Did you know that there are currently around 10,000 British undergraduates studying in the USA? It’s an increasingly popular route to gaining a degree. Why? UK teens are attracted to the high-quality education on offer, and the chance to travel and live abroad in an exciting, diverse but English-speaking country. US colleges are particularly welcoming too, offering more than a million places to international students each year.
You might be fairly familiar with the UCAS system for university admissions in the UK. However, the US college application process is quite different. One additional step you will need to take in order to qualify for a US college place is to take one of the standardized admission tests: the SAT or the ACT.
Here, we’ll explain what these are, how to choose between them, and what you need to do to prepare.
What are the SATs and ACTs?
You might be wondering why you need to take these tests as well as your A-level or IB exams. After all, only a few UK universities set any additional exams. Are SATs and ACTs worth the hassle?
Both the SATs and ACTs are meant to test your readiness for undergraduate level study and your ability to learn. They are not tests of knowledge, but they are not IQ tests, either. They cover math skills and logical thinking, as well as reading and writing abilities. In other words, they test the skills developed during schooling without testing factual knowledge.
SATs and ACTs are standardized, meaning that they are designed to be fair to all students, no matter what or where they have studied before this point. In the USA, there are no standard end-of-school exams like A-levels that can be used to compare students’ abilities. Therefore, the SATs and ACTs are vital information for admissions tutors. They are also useful for comparing the merits of incoming international students who come from a vast range of school systems.
Taking one of these tests will take some extra organization and preparation, which might be unwelcome. However, without taking one, you can’t access university education in the USA.
SAT or ACT: Which one?
These tests basically test the same skills so there’s no need to take both. But, how do you choose which one?
Most US colleges accept either. However, there are a few that will only accept one or the other. So, your first task is to check the admissions criteria for the colleges you are interested in applying to.
If you find that the choice is yours, then you need to explore their small but distinct differences. One test is not better than the other. They are equally respected. Therefore, go for the one that is likely to suit you better.
A summary of the similarities and differences between the SAT and ACT
- Both take around 3.5 hours in total.
- Both include tests of reading, writing and math.
- The SAT has an optional essay paper which may be useful for demonstrating an aptitude in this area. It is nearly always required by the most competitive colleges.
- Both have questions relating to science. However, there is a specific science section in the ACT. Neither tests scientific knowledge. Their science questions are designed to test critical thinking.
- There’s a slight difference in math skills tested. The SAT includes more questions on data analysis whereas the ACT covers more probability. The ACT includes slightly more math questions. There’s one calculator paper in the SAT but none in the ACT.
- The SAT tends to require the reading of slightly more complex texts and vocabulary, including more of those relating to history and the social sciences.
Remember, however, that the difference between the tests is small. Both are designed to test skills like problem-solving, reading comprehension, logical thinking and critical analysis. You are likely to perform well on both with the right preparation.
How to prepare for the SAT or ACT
Let’s begin by saying that preparation is absolutely essential.
These tests are very different from any other test you may have taken at school, unless perhaps you took the 11+ or 13+ aptitude tests used by private and grammar schools in the UK.
There are some key steps that every applicant should take to prepare for these college admission tests.
Diagnostic tests
You can take an ACT or SAT diagnostic test with an agency offering tutoring in the exams. Doing so is a great idea.
You can use your results to get an idea of your relative strengths and weaknesses. This means you can home in on the areas you need to practice the most. Optimizing your time spent practicing is more efficient and will save time for your important school work.
Test familiarization
The more time you spend getting to know the layout and style of your chosen test, the better. You also need to develop an understanding of the pace you need to work at. Knowing the required level of complexity of answers is important, too.
Practice and experience will help you very much when it comes to the big day. However, one advantage of both the SAT and ACT is that they can be taken multiple times until you get what you feel is the best possible result for you. That’s a good argument for not leaving the test until the last minute.
Preparation classes
With the increased popularity of US university education for UK students, there are now more prep classes available. These might be in the form of regular weekly classes or a bootcamp style. If you cannot find anything local to you, then there should be many online classes available.
To find a good preparation class, you should be looking for one that offers:
- Individualized study plans
- Plenty of feedback and error correction opportunities built into course materials.
- A high success rate. This can be judged by looking at the proportion of students gaining Ivy League entrance or admission to their top choice of college. You could also look at the number of students ranked in the top 5% or 10% of students.
- Friendly and knowledgeable tutors.
If you are interested in studying in the USA, taking the ACT or SAT is a must. However, by partnering with the right organization and finding some time to prepare, it need not be stressful or arduous. Just be sure to get organized sooner rather than later.
AUTHOR BIO
Maloy Burman is the Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Premier Genie FZ LLC. He is responsible for driving Premier Genie into a leadership position in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) Education space in Asia, Middle East and Africa and building a solid brand value. Premier Genie is currently running 5 centers in Dubai and 5 centers in India with a goal to multiply that over the next 5 years.
