Sat presentation nis 2015

1. SAT:
Your key to
undergraduate
admission
Undergraduate Students
Ilya Stremoussov,
EducationUSA Aktobe, Kazakhstan

2. We will talk about
•What SAT is
•SAT structure
•SAT dates and registration
•The new SAT
•Preparation strategies

3. Things to keep in mind
SAT basic facts
•Standardized exam for undergraduate
admission
•Scholastic Aptitude Test
•SAT I – Reasoning test
•SAT II – Subject test
•College Board

4. Test structure
SAT I – REASONING TEST
Test that measures your abilities in:
●
Math
●
Critical reading
●
Writing
Score range: from 600 to 2400
Test fee: $103.50

5. 2015-2016
SAT DATES AND REGISTRATION
SAT in Kazakhstan (Aktobe included):
October 03, 2015
November 07, 2015
December 05, 2015
January 23, 2016
May 07, 2016
June 04, 2016
Register and pay online:
https://sat.collegeboard.org/home

6. 2015
SAT DATES AND REGISTRATION
Regular Registration by deadline
(closes generally one moth before the test)
Late Registration (waitlist)
(closes generally 5 days before the test)
Register and pay online:
https://sat.collegeboard.org/home

7. 2015
SAT DATES AND REGISTRATION
Detailed registration instructions
in Russian:
http://akeac.org/web/test/official-tests

8. For free or for a fee
SENDING SAT SCORES TO COLLEGES
For free:
●
Send to 4 institutions
●
Choose them at the time of registration or within 9 days
after the test
For a fee:
●
Send to as many institutions as you wish
●
There is a fee for each institution ($11.25)

9. Test structure
SAT I
9 sections (can be in ANY order):
Essay
Math
Writing
Critical reading
Math
Critical reading
Math
Critical Reading
Writing
+ 1 experimental section

10. Test structure
SAT I – CRITICAL READING (~67 questions)
Sentence Completion
Reading Comprehension
You read a passage and answer questions

11. Test structure
SAT I – WRITING (~49 questions)
Identifying Sentence Errors
Improving Sentences

12. Test structure
SAT I – WRITING
Essay Writing

13. Test structure
SAT I – MATH (~54 questions)
Multiple Choice

14. Test structure
SAT I – MATH (~54 questions)
Student-produced answers

15. How the test is scored
SAT I – SCORES
●
Every correct answer adds 1 point
●
Every incorrect answer on a multiple-choice question
subtracts ¼ point
●
0 points are subtracted for incorrect student-produced
response (student-produced answers in math section)
●
0 points are subtracted for questions you don't answer
Example:
You have 10 correctly answered questions and 5 incorrectly answered
questions
You will get 10 points – 5*1/4=10-5/4=8.75

16. How the test is scored
SAT I – SCORES
●
Every correct answer adds 1 point
●
Every incorrect answer on a multiple-choice question
subtracts ¼ point
●
0 points are subtracted for incorrect student-produced
response (student-produced answers in math section)
●
0 points are subtracted for questions you don't answer
Example:
You have 10 correctly answered questions and 5 incorrectly answered
questions
You will get 10 points – 5*1/4=10-5/4=8.75

17. How the test is scored
SAT I – SCORES
Your essay will be read by 2 experts and will get a score
from 1 to 6 points from each expert.
Your essay score will range from 2 to 12.

18. SAT II – SUBJECT TESTS
Literature
U.S. History
World History
Mathematics Level 1
Mathematics Level 2
Biology E/M
Chemistry
Physics
Foreign languages
Each test lasts 1 hour.
Score range: from 200 to 800
Test fee:
$26 + $18 (each test) + $49 (regional fee)
NB: Ask admissions whether you need to take SAT II

19. Starting in March 2016 in the USA, and in May around the world
THE NEW SAT
Major innovations:
●
Essay is optional
●
Test is shorter (3h versus 3h50m)
●
No penalty for guessing
●
4 answer choices
●
New scores: 400 to 1,600
●
New essay scores: 1 to 4
●
Essay score is reported separately
●
Hard vocabulary will be gone
The new SAT practice for free is available:
https://www.khanacademy.org/sat

20. Starting in March 2016 in the USA, and in May around the world
THE NEW SAT
Test Structure:
●
Reading: 65m - 52q
●
Writing and Language: 35m - 44q
●
Math (No Calculator): 25m - 20q
●
Math (Calculator OK): 55m – 38q
●
Essay (optional): 50m
The new SAT practice for free is available:
https://www.khanacademy.org/sat

21. Start early and don't procrastinate
SAT PREPARATION TIPS
Prepare for free:
●
Use official free practice materials at sat.collegeboard.org
●
Use the Internet to find websites with free SAT prep
resources
●
Take practice tests on your own
●
Use AKEAC library to study for free (during AKEAC office
hours)
Prepare for a fee:
●
Attend SAT prep courses (available at AKEAC)
●
Attend SAT practice tests (available at AKEAC)

22. Start early and don't procrastinate
SAT PREPARATION TIPS
Critical Reading study tips:
●
Work on your vocabulary and learn the words in context
●
Read as much as you can (SAT passages and any other
academic reading online – e.g., Scientific American, History
Today)
●
Critical reading is the hardest part even for Americans
Math study tips:
●
Algebra
●
Geometry
●
Probability and Data Analysis

23. Start early and don't procrastinate
SAT PREPARATION TIPS
Writing study tips:
●
Read as many essay topics as you can and try to find essay
examples – e.g., College Confidential
●
Work on your grammar – needed for 'improving sentences'
task
GENERAL ADVICE:
P-R-A-C-T-I-C-E on a regular basis!
Create a study plan.
Take a least one practice test bi-weekly and
learn from your mistakes.

24. Thank you!
Questions, please