Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT)

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Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) administered by College Board, New York is required for the admission into any bachelor’s degree program. Nearly every college in America accepts the SAT or Subject Tests as a part of its admissions process. That's why more than two million students take the SAT every year.

The College Board: The College Board at 45 Columbus Avenue, New York is a not-for-profit membership association whose mission is to connect students to college success and opportunity. Founded in 1900, the association is composed of more than 5,200 schools, colleges, universities, and other educational organizations. Each year, the College Board serves seven million students and their parents, 23,000 high schools, and 3,500 colleges through major programs and services in college admissions, guidance, assessment, financial aid, enrollment, and teaching and learning. Among its best-known programs are the SAT®, the PSAT/NMSQT®, and the Advanced Placement Program® (AP®).

Meaning of SAT

Originally, SAT was an abbreviation for the Scholastic Aptitude Test. In 1993, the test was renamed the SAT I: Reasoning Test. At the same time, the former Achievement Tests were renamed the SAT II: Subject Tests. In 2004, the numerals "I" and "II" were dropped and the tests are now named the SAT Reasoning Test (or just SAT) and SAT Subject Tests. SAT is a simple and recognizable way of referring to the SAT Reasoning Test.

GRE General Test Overview

Prospective graduate applicants take the Subject Tests. GRE test scores are used by admissions or fellowship panels to supplement undergraduate records and other qualifications for graduate study.

The scores provide common measures for comparing the qualifications of applicants and aid in the evaluation of grades and recommendations. Some Subject Tests yield subscores that can indicate the strengths and weaknesses of individual students' preparation and may be useful for guidance and placement purposes.

SAT Includes:
  • SAT Reasoning Test
  • SAT Subject Tests

The centers in India

In India the test is administered by College Board. The following is the list of test centre in India:
  • 63113 Ahmedabad - H L Coll Commerce
  • 63100 Bangalore-bishop Cotton Boys S
  • 63120 Calcutta-assmb God Church School
  • 63130 Cochin Sacred Heart College
  • 63255 Himachal Pradesh-Akal Academy (Distt Sirmour)
  • 63157 Haryana-Pathways World School
  • 63161 Hyderabad St Anns Degree & Post Graduate
  • 63166 Kodaikanal-Kodaikanal International School
  • 63127 Calcutta - USEFI
  • 63175 Madras - U S Educational Found
  • 63224 Pune-Mahindra United World College
  • 63107 Mumbai Teachers Training College
  • 63108 Mumbai-s L & S S Girl's High School
  • 63190 Mussoorie - Woodstock School
  • 63200 New Delhi - Amer Embassy School
  • 63202 New Delhi USEFI (www.fulbright-india.org)
  • 63212 New Delhi-St Michael's Senior Secondary
  • 63235 Pune - Pune University (Pune, INDIA)

Difference between the SAT- Reasoning and SAT-Subject Tests

Most colleges require the SAT – Reasoning Test for admission and many other schools require both the SAT – Reasoning Test and SAT – Subject Test for admission purposes or placement. Additionally, some colleges require specific Subject Test tests while others allow you to choose which tests you take. It's best to check directly with the school.

SAT Reasoning Test

The SAT Reasoning Test is a measure of the critical thinking skills you'll need for academic success in college. The SAT assesses how well you analyze and solve problems—skills you learned in school that you'll need in college. The SAT is typically taken by high school juniors and seniors. Each section of the SAT is scored on a scale of 200—800, with two writing subscores for multiple-choice and the essay. It is administered seven times a year in the U.S., Puerto Rico, and U.S. Territories, and six times a year overseas.

Why one should SAT-Reasong Test: You may have to take the test because it is an admission requirement of the college you are interested in attending. Many colleges require the SAT I for admission because it is a standard way of measuring a student's ability to do college-level work. Because courses and grading standards vary widely from school to school, scores on standardized tests, like the SAT I, help colleges compare your academic achievements with those of students from different schools. Colleges look at other things when making admission decisions -- like your high school record, essays, recommendations, interviews, and extracurricular activities. Your SAT I test score is just one of many tools that help colleges make admission decisions.

The Unscored Section-In addition, there is one 25-minute unscored section, known as the variable or equating section. This unscored section may be either a critical reading, mathematics, or writing multiple-choice section. This unscored section does not count toward the final score, but is used to try out new questions for future editions of the SAT and to ensure that scores on new editions of the SAT are comparable to scores on earlier editions of the test.

Test Order-The 25-minute essay will always be the first section of the SAT, and the 10-minute multiple-choice writing section will always be the final section. The remaining six 25-minute sections can appear in any order, as can the two 20-minute sections. Test takers sitting next to each other in the same testing session may have test books with entirely different sections.

Each edition of the SAT Reasoning Test include a Critical Reading, Math and Writing section as follows:
The Critical Reading section includes:
  • Content: Critical reading and sentence-level reading
  • Item Types: Reading comprehension, sentence completions, and paragraph-length critical reading
  • Time:70 min. (two 25-min. sections and one 20-min. section)
  • Score: 200-800
Mathematics Section includes:
  • Content: Number and operations; algebra and functions; geometry; statistics, probability, and data analysis
  • Item Types: Five-choice multiple-choice questions and student-produced responses
  • Time: 70 min. (two 25-min. sections and one 20-min. section)
  • Score: 200-800
Writing Section includes:
  • Content: Grammar, usage, and word choice
  • Item Types: Multiple choice questions (35 min.) and student-written essay (25 min.)
  • Time: 60 min.
  • Score: 200-800

SAT- Subject Test

It is one-hour, primarily multiple-choice tests in specific subjects. The Subject Tests measure knowledge or skills in a particular subject and your ability to apply that knowledge. Many colleges require or recommend one or more of the Subject Tests for admission or placement. The Subject Tests are one-hour, primarily multiple-choice tests in specific subjects. Subject Tests measure knowledge or skills in a particular subject and your ability to apply that knowledge.

The 22 Subject Tests included in SAT- Subject Test are as follows:
  • Writing
  • Literature
  • U.S.History
  • World History
  • Biology E/M
  • Chemistry
  • Physics
  • Math Level IC,
  • Math Level IIC
  • French
  • French with Listening
  • German
  • German with Listening
  • Spanish
  • Spanish with Listening
  • Modern Hebrew
  • Italian
  • Latin
  • Japanese with Listening
  • korean with Listening
  • Chinese with Listening
  • English Language Proficiency Test

Number of Attempts:You can take the test as many times as you want. Your score report shows your current test score, in addition to scores for up to six SAT I and six Subject Test administrations. The total testing time for the SAT I is 3 hours and 45 minutes.

Commencement of SAT
SAT is held 6 times in a year: May, June, October, November, December and January

SAT Score report includes:SAT Reasoning Test- SAT scores are reported on a scale from 200 to 800, with additional subscores reported for the essay (ranging from 2-12) and for multiple-choice writing questions (on a 20-to-80 scale). Your scores tell college admission staff how you did compared with other students who took the test. For example, if you scored close to the mean or average-about 500 on SAT critical reading and 500 on SAT math-admission staff would know that you scored as well as about half of the students who took the test.

SAT Subject Tests- Subject Test scores are reported on a scale from 200 to 800, Subject Test subscores are reported on a scale from 20 to 80. Reading and listening subscores are reported for all Language Tests with Listening, and a usage subscore is also reported for the Chinese, Japanese, and Korean tests. Your scores tell college admission staff how you did compared with other students who took the test.

Eligibility:SAT (SAT Reasoning Test or SAT subjects Test or both) is typically taken by high school juniors and seniors. Indian students who have completed their 12 years of school education successfully from any recognised Indian board or university can take SAT for admission in the different streams available in to various American colleges.

There is no criteria of minimum marks etc. for appearing in the SAT Reasoning Test or SAT Subject Tests, but several colleges need a good SAT score along with a good academic record. Besides that college conducts their own tests, like Essay Writing, Personality Test etc and also asks for Curriculum Vitae and recommendations from teacher etc. A nicely written CV (Curriculum Vitae) so that it reflects brilliantly about the aspirant may be of great help. Some colleges specify the Subject Tests they require for admission or placement; others allow applicants to choose which tests to take.

How to apply ?
There are following common ways of registering for SAT:

By mail: Obtain the "SAT Information Bulletin" available free with USEFI offices or from College Board, New York website (www.collegeboard.com) Fill in the form, get the draft made (if you are not paying by credit card), and use the envelope provided with the form to mail these to:
College Board SAT Program
Princeton, NJ 08541,
USA

Online Registration (Credit Card required): Fill up the form online and mention your credit card number. This is the easiest way to register for SAT.

Phone: You can register by phone, if you previously registered for an SAT test.

  • Call 800-SAT-SCORE (800-728-7267) 7 a.m. to midnight, ET
  • 609-771-7600 8 a.m. to 8:45 p.m., Monday through Friday, ET.
  • TTY is available any time, 609-882-4118.

Registration through International Representatives: If you are registering from outside Americas, you can also register through International representatives.

How to Contact College Board, NY for SAT
By Email- Use the email inquiry forms (Click here) to contact SAT Program Customer Service online Or Use this link http://www.collegeboard.com/inquiry/sathome.html
By Telephone- You can also contact SAT Program Customer Service by telephone Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. (Eastern Time). Summer hours for SAT Program Customer Service (after the June administration through August) are Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. (Eastern Time).

  • International: (212) 713-7789
  • Services for Students with Disabilities: (609) 771-7137
  • TTY (for students who are deaf or hard of hearing):
    1. (888) 857-2477 (Domestic)
    2. (609) 882-4118 (International)

Rules observed during the Test

SAT Reasoning Test- You will get a short break at the end of each hour of testing time. You must work within each section of the SAT only for the time allotted. You are not permitted to go back to a section once that section has ended. Nor are you permitted to start the next section if you finish a section early. The testing supervisor will guide you through the testing process and provide all the necessary instructions.

SAT Subject TestsEach Subject Test is about one hour long. If you are only taking one or two Subject Tests, you may leave the test center after your final test is finished.
You may work on only one test during each testing hour. You will get a short break at the end of each hour of testing time. You can take up to three Subject Tests on one test date.
You can change your mind on test day about which Subject Test you want to take. You may substitute a Subject Test (other than a listening test), or add Subject Tests (other than a listening test) on test day.
The testing supervisor will guide you through the testing process and provide all the necessary instructions.

Standby Testing- If you miss the late registration deadline, there's still a chance you can sometimes take the SAT as a standby. Test centers accept standbys on a first-come, first-serve basis only if they have enough space, testing materials, and staff-so there is no guarantee that you'll be admitted to the test.

How to prepare for SAT

SAT Subject Tests scores can help you demonstrate your achievements. Many colleges that do not require Subject Tests will look at your Subject Tests scores to learn more about your academic background.
The Subject Tests Preparation Center of College Board, NY gives you tips and strategies , talks about specific SAT Subject Tests, and gives you other information about what you need to know to take an SAT Subject Test. You can also read more about the SAT Subject Tests or download the SAT Subject Tests Preparation Booklet (.pdf/2.34M)

source: http://www.admissionnews.com/sat.aspx

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