This step, in my opinion, is the most time-consuming step of the whole application process, and thus this should definitely be started now. Now that you have made a list of the universities you are applying to and are aware of the upcoming deadlines, you should now start preparing for the SAT/ACT.
This is probably the most notable ‘step’ for the application that you have to do in advance, because if you want to succeed in the SAT, you have to study assiduously early.
The SAT is a test that you have to take to apply to US universities and it consists of Reading, Writing and Maths. The ACT consists of English, Maths, Reading, Science and Writing (optional). Either the SAT or ACT is required for most schools in the USA. Which one should you take?
First of all, look at what your university says. The SAT is the most widely taken test by students, but with the number of ACT takers creeping up, most schools in the US allow both the ACT or SAT. So, if your university accepts both, the decision is now in your hand. I recommend that you look up other information (Search on your search engine: sat vs act or something like that) in order to make the best decision. I will just give a summary:
- ACT questions are more straightforward, whereas SAT questions can be harder to understand.
- ACT has a science section, whereas SAT does not.
- SAT tests more on your vocabulary than the ACT.
- The ACT writing section is optional (but some universities require it so look that up!)
Right away, I could tell that I would do better on the ACT. But I took the SAT. Why? Well, this may be an international student’s problem. The SAT is more widely used, and so my school was a test centre. If I wanted to take the ACT, however, I would have to travel to another country, because it was offered nowhere in my country… So, that’s another important point to consider.
Studying for the SAT
There are many great resources out there to study for the SAT, including books and websites. I would prepare months in advance if I could do it again. There is a direct correlation between how much time you spend studying effectively for the SAT and how well you perform in it. I recommend obtaining the official SAT blue book – this is the only book with actual SAT tests to practice with. Then, if you wish, you could also buy SAT reviews that do not contain real test questions but do contain tricks that may not be in the official SAT blue book.
Send SAT scores
After taking the SAT, you have to send the SAT scores through the SAT website.
Start Now!
Step 1: See where the closest test centre is:
SAT: https://sat.collegeboard.org/register/test-center-code-search
ACT: http://www.actstudent.org/regist/centers/
Especially for international students, this will help you know whether it is feasible to take the SAT or ACT. If the nearest test centre is several countries away, then you may be available to get a waiver for the SAT – this is rare and is generally discouraged. If that is the case though, you should talk to the university’s admissions centre.
Step 2: Register for an SAT/ACT account.
Do not worry, you are not registering for a test yet – this is just making the process easier. Have an account ready so that when you are ready to take the test, it is just a click away.
Either:
Register for an SAT account: https://sat.collegeboard.org/home
or:
Register for an ACT account: http://www.actstudent.org/
Depending on whether you are taking the TOEFL test, you can Register for a TOEFL account: https://www.ets.org/toefl
Step 3: Look at the requirements
Now you need to see what the requirements are for each university. Some universities require that you take the SAT Subject tests where others do not. Look at each admissions page and remember to put all the information in the ‘SAT/ACT required’ column of the checklist. Have a look at our example. What is score choice option/superscore? When you take the SAT, there are three sections: writing, reading, maths. Some universities say that you can submit your best scores from each category if you take the test multiple times. For example, if you take the test in October and score:
Reading: 670
Writing: 670
Maths: 670
And then take the test in November and score:
Reading: 670
Writing: 650
Maths: 700
Your ‘superscore’ will be:
Reading: 670
Writing: 670
Maths: 700
Step 4: Other tests required
Are there any other tests required? If you are an international student, you may have to take the TOEFL. If English is not your first language, or you do not speak it at home, then you will need to take the ‘TOEFL’ test which is used to assess your English language skills. Unlike the SATS where there is no strict cut-off, there are usually strict cut-off scores for the TOEFL. Please search your universities’ admissions page to see the strict cut off. In some cases, you may be able to take the TOEFL instead of the SAT I.
Practical Step: Now, we can fill in the ‘SAT/ACT Required’ column in our checklist. As shown in the example, we wrote down all the information relevant to the SAT/ACT from the college’s admissions’ website. Furthermore, we can fill in the ‘score choice option’ column and the ‘other tests/documents required’ column. Woo, almost there!