2. Basics
Meet with your counselor to create a testing plan
When in doubt, ask your college counselor
It is the students’ responsibility to be aware of each
school specific requirement
3. SAT Reasoning Test
(formerly known as SAT I)
∗ What?
∗ Critical Reading, Math, Writing
∗ 2400 is the highest score possible
∗ Average score at ISM: 1,800~1,860
∗ Who?
∗ Students applying to US, Asia and those without the
IB Diploma
∗ When?
∗ December/January – so we can gauge where the
student is competitive
∗ How?
∗ Register at www.collegeboard.org
∗ Where?
∗ ISM ☺ Test Center: 74905 (confidential)
4. Why SAT?
∗ SAT is required by most US and many Asian
universities (and in various countries for
non-IB Diploma students)
∗ In the US it is typically used as part of a holistic
application review
∗ In Asia there is often a minimum requirement
∗ But what if the SAT is not my best friend?
∗ SAT Optional: ex. NYU, but need predicted IB
Scores
∗ SAT Flexible: ex. Middlebury, 3 subject tests in
place of SAT Reasoning Test
∗ www.fairtest.org
5. SAT Score Choice
∗ College Board allows you to withhold scores
from any specific test date
∗ ISM does not report SAT scores for this
reason
∗ 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
6. SAT Subject Tests
(formerly known as SAT IIs)
∗ What?
∗ 1 hour exams in English Literature, History, Languages,
Math, Sciences
∗ Who?
∗ Generally those who are applying to selective US colleges
∗ How Many?
∗ You can take up to 3 in one sitting
∗ 2 is often required; Georgetown & Johns Hopkins
recommend 3
∗ When?
∗ May/June
∗ Cannot take them on the same test date as the SAT
Reasoning
∗ Language with Listening (preferred) is offered only in
November
7. Advice for Subject Tests
∗ Study – you can learn the material for them
∗ What is a good score?
∗ This is relative to the selectivity of the college
∗ 700+ is competitive at the most selective colleges
∗ What if it’s not required?
∗ If you can score well, it can help your application
∗ That can be 600-700 depending on where you’re applying
∗ What if I can score well on more than 2?
∗ Take what you can score well on, but don’t take too many
∗ 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.
8. ACT
∗ What?
∗ College admission exam similar to the SAT, includes a
science section
∗ The ACT also offers score choice
∗ Who?
∗ Students applying to US universities
∗ Why?
∗ Many 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 (too late), April & June
∗ How?
∗ Register at www.actstudent.org
9. 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
∗ It is recommeneded to take the TOEFL before senior year
begins
∗ How?
∗ Register at www.ets.org/toefl
10. Potential TOEFL Exemptions from
∗ 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
11. IELTS
International English Language Testing System
Take if you are going to a school in the UK
UK will not issue a Tier Four visa without an
IELTS
12. IB
∗ Full Diploma generally required in Europe
and Australia
∗ Full Diploma students are exempted from
the SAT requirement in Canada and at
some Asian universities
∗ 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
13. Advanced Placement
∗ Myth: US colleges prefer AP to IB
∗ ISM only offers AP US History
∗ AP exams are offered at ISM for a wide scope of subjects
∗ 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
∗ 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
14. 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
15. An Additional thought
Junior Year Transcripts are important.
Find a balance between testing and school work.
16. SAT 2014-2015
Test Date Registration Deadline Results Online
December 6 November 6 December 23
January 24 December 29 February 12
May 2 April 6 May 21
June 6 May 8 June 25
ACT 2014-2015
Test Date Registration Deadline Results online
December 13 August 8 September 22*
April 18 March 13 April 27*
June 13 May 8 June 22*
