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VOA教育报道2024--What International Students Should Know about SAT and ACT

时间:2024-04-01 03:26:02

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What International Students Should Know about SAT and ACT

  Several top U.S. universities say they will require standardized1 tests such as the SAT and ACT from applicants3 again. Some of them went "test-optional" during the pandemic.

  The schools include Dartmouth College, Georgetown University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

  Dartmouth College, in New Hampshire, said students from other countries will need to submit results from those tests or "an equivalent4 standardized national exam."

  Allen Koh is the founder5 of Cardinal6 Education, a company that helps students with college preparation, including applications. He said Dartmouth's announcement "only made official what had been ‘de facto' true."

  He noted7 that between 80 and 90 percent of students admitted to top universities sent test scores, even when they were not required.

  Koh said students who attend international schools that use the "A-level" tests from Great Britain may not need to take the SAT or ACT since those tests are so well known. The tests from India may be useful, too. However, students coming from other countries should take the ACT or SAT.

  Andrew Taylor is a vice8 president at the nonprofit organization that runs the ACT. He said the tests are important for international students because they permit American schools to compare students, even if they come from different educational systems.

  In an email message to VOA, a representative from the College Board, which runs the SAT, said the test "plays an important role in helping9 international students be seen by colleges and universities. Test scores can confirm a student's grades or even demonstrate their strengths beyond what their high school grades may show."

  So if you are an international student planning to apply to college in the U.S., what should you know about the tests?

  SAT or ACT?

  The SAT has two parts – reading and math. Students can earn a top score of 800 for each part, making 1600 a perfect score.

  The SAT is an "adaptive" test, which means the questions will change based on a student's answer to the previous question. As a result, the SAT takes less time for most students than the ACT.

  The ACT is the same for every student who takes the test on the same day. The ACT has four parts – math, science, English and reading. The top ACT score is 36.

  Both tests are now available to be taken with a computer at international testing centers.

  For the most part, Koh advises international students to take the ACT "because it is much easier to get a perfect ACT score than a perfect SAT score." Based on how the final ACT score is calculated, Koh said, there are more ways to get to the perfect score of 36.

  For English learners, Koh has this advice:

  "So I'd say if your English is really strong, all around, ACT could be great for foreigners, but I think for the average foreigner where English might be a little bit of a liability10 and math might be a little bit stronger, then the SAT may be a better test."

  Taylor of the ACT added that the ACT has a science section, so for students who may not be strong in science, the SAT could be a better choice.

  Both Koh and Taylor say students should take practice tests from both the ACT and SAT to decide which may be better for them.

  You can find more information online, such as testing dates and locations of test centers at the SAT and ACT websites.

  When to take the test?

  Koh and Taylor suggest that international students take the tests at least one year before finishing high school. If there is room for improvement, Koh said, students can practice and take it again six months later.

  Taylor reminded students that most schools will consider a "super score" which is the best score from each test category.

  "So there is no doubt that students do better if they take more than one test. So if they're in a position to be able to take more than one test, we would always recommend that and give yourself the time to do some additional learning between tests so you know, think about where you struggle, think about where you can be ready, and go from there."

  Arkar Chen of Myanmar took the SAT in 2016, one year after he finished high school. He studied for the test but was still surprised at how difficult the reading part was.

  "I'll say that 80 percent of the time, I have no idea what it's asking, but the thing with SAT is that when you practice enough, you kind of see a pattern and you kind of know what answer the test maker11 are looking for."

  In addition, Chen said students need to solve math problems quickly because each question has a limited time. "There's no way you could do well without a lot of practice," he said.

  Chen said the concept of "critical thinking" was the biggest difference between American tests such as the SAT and the tests he saw growing up in Myanmar. "The SAT," he said, "tests a lot on your critical thinking skills, so I think that's why it can feel hard."

  Test is part of the "toolbox"

  Taylor of ACT says the test is part of the "toolbox" for colleges to decide about a student's ability to do well in school.

  "More and more," Taylor said, "higher ed is worried about graduation, not just about admission. ... So we need to give not only the higher education institution as much data as we can about the student. We also need to give the student as much data as we can about themselves."

  Koh observes that standardized tests favor a well-rounded student. So students who spend a lot of time studying math and engineering would be smart to spend time on reading and discussing books in English before taking the test.

  The parents of many international students are surprised to learn, as Koh said, "Asian STEM-focused students are penalized13 the heaviest by American admissions officers, for being very strong in math but weak on reading."

  Words in This Story

  standardized test –n. tests taken by large numbers of students that are meant to measure their general knowledge and compare it to other students

  applicant2 –n. a person who is submitting applications for entry into a school or college

  equivalent –adj. something that is different in small details but is more or less equal to something else

  de facto –adj. something that is understood to be true but not written

  grade –n. the score or letter given to show a student's ability in a subject or study area

  demonstrate –v. to show

  score –n. a number or result of a game or test

  liability –n. something that is lower quality or not as good as something else

  recommend –v. to tell someone about something or give advice

  pattern –n. the regular and repeated way in which something happens or is done

  graduation –n. the event that ends someone's time in a university study program

  institution –n. an organization such as a school, university or health center that has been in place for a long time

  stem-focused –adj. students who center their education on science, technology, engineering and math

  penalize12 –v. to be punished in some way or disadvantaged


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1 standardized 8hHzgs     
adj.标准化的
参考例句:
  • We use standardized tests to measure scholastic achievement. 我们用标准化考试来衡量学生的学业成绩。
  • The parts of an automobile are standardized. 汽车零件是标准化了的。
2 applicant 1MlyX     
n.申请人,求职者,请求者
参考例句:
  • He was the hundredth applicant for the job. 他是第100个申请这项工作的人。
  • In my estimation, the applicant is well qualified for this job. 据我看, 这位应征者完全具备这项工作的条件。
3 applicants aaea8e805a118b90e86f7044ecfb6d59     
申请人,求职人( applicant的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • There were over 500 applicants for the job. 有500多人申请这份工作。
  • He was impressed by the high calibre of applicants for the job. 求职人员出色的能力给他留下了深刻印象。
4 equivalent ViDzo     
adj.(to)相等的,等价的;n.相等物,等值物
参考例句:
  • Nodding your head is equivalent to saying "yes".点头就等于说“赞同”。
  • You will receive the full equivalent of your money.你将收到与你的款项价值完全同等的物品。
5 Founder wigxF     
n.创始者,缔造者
参考例句:
  • He was extolled as the founder of their Florentine school.他被称颂为佛罗伦萨画派的鼻祖。
  • According to the old tradition,Romulus was the founder of Rome.按照古老的传说,罗穆卢斯是古罗马的建国者。
6 cardinal Xcgy5     
n.(天主教的)红衣主教;adj.首要的,基本的
参考例句:
  • This is a matter of cardinal significance.这是非常重要的事。
  • The Cardinal coloured with vexation. 红衣主教感到恼火,脸涨得通红。
7 noted 5n4zXc     
adj.著名的,知名的
参考例句:
  • The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
  • Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。
8 vice NU0zQ     
n.坏事;恶习;[pl.]台钳,老虎钳;adj.副的
参考例句:
  • He guarded himself against vice.他避免染上坏习惯。
  • They are sunk in the depth of vice.他们堕入了罪恶的深渊。
9 helping 2rGzDc     
n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的,辅助的
参考例句:
  • The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
  • By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。
10 liability vkDyN     
n.责任[pl.]负债,债务,不利条件
参考例句:
  • Bad pronunciation is a liability in being a narrator.不良的发音是做解说员的不利条件。
  • Because of his injury ,Tom was just a liability to the team.汤姆的伤使他成为全队的累赘。
11 maker DALxN     
n.制造者,制造商
参考例句:
  • He is a trouble maker,You must be distant with him.他是个捣蛋鬼,你不要跟他在一起。
  • A cabinet maker must be a master craftsman.家具木工必须是技艺高超的手艺人。
12 penalize nSfzm     
vt.对…处以刑罚,宣告…有罪;处罚
参考例句:
  • It would be unfair to penalize those without a job.失业人员待遇低下是不公平的。
  • The association decided not to penalize you for the race.赛马协会决定对你不予处罚。
13 penalized c88c37e7a177d0a347c36794aa587e91     
对…予以惩罚( penalize的过去式和过去分词 ); 使处于不利地位
参考例句:
  • You will be penalized for poor spelling. 你拼写不好将会受到处罚。
  • Team members will be penalized for lateness. 队员迟到要受处罚。

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