Standardized Tests: SAT, ACT, GRE

When you apply to a U.S. college or university, you will probably be asked to provide your test scores for the SAT or for the ACT (or GRE for graduate programs), which are standardized college entrance exams. If you have an American school in your area, it may let you take the test with their students. Some colleges may even allow you to take the ACT shortly after you arrive to study. For information about how to take these test in your country, contact the U.S. Educational Advising Center in your country, your nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate, or the test organizations themselves at the links provided later on this page.

While these college entrance exams are an important consideration in the admission process at American schools, you can still overcome a low score by displaying strengths in other areas, such as your school grades, your application essay, or your experiences (see Applying to a College or University).

The SAT

The meaning behind the name "SAT" is complicated. According to the Kaplan website: "Originally, SAT stood for Scholastic Aptitude Test. When the test changed a few years ago, the official name was changed to Scholastic Assessment Test. In 1997, the test makers announced that SAT no longer stands for anything, officially."

The SAT is intended to forecast a student’s ability to perform in his or her freshman (first) year at college. The test consists of two portions, one measuring students mathematical skills and the other their verbal skills. The College Board administers this test in the United States. As the College Board’s website says, the test "does not pretend to measure all factors related to freshman success, but its scores have a statistically significant relationship to that success." There is some controversy in the United States as to the value of the SAT, but it continues to weigh heavily in any college’s evaluation process.

For more information about the SAT, visit the SAT Program (part of the College Board website), which also has sample test questions, or write to:

College SAT Program
PO Box 6200
Princeton, NJ 08541-6200

The ACT

ACT is an acronym for "American College Test". The ACT is a test to determine a high school graduate’s preparation for college-level work. It covers four areas: English, mathematics, reading, and science reasoning. The ACT is a test based on courses you have studied; it is not an IQ (intelligence) test. Most U.S. colleges and universities accept ACT results.

For more information about taking the ACT, visit the ACT website. For a registration packet for students outside the U.S., email, call, or write, asking for the information package called: "Outside the 50 United States."

Email: osus@act.org

Telephone: 319-337-1448

ACT Universal Testing
P.O. Box 4028
Iowa City, IA 52243-4028
U.S.A.

The GRE

If you are applying for graduate school (advanced study after receiving the equivalent of a four-year college degree), you may need to take the Graduate Record Exam (GRE). Many U.S. schools place the same importance upon the GRE for acceptance into graduate study that they place upon the SAT or ACT for undergraduate studies.

The GRE General Test measures verbal, quantitative, and analytical skills acquired over time and that are not related to any specific field of study. GRE Subject Tests measure knowledge of particular subjects, such as Biology, English, Literature in English, or Mathematics. You may have to take both depending on the program you are applying for. Scores from these tests help predict an individual’s success in studies on the graduate level.

Visit the GRE website for all the information you should need, including sample questions.