How do I get a seat to take the SAT test in Singapore?
If you attend a school that is a closed test center (you know who you are), then get the secret test center number from your school and register via the College Board website. If you do not, then things get a bit more complicated.
In normal times the bulk of the openly available seats to take the SAT in Singapore were supplied by local MOE schools with large capacity such as ACJC and VJC. There are presently restrictions from these schools administering the test and hence a major mis-match in supply/demand for seats. We anticipate that when we move to "Stage Four" then things will open up and these centers will again open up. When this happens, students who are on the official College Board wait list will be first in line. You get on this list by letting "College Board find me a place" during the registration.
No amount of emails or calls to College Board in New York will be of any use. If you can't test, don't worry about it. (see below)
What if I can't get a seat to take the SAT?
Note that this test availability problem is hardly unique to Singapore and kids all over the world (including large swaths of America) are not able to test. As a result, all American schools are now test optional at the very least and you will not have to submit scores. If you do not submit scores, this will not hurt your application. Chartering a speedboat to try to get a to a test center in Batam or Johor is completely crazy town.
What about the ACT, should I take that in April/June?
As reported earlier, the ACT gave up on international by cancelling international tests until April 2021 and firing all the international staff. Presently there are places notionally available in Singapore for the June test administration but we doubt that these will be fully open. Try to take the SAT instead, the ACT is even more of a mess at present.
What does "Test Optional" mean?
It means that the SAT/ACT test scores are OPTIONAL and you do not have to submit them, especially if you can't take the test! Universities will use other parts of your application in lieu of test scores.
Should I still submit test scores?
If the university is test optional (U. California legally can't even look at scores now!), and your test scores are solid, then go ahead and submit test scores. If your test scores are poor relative to the rest of your application, then no need to send them.
Will it hurt my chances if I do not submit scores?
No, schools are test optional, see above. Universities need students and will be making it easier, not harder.
Will universities be test optional for class of 2022 as well?
Probably. Hard to say for sure and schools are likely not keen to commit to anything that far out but unless things snap back to a new normal very soon, then most universities will be test optional for kids starting in 2022 as well.
What about the SAT Essay and SAT Subject Tests?
Just a few American schools still technically "recommend" these tests and that number goes down every week. We anticipate (and hope) that these tests will die a graceful death with the next admissions cycle. They are still required by some non-American schools so check with the specific university. We can see the tests being quietly fully cancelled and still being required by some universities who didn't get the memo.
Where can I get more specific guidance?
Our webinar in December covers all of this ground, but the best person to help you is your university advisor at your school. NOT a commercial university placement agent. NOT a WhatsApp group. NOT what you heard from your friend's cousin's half-brother whose kid "got into Stanford". There has been a proliferation of fake news on all things of late, and admissions and testing has hardly been spared.
We encourage people to have a look at our blog for our most recent postings as well as our Twitter feed where we post interesting links.
American Admissions: Assumptions and Gaffes
We field many questions from anxious students and parents regarding the American university admissions system and the SAT. We noticed that many questions asked and decisions made were founded on assumptions that are not only wrong but also may severely worsen one’s chances of getting into a quality school. Here are some examples, with many more to come:
I’m a shoo-in for the Ivy League:
Columbia last year admitted only 9% of all applicants, and only 6% of those applying from Singapore. Almost all of these applicants are talented, have strong test scores and good grades and are active in their respective communities. Given the hyper-competition for places in top schools, no one applicant is a shoo-in for any top school.
I’m applying to MIT, Cornell, UC Berkeley, Stanford, Michigan…
…and so is everyone else in Singapore. Since nearly every selective school want to ensure diversity among their student body, they will admit only a certain number of students from Singapore or any other specific location regardless of the quality of the applicant pool. You will have a better chance of admission if you apply to schools that are not on the traditional and popular Singaporean destination list.
No backup:
See above. If you are determined to study in America, but apply only to the most competitive schools, there is a good chance you will not get in anywhere. Do an honest assessment and, as a backup, apply to two or more schools that offer quality yet don’t get 150 applicants from Singapore.
I can’t apply until I get my A/O level results:
Most good American universities are aware of the Singaporean education system and know that students do not get their final exam results until well after the university admissions deadlines. Therefore, they will accept prelims and will admit students provided their final results are not significantly worse. Don’t slack off after applying though as schools have been known to rescind admissions offers to students who get sloppy!
Good SAT, bad A’ levels? No problem!
Actually, there could be a problem. The SAT is not the equivalent of the A’ levels in America; it is one of several admissions criteria that universities consider. There are many students that do well on the SAT and the A’ levels and, all things being equal, they will have a better chance of admission than those with good SATs and bad A’ levels.
I need a 2250 on the SAT in order to get into Stanford:
SAT scores posted on school websites serve only to indicate what the average admitted student scored on the test. It does not serve as a minimum accepted score. Admissions officers look at the SAT score in addition to all the other components required in the application. That being said, since the SAT is not the only thing schools look at when deciding to admit a student, we have seen cases in which students with an SAT score below the median or average - but with excellent qualities in other areas - get into top schools, while some students with perfect SAT scores and straight A’s get rejected because they were not active in other activities and interviewed poorly.
I wrote 800 words for my 500-word university application essay:
Word limits exist for a reason: to help the extremely busy admissions officer assess applicants in a timely manner. Most essays are at most 500 words so that it can fit on one page and be read easily. If the admissions officer comes across and essay that significantly exceeds the asked-for length, your application will be viewed negatively. In fact, they may discard your application and move on to the next applicant.
Answer the freakin’ question!
If you are writing an essay in response to a question asked, be it in the SAT Writing section or in a university application, make sure you follow the prompts, understand the details completely and respond directly to any questions asked. You may have in the past written a kick-butt essay about your championship win in a televised science competition, and want to use it as one of your essays, but don’t make the mistake of making only a few superficial changes and attempting to use it as your admissions essay response to a question about the importance of diversity in a university environment. If the essay question asks you whether or not tragedy can serve as a motivator, make sure you do not refer to the time your maid went on vacation and you had to cook and clean on your own (we’ve seen this!).
If you are guilty of any of these, you are in need of guidance. Be sure to contact the United States Education Information Center (USEIC) who will put you on track to achieving admissions success.
