Over time there has always been a certain amount of criticism about the SAT. This is not surprising, for the SAT has been revised numerous times in its several decade-old history. As a result of significant pressure from some of the test maker’s top customers and competitors, a new version of the SAT was adopted in 2016.

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.

1. 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.

2. 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.

3. Mathematics (with calculator)

• 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.

4. Mathematics (without calculator)

• 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.

5. (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 tests the following subject areas: English, Mathematics, Reading, and Science.

Note: There is also an ACT Plus Writing test that includes a 30-minute essay. While all schools will accept the ACT, there are some schools that will require the ACT Plus Writing version. Be sure to check for the ACT requirements for each school that you are considering.

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).

The ACT has 5 sections:

1. English
2. Mathematics
3. Reading
4. Science
5. (Optional) Writing

The main four ACT test sections are individually scored on a scale of 1–36, and a composite score (the rounded whole number average of the four sections) is provided.

1. 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.

2. Mathematics

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

• Arithmetic (14 questions)
• Basic Algebra (10 questions)
• Intermediate Algebra (9 questions)
• Coordinate Geometry (9 questions)
• Plane Geometry (14 questions)
• 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).

3. 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

4. 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.

5. (Optional) Writing

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.

IELTS is an international standardized test of English language proficiency for non-native English language speakers. It 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).

The IELTS test is divided into 4 sections:

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

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).

If you want to study abroad, SAT, IELTS or TOEFL IBT scores are (most of the time) your choices for the admission to a university abroad. If you would like to stay in Indonesia, you might have the option to show a TOEFL PBT score, or you should be able to do the admission test, after you have done this preparation course.

In any case, make sure to look around what kind of scores are needed to get accepted at any university or college.

TOEFL Paper Based Test is divided into 3 sections:

1. Listening
2. Structure and Written Expression
3. Reading

There is another TOEFL test, very similar to this one, called TOEFL ITP. The biggest difference is that this test is held as an in-house test, for class placement and NOT for admission.

TOEFL IBT is a 3 to 4 hour internet based 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.

TOEFL IBT is divided into 4 sections:

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

This test uses a scale of 0-120 points (based on a possible maximum of 30 for each section).

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 TOEIC test is divided into 2 sections:

1. Reading Comprehension
2. Listening Comprehension

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.

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.

The GMAT test is divided into 3 sections:

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

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.

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.

The AESA test is divided into 4 sections:

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

SSAT – The test is offered 8 times a year internationally and is required for admission to boarding schools and other independent secondary schools worldwide. It is designed for students currently studying in grades 3-11 and has 3 levels of difficulty (Elementary, Middle, Upper). It measures verbal, quantitative and reading skills with an emphasis on critical thinking and problem solving.

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).