𝖢𝖮𝖫𝖫𝖤𝖦𝖤 𝖠𝖣𝖬𝖨𝖲𝖲𝖨𝖮𝖭𝖲

Oh! It’s that crucial time of your life. You just got done with your IGCSE and you probably deserve a few days of unwinding on a beach or reading at home. But don’t take too long to relax. This is the most opportune time to get cracking on making realistic college application decisions and timelines to get there.

We know it is common for the students as well as parents to get overwhelmed by the College Admission Process. 

When it comes to college admissions, there are three pieces to the puzzle: your academic record, your personal record, and your standardized test scores. While the first two take years or even a lifetime to build, the third represents just a few hours weekly for a few months. Can you guess which part is the most prone to prepping? 

DSAT, ACT, Common app, College Essays, Personal Statements… You are aware these are as important as your grades and probably the most important area that you can work on in short term to achieve your dream. You have ambitions but don’t know where to start from. You have looked high and low for quality advice on test-taking strategy and the college admissions process, only to become more confused than when you started. 

College admission process doesn’t have to be a nightmare. We are here to guide you through exactly what you need with ACT, DSAT and the college admissions process.

The first step is to start preparing for the DSAT or ACT in the most efficient and effective way. And the only way to effectively prepare and utilise your time in the most efficient manner is to go through professional 1-1 customised coaching. Continuously researching and coming up with the simplest and best ways to help, we make the whole process simpler for you. We create a personalized study plan for you that sets out step-by-step tasks for you. The plan adapts to your schedule and goals and will tell you exactly what to do next. Unlike most cookie-cutter, one-size-fits-all programs, we personalize the entire process around YOU!

DSAT or ACT? Which one should I take?

Criteria	Digital SAT	ACT
Score Choice	Have to share all with the unis.	You can choose the scores to be sent.
Guess Penalty	Yes	No Penalty
Vocabulary	Very Important	Less Important
Essay	Essential	Optional
Timed Sections	Yes	No (so overall time management is very crucial)
Line references for reading section	Yes	No
Science section	No	Yes (more of interpretation of data)

The decision to choose between the two tests ultimately lies in your preference and comfort. The biggest difference in kids’ responses to the test is the timing. Some students might actually prefer one longer section to multiple shorter sections, but doing one long one-hour section without a break can really be exhausting. Also, on average you’ve got less time per question on ACT.

Some kids really do perform better on one than on the other. If you’re not sure which one would be easier for you, we will help you come to the right decision by analysing how you respond to both the tests under exam conditions.

DSAT

Administered by College Board, the DSAT evaluates your skills in reading, writing, and mathematics under a limited time period. When it comes to standardized tests, it only comes down to one thing: how well you prepare.

Here are a few easy ways to prepare for the DSAT:

1. Practice, practice, practice.

This is the first step in preparing yourself for the DSAT. Get familiar with the test’s structure and time limit, different forms of questions, the type of vocabulary and how to perform under a time pressure.

2. Simulated Tests

And then do it again, and again, and again… Reviewing practice questions is vital to your SAT preparation, but simulating the test can prove to be extremely beneficial as well. A huge struggle that SAT test takers face is the dreaded time limit. By simulating the SAT, you can learn how to pace yourself.

3. Make it your friend.

It isn’t your average test. Know the test in and out.  The more you know it, the better equipped you are to ace it. This is why knowing the rules of the test is so important.

4. Read, Read, Read!

The critical reading section incorporates a great deal of reading comprehension and vocabulary under a limited time period,  which makes reading on a daily basis imperative to your SAT preparation. You’ll be expected to be good with reading analysis and be familiar with a wide range of vocabulary.

Choose and Read classics that you like. Look up the definitions of words you aren’t familiar with as you read on so you can fully understand what you are reading.

5. Write away.

Of course, the essay. This is most feared part, but it could boost your overall score. Through reading current affairs and practicing the writing of essays, you can learn how to effectively present your ideas in a short time period. Write an essay that is unique and creative and don’t be afraid to put your own experiences into it.

Just to be sure that you don’t miss out. College Board announced that the essay will be made optional and the test will revert to the 1600-point scoring. Don’t worry though, these changes will take effect only in 2016 and don’t concern the present cohort. The table below outlines some of the major changes between the current SAT and the redesigned SAT.

Current SAT vs. Redesigned DSAT

Criteria	Current SAT	Redesigned SAT
Total testing time	3 hours and 45 minutes	3 hours (plus 50 minutes for the optional Essay section)
Components	Critical reading, writing and essay	Evidence-based reading and writing, essay (optional)
Score reporting	Scale ranging from 600 to 2400	Scale ranging from 400 to 1600
Guess penalty	Yes	No
Points of emphasis	Emphasis on general reasoning skills and vocabulary	Emphasis on meaning of words in extended contexts