SAT made simple for you -Fahmida Mehreen

If a student is in the 12th or final year of high school and is considering studying abroad, particularly in the USA or Canada, he or she has certainly come across the term SAT. Earlier, SAT stood for ‘Scholastic Aptitude Test’, which has been renamed to ‘Scholastic Assessment Test’. The Educational Testing Service, an institution under the College Board, a private, not-for-profit organization in the USA, administers and manages it. The purpose of the SAT is to assess a student’s eligibility to study abroad, which is more applicable for undergraduate programs at varying levels of universities and colleges. As different schools test and assess students on different parameters, mark schemes, and grading systems, the SAT serves as a standardized test for all students coming on a global platform to be compared on the same considerations. The standardized data points enable the colleges to determine where the students’ caliber stands in comparison with other candidates from all across the globe.

SAT comprises of 4 primary areas of study covered in high school that includes reading, writing, Maths using calculator and Maths without using calculator. Before you start preparing for your SAT exam, it is best to explore and gather information about the SAT requirements of the universities that you are planning to apply to. Because the requirements and needs for a score can vary from college to college, you may need to plan your preparations accordingly. To sit for the exam, there are no special requirements. Registration for the exam is open. However, fundamentally, the test is designed to determine two essentials: what knowledge a student has accumulated over 12 years of schooling and whether the person is competent enough to complete a college degree at a global standard.

The reading section of the SAT focuses on how a candidate receives and analyses information in the four areas. The SAT creates a passage and assigns multiple-choice questions based on it. It may sound pretty simple, but it surely needs some tact. Sometimes, the link between passages becomes crucial. Some non-fiction passages may include tables, graphs, diagrams, and other forms of illustrations in the analysis, despite not requiring any calculations. We expect answers to originate from the passages, as the section focuses on evidence-based reading and writing without testing prior knowledge. For the Writing and Language section, three tasks are commonly required to be performed: read, find errors, and rectify them. Similar to the reading section, all questions in this part are multiple-choice, and they are based on the given passages. The passages come in a similar manner as in the reading section. To ace this part of the test, one must have sharp aptitude in grammar and vocabulary. Even though the questions are structured, without a vigorous understanding of English grammar and syntax, a person may not be able to show his or her true potential. Moving to the Maths section, which covers a wide array of mathematical topics, puts emphasis on problem solving, modelling, using tools strategically, and using algebraic structure. Like the other two sections, most of the math questions will also come as multiple-choice questions; however, some questions may require the candidate to come up with the answers instead of selecting from the given ones. These questions are called ‘grid-ins’. The section, as previously mentioned, is divided into two sections: those with and without a calculator. Some of the questions may also be based on a particular scenario, like a short case study. Keeping in mind the need for math during further studies, the SAT places importance on key areas of math such as algebra, problem solving, and advanced math. Algebra consists of linear equations and systems; problem solving and data analysis concentrate on quantitatively analyzing numbers and information; and advanced mathematics entails manipulating and handling complex mathematical problems and equations. Besides, there are parts where the questions shed light on geometry and trigonometry that will be relevant to the college degree. Last but not least, the SAT essay will demand that you collaborate on all of your language proficiencies, i.e., reading, listening, and writing. Please note that the SAT essay is not a mandatory test, but some of the universities will set it as a requirement. Thus, be absolutely certain before sitting for the test. You would not want to finish the test only to find out that you left the essay unattempted, which was actually a need for you. Currently, students have 50 minutes to write their essays. Previously, it was only 25 minutes! The essays are subjective, but they will not ask you to express your agreement or vice versa, along with any opinions or experiences.

Comprising all the sections, the SAT score ranges from 400 to 1600. Defining a ‘good’ score depends on what your requirements are to get into the university or college you are aiming for. As a scenic example, at top schools such as MIT, Ivy League Colleges, and Stanford, a score of 1400 to 1550 is mandatory. Since the best of the best pupils from all across the world are competing for these universities, the standard is undoubtedly high and needs a lot of effort to achieve. However, more generally, a score of around 1050 is reasonably competent and considered a global average. Better scoring, such as over 1300, will most likely put you among the top 10 percent of applicants to well-ranked universities. Thus, the best motto is to prepare thoroughly and give your best shot, keeping the requirements of the universities in mind.

While preparing for the SAT, ample resources are now available. You will find quality guidebooks on SAT preparation both online and offline, along with preparatory videos and interactive resources on platforms like Khan Academy. So, do not limit yourself to any one textbook, as this is not a syllabus-bound test; rather, keep your options open and try to foster as much knowledge and practice as possible. Besides, there are renowned coaching centers that guide and mentor students for the test and give them the opportunity to sit for mock exams. The cost of the SAT exam varies between BDT 9,000 and BDT 14,000, depending on the online and on-campus tests. It is a 3-hour test with an additional 50 minutes for the essay. SAT exams are administered five times a year in Bangladesh in March, May, August, October, and December, centered on university admission terms in the USA and Canada. Online test registrations are available.

A very crucial matter to keep in mind when going for the test is carrying a valid ID. Make sure you read through the rules and regulations of the test at least a week ahead of the test so that you can make additional arrangements or modifications, if need be. If you are not properly prepared, you may have to wait another few months for the next session of the test, which in turn will delay your university admission.

Often, it is believed that a SAT score is an indicative tool of your knowledge, aptitude, and intellect. Thus, a low score puts a striving student in self-doubt about his or her own potential. But that is a sheer misconception. It is definitely a measuring tool to see how well you can take college and what degree you want to pursue, but it has nothing to do with your smarts or intelligence. The SAT score is what you get. If it doesn’t work the best the first time, try harder another time. But of course, keep in mind the time and money that will come as the opportunity cost.

As a result, the SAT will be the most important part of your admission to an international undergraduate program in the United States. Your O-levels, A-levels or equivalent test results along with SAT score will take you to your vantage point. However, do not overburden yourself by comparing your intelligence and rational thinking abilities to SAT scores. The SAT will only assess how well you have prepared for the exam!

Best wishes and good luck to all those aspiring talents who are chasing their dreams of a fine degree in the North! May you achieve outstanding results.