It is the time of the year again. Students who want to do undergraduate courses abroad are on the look out for schools and colleges of their choice. The United States of America remains the most popular destination, though the application process appears cumbersome.

What US colleges look for
Specific colleges in the US have different admissions criteria. But they ultimately seek the same - a well-rounded, capable student. The admissions process relies on a number of factors but the basic criteria used to evaluate students are:

• Academic potential and performance – as evidenced by the student’s class rank and marks, the rigour of the programme pursued and the reputation of the school.
   
• Strengths and weaknesses as represented by the applicant’s participation in extra-curricular activities.
   
• Performance in standardised global admissions tests.

SAT as a measuring factor
The first two factors are rather subjective as they represent great diversity – courses and grading standards vary from school to school and region to region. It is the scores in standardised tests that help colleges compare the academic achievements of students from different schools and regions.

After the mandatory English examinations like the TOEFL and the IELTS, the SAT is the most widely used admissions test among colleges and universities. The American College Testing programme (ACT) is also used by a large number of schools. However, the SAT, formerly known as Scholastic Aptitude Test, still remains the most popular
one in India.

SAT I Reasoning Test
This is a standardized aptitude test for undergraduate aspirants, designed by the Educational Testing Service (ETS) and administered by The College Board. It tests students’ knowledge of subjects that are believed to be necessary for college success: reading, writing, and mathematics.

Almost all undergraduate programmes in the US require applicants to furnish the SAT score. Some colleges require scores on SAT Subject Tests as well. Find out whether a particular college requires SAT I or SAT II or both,  by checking out its website.

The SAT is typically taken by students who are in classes 11th and 12th. It tells students how well they use the skills and knowledge they have attained in and outside of the classroom - including how they think, solve problems, and communicate. It is believed to be one of the best predictors of how well students will do in college.

SAT trivia

•  It is a paper-based test and includes several different question types, including: a student-produced essay, multiple-choice questions, and student-produced responses (grid-ins).
  There are three distinct sections in the SAT
• Critical Reading
• Writing
• Mathematics
• Each section of the SAT is scored on a scale of 200-800; the maximum possible score is 2400!
• The test is administered six times a year in India
• The SAT consists of 10 total testing sections with the three types of sections interspersed in random fashion.
• Test-takers in the same session may have test books with entirely different content orders for sections two through nine.
• Usually students take SAT I twice.

How to score well in SAT
Scoring in the test depends on the student’s performance in nine sections – three each of Critical Reading, Writing or Mathematics. There is an extra section called the wild card section that can consist of Mathematics, Critical Reading or Writing questions. This section does not count and is not considered towards the SAT score. However, it is unmarked and students will not be able to differentiate it from the others.

STRUCTURE OF SAT I TEST
Writing Section
The writing section includes both multiple-choice questions and a direct writing measure in the form of an essay. It tests the student’s knowledge of grammar, usage and word choice. The total duration of this section is 60 minutes.

The short essay measures the student’s ability to organize and express ideas clearly. The multiple-choice writing questions measure the student’s ability to improve sentences and paragraphs and identify errors such as diction, grammar, sentence construction, subject-verb agreement, proper word usage, and wordiness.

Critical Reading Section
The critical reading section, formerly known as the verbal section, includes short as well as long reading passages. Questions can be based on one, or sometimes two, reading passages. This section comprises two 25-minute sections and one 20-minute section.

Mathematics Section
This section consists of two 25-minute sections and one 20-minute section. The SAT includes mathematics topics  in the four main areas - Number and Operations, Algebra and Functions, Geometry and Measurement & Data Analysis, Statistics, and Probability. Students are allowed to use a four-function, scientific, or graphing calculator. It is not possible to take SAT I and SAT II tests on the same test date.

Though the basic test fee is $45, there are additional processing fees such as the international processing fee of $26; students in India and Pakistan pay an additional surcharge of $23. The SAT fee entitles the student to send the score to up to four schools free of cost. Beyond that, each score report costs $9.50.

SAT I preparation
An aptitude test, students have been able to increase their score by preparing well for SAT. As Indian students are not very familiar with the multiple-choice examinations, getting used to the test also takes time.

• It is best to start preparing for the test after the class 10 final examinations.
• Plan ahead because schools set a last test date for each application period.
• Students must set aside a minimum of 3 months for the SAT I preparation.
• Pick a test preparation programme that combines instruction with testing and review.
• Take a minimum of 12 full-length tests to prepare for the test.
• Practise taking the test under real time conditions.

Tips for students

• Register for the test early so that you can be assured of a good testing center. It is offered in a number of Indian cities.
• You will need a valid passport as proof of your identity.
• Each question in a section is worth the same point irrespective of the level of difficulty – do not spend too much time on tough questions. Do the simple ones first and tough ones later.
• If you do not know the answer and can still eliminate one or two choices to make an intelligent guess, do so. However, keep in mind that there is a guessing penalty in SAT. For each wrong answer, you lose one-fourth of the points earned on a correct answer except for the student produced answers.
• Use your test booklet for doing rough as it is the only scrap paper you will get.
• Wear a watch to the test since keeping time is critical to your success on the test.
• At the test center, the start and end of each section is called. You will not be allowed to go back to a previously completed section.
• You cannot take your question paper home. However, the College Board offers a Question and Answer Service for SAT I for certain tests dates. You can register for the same by paying a special fee and get a copy of the test paper, your answers and the correct answers.

SAT II: Subject Tests
These are one-hour, primarily multiple-choice tests measuring knowledge of particular subjects and the ability to apply that knowledge.

SAT II information

• These subjects include Mathematics, English Literature, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, French, US History, World History, Italian, Latin, German, Spanish, Chinese, Japanese, Korean and Modern Hebrew. Please note that the options for students in the commerce stream are rather limited.
• Each subject test is scored on a 200-800 scale.
  
  

  ACT test dates in India
  Test Date	Registration Deadline
  December 12, 2009*	November 6, 2009
  February 6, 2010	January 5, 2010
  April 10, 2010	March 5, 2010
  June 12, 2010	May 7, 2010

  
   
• Students can take up to three SAT II tests on a test date. Also, all subjects are not offered on all test dates in India.
• Most colleges that require SAT II want the scores from two subject areas; some schools want three SAT II tests.

The PSAT
The Preliminary SAT (PSAT/NMSQT) is a programme co-sponsored by the College Board and National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC). It is a standardized test that provides firsthand practice for the SAT. It also gives US citizens and permanent residents a chance to enter NMSC scholarship programmes and gain access to college and career planning tools.

The PSAT/NMSQT measures, Critical Reading skills, Math problem-solving skills and  Writing Skills. It has five sections: two 25-minute critical reading sections, two 25-minute Math sections and one 30-minute writing skills section. The whole test requires two hours and 10 minutes. This test is now being administered in India and is meant to be taken by students in classes 9th and 10th. It is held in October every year.

The ACT
The ACT test, formerly the American College Testing programme, is an alternative to the SAT test. Today, most 4-year colleges recognize the ACT test. The ACT consists of four multiple-choice tests and an optional writing test. English focusses on usage and rhetoric, Math tests algebra skills and trigonometry skills. Reading focuses on the arts and literature, and science  stresses problem-solving skills. The optional writing test is similar to the SAT essay question. Students must write a short essay based on an assigned prompt. The actual testing time is 2 hours and 55 minutes. The writing part takes an additional 30 minutes. The advantage with ACT is that it is a curriculum-based test, so it is not an aptitude or IQ test. Students who do poorly on the SAT may do significantly better in the ACT. Each of the tests is graded on a one to thirty-six scale, with the optional essay adding points to the total score. There is no wrong answer penalty like in the SAT, and the ACT analyzes students’ strengths and weaknesses. The test is offered in India at centers in Pune, Kodaikanal, Mussoorie, New Delhi, Ahmedabad, Chennai, Hyderabad and Mumbai. Not all centers are scheduled to test on every test date. Basic registration fee is $47 for the ACT Plus Writing. Most scores are available online within two-and-a-half weeks after each national or international test date.

Comparison of ACT and SAT
The ACT is an achievement test, measuring what a student has learned in school. The SAT is more of an aptitude test, measuring reasoning and verbal abilities. The ACT has up to 5 components: English, Mathematics, Reading, Science, and an optional Writing Test. The SAT has only 3 components: Critical Reasoning, Mathematics, and a required Writing Test.
The College Board introduced a new version of the SAT in 2005, with a mandatory writing test. ACT continues to offer its well-established test, plus an optional writing test. You take the ACT Writing Test only if required by the college(s) you’re applying to. The SAT has a correction for guessing. That is, they take off for wrong answers. The ACT score is based on the number of correct answers and has no penalty for guessing. You can ask the ACT to release only the record from the test date you request. SAT has recently allowed this facility but it has not been accepted across colleges in the US.

AP Tests
The AP (Advanced Placement) tests are taken by students in various subjects to earn credit at most colleges and universities in the U.S., as well as colleges and universities in more than 40 other countries. With a little bit of planning and effort, you can save a lot of time and money in the United States.

AP information
Students currently in class 11th or 12th can take the tests and have an edge in the application process. Students passing out this year would benefit by getting credit in the freshman year. Some of the subjects in which Indian students can take the AP exams are: Chemistry, Biology, Physics, Psychology, Macroeconomics, Microeconomics, World History, Human Geography, English Language and Composition, United States History, Computer Science, Calculus, Statistics, Environmental Science, etc.These tests are administered by the College Board in the month of May every year. The last date for registering for the examination is 1st of March. In India this test is offered at centers in New Delhi, Mumbai, Ahmedabad and Chennai. The fee for each AP Examis US$86.

So, whether it is SAT or ACT, the destination remains studying abroad. Pursue your dream by taking the first step in finding the right college. The first step should invariably be the right one.A structured approach can surely help you in a big way in clearing these examaninations. Your success in SAT could be the stepping stone in achieving your long-term career goals. Be focussed and prepare well.
Best of luck!