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Frequently Asked Questions about the 7th Grade SAT

  1. What is the SAT?
  2. Who creates the SAT?
  3. When is the SAT given?
  4. When should I register for the SAT?
  5. How do I register?
  6. How much does it cost to take the SAT?
  7. How long does it take to get my scores back?
  8. What if I take the SAT and mess up?
  9. How many times can I take the SAT?
  10. What is a good score on the SAT?
  11. Why is Testmasters the best choice for SAT preparation?
  12. When should I start preparing for the SAT?
  13. How much high school math do I need before I can start preparing for the SAT?
  14. How do extra-curricular activities, majors, recommendations, essays, and factors come into play in college admissions?
  15. Should I use an educational consultant?
  16. How do I find out about scholarships?
  17. Does having a summer job help or hurt me?
  18. Should I go to a public or private college?
  19. What are Dual Degree Programs?
  20. Why should I consider a Dual Degree Program?
  21. What is the SAT?

    The SAT is a test students usually take for college admissions. The test has three sections: Reading, Writing and Math. Although, for grading purposes the Reading/Writing sections are combined into one section. The SAT is about three hours and 45 minutes long. Most people agree that the SAT is the single most important test students can take in high school.

  22. Who creates the SAT?

    The SAT is created by Educational Testing Service (ETS). ETS is paid by the College Board to create the exam. Both of these companies are private.

  23. When is the SAT given?

    The SAT is given seven times per year in the following months: August, October, November, December, March, May, and June. The test dates vary by year. To view specific dates visit Collegeboard.com.

  24. When should I register for the SAT?

    Registration deadlines are approximately 5 weeks before each test date. You may want to register at least 6 – 8 weeks ahead of time to avoid late fees and to ensure that you can take the SAT at your preferred test center. The test center may fill up, in which case you would have to consider alternate options, such as testing at a different test center or moving your exam date to the next date that the SAT is administered.

  25. How do I register?

    To register online, visit www.collegeboard.com.

    To register by mail, first obtain a copy of the College Board’s Bulletin for the SAT Program (available at your school’s guidance counselor’s office). You can also request for a copy of the Bulletin for the SAT Program to be sent you by calling College Board at (609)-771-7600 or writing to:

    College Board SAT Program
    P.O. Box 6200
    Princeton, NJ 08541 – 6200

  26. How much does it cost to take the SAT?

    The SAT costs $46, with the optional essay $60 + a $29 late fee if you register after the registration deadline. For more SAT-related fees, click on the following link: http://collegeboard.com/student/testing/sat/calenfees/fees

  27. How long does it take to get my scores back?

    The scores are usually mailed out 4 – 6 weeks after you take the test. You may also look up your scores online through the College Board website two weeks after your exam at www.collegeboard.com

  28. What if I take the SAT and mess up?

    On the day of your test, if you want to cancel your score during your exam or after finishing your exam, you should ask the test supervisor for a “Request to Cancel Test Scores” form. You can submit the completed form immediately at the testing center. You can also think about it for a day or two before mailing it to College Board. However, College Board must receive your request form no later than 11:59 pm (Eastern Time) the Thursday after the test. You must include the test date, test center number, name of the test you are cancelling, your name, address, sex, birth date, social security number, registration number, and your signature. You must label your request “Attention: SAT Score Cancellation” and send it via one of the following methods:

    Fax: 610-290-8978

    Overnight delivery via U.S. Postal Service Express Mail (U.S. only):

    SAT Score Cancellation
    P.O. Box 6228
    Princeton, NJ 08541-6228

    Other overnight mail service or courier (U.S. or international):

    SAT Score Cancellation
    1425 Lower Ferry Road
    Ewing, NJ 08618
    USA

  29. How many times can I take the SAT?

    You can take the SAT Test as many times as you want; however, every time you take the SAT, the score is put on your permanent record. However, your scores will not be shared with any college or university without your permission, and you may choose to share individual score reports. So, for example, if you take the SAT three times, you can choose to only use the best score when you apply to college. While some of the more competitive colleges say they do not want you taking the SAT more than two or three times, most colleges do not care how many times you take the SAT.

  30. What is a good score on the SAT?

    A good score is one that will get you into the college of your choice, so the answer depends on where you want to go to college. The average score on the SAT is about a 1540. While class rank, extracurricular activities, major, recommendations, essays, and other factors also come into play in college admissions, below is an estimate of what score is needed on the SAT for various colleges:

    University Name Score Required
    Harvard University 1550 or above
    Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) 1540 or above
    New York University (NYU) 1430 or above
    Princeton University 1550 or above
    Rice University 1510 or above
    Stanford University 1540 or above
    University of California – Los Angeles (UCLA) 1450 or above
    University of Colorado – Boulder 1300 or above
    University of Houston 1080 or above
    University of Southern California (USC) 1450 or above
    University of Texas – Austin 1350 or above
  31. Why is Testmasters the best choice for SAT preparation?

    • Testmasters SAT Courses offer an intensive program with 11 classes of 3 hours each over 4 – 5 weeks. Testmasters Courses offer unique and extremely effective strategies not taught anywhere else, by highly experienced, dynamic instructors.
    • Highest Score Increase Guarantee – if you do not improve by at least 200 points, we will provide you with an extra-help course free of charge.
    • All exams administered in class are official College Board SAT Practice Exams. The answers are run through our computer systems to analyze your strengths and weaknesses on the SAT.
    • Course materials include our Testmasters SAT Manual, The Official SAT Study Guide, as well as numerous handouts in class and online.
    • Tutoring help (in-person or on the phone) is available for students during and after their Testmasters course at a very competitive fee.
    • Tens of thousands of students have taken Testmasters courses from all across the country.
  32. When should I start preparing for the SAT?

    Because the SAT is the most important test for college admissions, it is always best to start preparing as early as possible. This allows more preparation time to achieve score goals. For students who have the goal of becoming a National Merit Semi-finalist, it is best to start by June the summer before 10th grade. Otherwise, a student should start the summer before their 11th grade to maximize the effectiveness of our program, as there are no distractions such as school homework, projects, exams, or any other school activities. Students should start preparing for the SAT no later than the summer before their 12th grade.

  33. How much high school math do I need before I can start preparing for the SAT?

    Once you have completed high school algebra and geometry, you are ready to take the SAT. Although the SAT does include Algebra II, it is only a small fraction of the math section, about 10%.

  34. How do extracurricular activities, majors, recommendations, essays, and factors come into play in college admissions?

    College admissions in the United States are not standardized in any way, which means that each undergraduate college develops its own system. Some of the most important factors in college admissions are high school grades, difficulty of a student’s high school course selection, and scores on the SAT. The reputation of the high school is also important. Extracurricular activities such as membership to clubs, service activities, and athletic or musical talents are important during the admissions process and it is very damaging to a student’s application for him or her to have no extracurricular involvement. The typical breakdown of college admissions is as follows: class rank is 50%, the SAT is 25%, and extracurricular activities and recommendations make up the last 25%. Private schools tend to rely more on extracurricular activities for admissions than public schools do.

  35. Should I use an educational consultant?

    Educational consultants counsel students and their families in the selection of educational programs, based on the student’s individual needs and talents. The need for an educational consultant can vary based on the students; we recommend starting by arranging a meeting with your counselor as a research base. They can give you some general information as a starting point for your research. If your school counselors spend many hours counseling the students through the admission process and they have received special training through workshops or if you have access to information through a college career center, you may not need an educational consultant. If you are completely new to the college admissions process, you might consider signing up for one of our College Admissions Workshop.

  36. How do I find out about scholarships?

    To find out more about scholarships, their availability and requirements, visit www.fastweb.com, you can also visit www.finaid.com for information on financial aid. You should also ask the companies that your parents are employed at for any scholarship opportunities.

  37. Does having a summer job help or hurt me?

    Summer jobs are a great way to earn some money, and they also provide an excellent opportunity to gain experience. Work experience demonstrates your abilities such as time management, responsibility level, character, and leadership potential. Work experience can be anything from after-school or summer program participation to internships. You should inquire with your parents’ employers for any internships or summer job opportunities. Internships, whether paid or not, give you a first-hand look at specific careers as a way to identify career interests. In whatever programs you participate in, whether a job, an internship, or helping out at home, your experience is an important way to demonstrate key qualities. Participation in various activities may even help you find a topic for your college essays. Whatever qualities that you develop through this experience will help you build your resume and enhance your college applications. The summer before your 12th grade is the best time for summer employment, which is why we recommend Testmasters after 10th grade. You may want to start looking for a summer job in the spring of your 11th grade, which is when most employers start hiring for the summer. Remember, the quality of your experience is much more important than the number of dollars you can earn at any job!

  38. Should I go to a public or private college?

    State and community colleges, also known as public colleges, are generally less expensive than private colleges. Public colleges receive funding from their respective states in order to make the cost of education affordable to the greatest number of people. Most states offer in-state residents a significantly lower tuition price. At community colleges, your tuition rate is based on your district. If you live within a particular community college district, you can take courses for a lower price than students who live outside of the district.

    Private colleges, on the other hand, do not receive the same type of funding; they rely more heavily on tuition, endowments and other private sources of revenue. Private colleges are usually more expensive than public colleges, but they may offer smaller class sizes, or additional scholarships and grants that are not available at public schools.

    Your decision on which school to attend or even which schools to narrow down your search to generally depend on the following two criteria: money (scholarships and financial aid) and your choice of major(s). If you know your major then you should apply to the best school for that major that you can get into. If you are unsure of your major, then you should apply to a very well-rounded school, where you can explore different career options and fields of study. Only you can decide which institutions are right for you, based on your specifications and the programs that you are interested in. Remember to do as much research as possible to make a well-informed choice.

  39. What are Dual Degree Programs?

    Dual Degree Programs differ from university to university. In general terms, universities offer a Bachelor’s Degree and Master’s Degree in your field of studies in a shorter amount of time than if you pursued the two degrees independently (varies by university). They also offer different variations such as offering an Associate Degree and Bachelor’s Degree or two different Master’s Degrees.

  40. Why should I consider a Dual Degree Program?

    Students successfully completing the program earn two degrees: Associate and Bachelor’s, Bachelor’s and Master’s, or Master’s and Master’s (depending on which degrees you pursue and what options the school offers). With the Dual Degree Program, one year of school and its financial costs are saved; additionally, having two degrees will give you an edge over other candidates in the interview process when applying for employment.