Academic English Preparation Courses

Format & Scoring

The SAT has 5 sections:

1. Evidence-Based Reading
2. Writing and Language
3. Mathematics (No Calculator)
4. Mathematics (With Calculator)
5. Optional Essay

The Evidence-Based Reading and Writing sections and the two Mathematics sections are scored from 200 to 800, with a combined “perfect score” of 1600. Also, the overall time of the test has been reduced from 4 hours to a 3-hour format. This does not include the 50 minute optional essay.

Evidence-Based Reading

• This entirely multiple choice section has 4 individual passages and 1 pair of passages. There will be 10-11 questions per passage for a total of 52 questions over 65 minutes.
• Sentence Completion sections have not been retained, so vocabulary memorization has been deemphasized. However, vocabulary will continue to be tested with Vocab-In-Context questions.

Writing and Language

• The new Writing section is 35 minutes long and contains 44 questions spread evenly over 4 passages (11 questions per passage).
• This multiple choice section has questions covering spotting grammatical errors in sentences, improving sentence construction and grammar as well as looking for punctuation errors.

Mathematics

• The Math section has been broken into 2 sections. There is a 25 minute no calculator section with 20 questions and a 55 minute, 38 question section that allows calculators.
• The questions incorporate more advanced concepts normally learned in the third year of US high school math class (Algebra II).
• Added concepts include exponential growth, absolute value and properties of tangent lines.

Optional Essay

• One of the biggest changes to the redesigned SAT is the essay, and specifically that the essay will now be optional and not included in your final numerical score.
• The new SAT essay is evaluated based on three specific criteria: Reading, Analysis, and Writing. Each of these criteria will be scored on a scale of 2-8 yielding a total score range of 6-24

The ACT is available outside the US 5 times a year: October, December, February, April and June. The ACT Plus Writing is NOT offered in February. The ACT is a multiple-choice test (215 questions) and, including breaks, will take 3.5 hours to complete (about 4 hours for the ACT Plus Writing).

English

A 45-minute long test with 75 questions in all. The test focuses on:

• Usage & Mechanics: punctuation, grammar and usage, sentence structure;
• Rhetorical Skills: strategy, organization, style.

Mathmatics

60-minutes long with 60 questions total. It covers the following 6 areas:

1. Arithmetic (~14 questions)
2. Basic Algebra (~10 questions)
3. Intermediate Algebra (9 questions)
4. Coordinate Geometry (9 questions)
5. Plane Geometry (~14 questions)
6. Trigonometry (~4 questions)

Note: Calculators are allowed for the test, but certain models are banned (TI-89, TI-92, calculators with computer algebra systems (CAS) like the TI-Inspire CAS).

Reading

35-minute, 40-question test on passage reading comprehension. There are 4 sections, each containing 1 long and 2 short passages. The passages focus on the following:

• Social Studies
• Natural Sciences
• Literature
• Humanities

Science

35-minute, 40-question test. The content includes biology, chemistry, physics and Earth sciences (including Astronomy). The test focuses less on science knowledge and more on reasoning, interpretation, evaluation and problem solving. Calculators are not allowed.

Writing (Optional. See above for details.)

A 30-minute essay in which students present and defend a point of view on a selected topic. Students can adopt 1 of the 2 points of view presented in the prompt or present their own. Additional details and registration can be found on the ACT Website.

1. Reading Comprehension
2. Listening Comprehension
3. Speaking
4. Writing

TOEFL is a 3 to 4 hour test accepted by many American universities as a way of measuring a potential student’s English language ability and, thus, whether he or she will be accepted by the university. Previously a Paper-Based test, it is now more commonly done as an Internet-Based Test, known as TOEFL IBT.

This test uses a scale of 0-120 points (based on a possible maximum of 30 for each section). However, universities in some countries, including some in Indonesia, still use the Paper-Based test to gauge the preparedness of a student for university. Premier Language Services offers Preparation courses based on both the older Paper-Based Test and the newer Internet-Based Test.For more details about TOEFL see the official IELTS website:

1. Reading Comprehension
2. Listening Comprehension
3. Speaking
4. Writing

IELTS is a 3 hour test which is generally accepted by most Australian, British, Canadian, Irish, New Zealand and South African academic institutions, as well as by some in the United States and also various professional organizations. It is also a requirement for immigration to Australia and Canada. There are two versions of IELTS, an Academic one (used as one of the criteria for entrance into universities) and a General one (used for work-related programs and for immigration purposes).

IELTS uses a Band (Scale) of 0 to 9 as a measure of English language competence (Based on an average of 0 to 9 in each of the sections).For more details about IELTS see the official website:

1. Reading Comprehension
2. Listening Comprehension

TOEIC is a 2 hour test designed to test the English language ability of those in the workplace who are seeking alternative employment or promotion. The language ability of the test taker is ranked using a scale from 10 to 990 (based on an aggregate score from 5 to 495 in both the Reading and Listening sections).

The TOEIC test is in widespread use in Japan, South Korea and parts of Europe, and is also used by many Indonesian companies to assess the standard of English of their employees. For more details about TOEIC see the official website:

1. Analytical Writing Assignment
2. Quantitative Section
3. Verbal Section

GMAT is a partly computer-based test for those wanting to further their studies by doing a business administration program such as an MBA or Masters of Accounting.

A GMAT score of a certain level is a requirement for acceptance to many business schools worldwide. Scores range from 200 to 800 (based on the average score of the Quantitative and Verbal Sections- the Writing Assignment is evaluated separately using a scale of 0 to 6). GMAT is recognized as one of the most difficult of the Academic tests in use today.For more details about GMAT see the following websites:

1. Reading
2. Listening
3. Speaking
4. Writing

Our own AESA course is a program which thoroughly prepares participants for the challenges of studying abroad in institutions using English as the language of instruction.

We provide materials and lessons focusing on essential tertiary study skills such as listening to and comprehending the essential points of lectures, note-taking in lectures and tutorials, academic writing skills, critical thinking, effective reading and comprehension of academic texts, verbally participating in tutorials, debating skills, and getting your point across, amongst others. Our materials ensure that all these areas, which are crucial to academic success and prestige, are practiced and if not perfected, at least vastly improved.

The length and frequency of AESA classes, as well as the course duration, are flexible and can be negotiated.

Note: Calculators are not allowed during the test.

• Scoring
• Scaled Score

The scaled score is the result of applying the Raw Score to an algorithm and is scored on a bell curve. It also adjusts for difficulty level differences from test to test, so that a particular score is consistent over time (the score value remains the same no matter when it was taken. For the Upper level SSAT, the Scaled Score ranges from 500-800 per section (Verbal, Quantitative, Reading), with a mean score of 650.

Personal Score Range
Indicates variations to your score if you decided to take the test multiple times within a short time period (a few months, for example).

Percentile Rank
Ranked 1-99, the SSAT reports percentile ranks compared to those who have taken the SSAT for the first time within the 3 years prior to a particular test year (For example: a test taken in 2013 will report a percentile rank compared with those from tests taken from 2010-2012).