 1
40 minutes Task 2
Task 2 is worth more marks
Task 1: write description of at least 150 words based on material found in a chart, table, graph or diagram
Task 2: essay of at least 250 words in response to a statement or question
Speaking
11- 14 minutes face to face Speaking Test with a trained and certified Examiner which is as close to real life situation as possible
Part 1: introduction and interview
Part 2: Candidate speaks uninterrupted for 2 minutes on a given topic. 1 minute preparation time.
Part 3: a two-way discussion where the candidate is asked to participate in a discussion of a more abstract nature. Discussion is related to topic in part 2
IELTS Test Results
Candidates receive scores on a scale from 1 to 9 – these are called Band Scores
A score is given for each skills (Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking). They are reported in whole bands or half bands
Scores in each skill are combined to produce an ‘Overall Band Score’ between 1 to 9
IELTS Test Report Form
The IELTS 9 Band Scale
Band 9 - Expert User
Band 8 - Very Good User
Band 7 - Good User
Band 6 - Competent User
Band 5 - Modest User
Band 4 - Limited User
Band 3 - Extremely Limited User
Band 2 - Intermittent User
Band 1 - Non User
Preparing for the Test
On-line practice www.ielts.org
Published preparation materials
-Official IELTS Practice Materials -IELTS Scores Explained DVD
Preparation courses
How to Apply?
An application form
A copy of your valid passport or national ID
2 photos (passport size) which have been taken within the last 6 months
The IELTS test fee
Global list of test centres and test dates
Global list of test centres and test dates
IELTS Handbook
Information for Candidates
Practice Materials
Application Form
List of universities, colleges and other institutions worldwide accepting IELTS scores
Visit www.ielts.org for
For more information regarding IELTS in Qatar contact:
British Council PO Box 2992 93 A: Sadd Street Doha Tel: 974 425 1888 Email: ielts@qa.britishcouncil.org Web: http://www.britishcouncil.org/qatar
