2. Testing, Testing, Testing—To Test or Not to Test
● Should I take the SAT or ACT?
● But what if I am doing the IB?
● Why do I need the subject tests if I’m taking the SAT?
● Do I need a English Proficiency test?
● I am not applying to the US. Do I need any
standardized testing?
● Join us as we discuss what these tests mean, how
they are used, and how to best navigate them.
3. What to expect today?
● SAT
● ACT
● SAT SUBJECT TEST
● Test-Flexible & Test-Optional Universities
● Test Prep
● TOEFL
● IELTS
● Other tests
● IB Diploma
● To AP or not?
4. Basics
● Meet with your counselor to create a testing plan
that is right for YOU!
● When in doubt, ask your counselor
● It is the responsibility of the student to be aware of
each specific universities requirements
6. SAT Reasoning Test
What?
∗ Evidence-Based Reading & Writing (EBRW) and
Math with an optional essay
∗ 1600 is the highest score possible
∗ 3 hours plus 50 min for the optional essay
Who?
∗ Students applying to US
∗ Some Asian universities also require
∗ Students without IB Diploma applying
internationally
How?
∗ Register at www.collegeboard.org
7. SAT
Two Sections:
○ Math (80 minutes long including 25 min no calculator section)
○ Evidence Based Reading and Writing ( 1 hour and 40 minutes)
● Scoring 400-1600 (800 per section)
● No Penalty for guessing
● Optional Essay (Some require, some recommend)
● Fewer questions than ACT
● Fewer obscure words (more vocabulary in context)
● More advanced math
○ Math without Calculator section
8. ACT (through June 2018)
∗ What?
∗ College admission exam similar to the SAT, includes science section
∗ Who?
∗ Students applying to US universities
∗ Why?
∗ A few 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
∗ How?
∗ Register at www.actstudent.org
9. ACT beginning September 2018
∗ What?
∗ ACT Computer Adaptive Test - same test, taken on a computer
∗ Why?
∗ New method to administer the test
∗ Increased security and test validity
∗ Students receive scores in less than one week
∗ When and Where?
∗ Six times per year at another site in Manila (tbd)
∗ Offered in September, October, December, February, April, June
∗ Saturday and Sunday, two times each day
∗ How?
∗ Register at www.actstudent.org
10. SAT Subject Tests
What?
∗ 1 hour exams in English Literature, History, Languages,
Math, Sciences
Who?
∗ Generally those who are applying to selective US colleges
∗ Specific majors might require specific tests
How Many?
∗ You can take up to 3 in one sitting
∗ 2 is often required (Ex. Georgetown & Johns Hopkins recommend 3)
When?
∗ Cannot take them on the same test date as the SAT
∗ Language with Listening (preferred) is offered only in Nov
∗ June and November test dates are SAT Subject Test ONLY
11. Advice for Subject Tests
● Recommended to take June of IB1 or Fall IB2
○ For students taking APUSH, take Subject Test the same year
● Study – you can learn the material for them!
● What is a good score?
○ 700 + is competitive at the most selective colleges
● What if it’s not required?
○ If you can score well, it can help your application
○ Do not take too many
● Take what you can score well on, play to strength and interest
● It is not recommended to take a language subject test in your first
language.
17. TEST Prep
● Choose what works best for you!
○ Class vs One-one-One vs Online vs Self-Study
○ How often?
○ Have I learned the content in class yet?
Academic Records (i.e., grades, predicted grades and
transcripts) have more weight in the application!
18. TEST Prep
● Free ACT and SAT prep for ISM students
● Modular lessons, which begin with a Skill Assessment, and
creates a learning path based on the performance of the
Skill Assessment.
● Videos and Practice Questions: Students must
demonstrate their understanding of these questions in
order to receive a completion rating (80%+).
● 3 free, full-length practice test per year.
19. English Language Proficiency Tests
● Passport holders of non-English speaking countries
(including the Philippines) are often expected to meet
English language proficiency requirements
● Each university and country will have its own
requirements
○ Waivers can be requested for some universities
● Possible tests include:
○ TOEFL
○ IELTS
○ IB English A grades (sometimes IB English B HL)
○ SAT/ACT scores in English-related subjects
20. TOEFL & IELTS
● Typical MINIMUM Requirements
○ TOEFL: 90+ (https://www.ets.org/toefl/ibt/register)
○ IELTS: 6.0 (https://www.ielts.org/)
Both are offered in Manila (not at ISM)
SECTIONS TOEFL IELTS
SPEAKING 0-30 1-9
LISTENING 0-30 1-9
READING 0-30 1-9
WRITING 0-30 1-9
Final Score Sum = 120 Average = 9
21. Other Exams
● Medical School Exams (Summer/Fall of IB2)
○ UKCAT
○ BMAT
○ ISAT
● Other UK exams (Fall IB2)
○ LNAT (Law)
○ MAT (Math)
○ Oxford & Cambridge tests needed for some courses (not just
at Oxbridge)
● University-specific exams (before or during
application process)
22. IB
∗ IB Diploma “generally” required in Europe
and Australia
∗ IB Diploma students are exempted from the
SAT requirement in Canada and at some
universities in Asia
∗ 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
23. Advanced Placement
∗ Myth: US colleges prefer AP to IB
∗ ISM offers AP US History and AP Human Geography
∗ 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
∗ AP exams are offered at ISM for a wide scope of subjects
∗ 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
24. Generic Timeline
Junior Year:
∗ November-February: Take SAT/ACT for first
time
∗ February-May: If needed take SAT/ACT again
∗ TOEFL/IELTS: end of Junior Year
∗ June: SAT subject tests (if needed)
Senior Year:
∗ Last time for the SAT/ACT
∗ SAT Subject tests (if needed)
25. An Additional thought
● Junior Year Transcripts are important.
● Find a balance between testing and school work.
● You have to determine what is best for you - each
student will have a different (or NO!) testing plan
26. Additional Resources
● College Board Sample Questions
● College Board: SAT Suite of Assessments
● New York Time: Everything you need to know about
the New SAT
● https://www.khanacademy.org/
● http://www.usnews.com/education/best-
colleges/slideshows/10-top-ranked-colleges-that-
are-flexible-with-test-scores
