Don't put too much pressure on grades.

"Students preparing for the SAT shouldn't put too much pressure on their scores; simply improving compared to their own previous performance is already an achievement." This was the message shared by a College Board representative with students in the SAT open class during a meeting between The Vietnam Foundation and the College Board.

Đại diện College Board chia sẻ với học sinh Việt Nam về bài thi SAT: Đừng quá áp lực vào điểm số

Representatives from the College Board shared advice with Vietnamese students about the SAT exam: Don't put too much pressure on your score.

The meeting was attended by Mr. Haike Zhao, Deputy Director of International Affairs from the College Board. Representing The Vietnam Foundation (VNF) were Mr. Do Ngoc Minh, co-founder of the Khan Academy Vietnam (KAV) program, and Mr. Kieu Huy Hoa, Director of the KAV program, along with their team.

In addition, the meeting was attended by Mr. Andrew Dalton – Director of Education and Founding Principal of ParkCity Hanoi International School (ISPH). Particularly noteworthy was the presence of the SAT open class leaders and students who have taken or are currently taking the SAT exam, creating a lively atmosphere with many questions related to the test.

Manh Thang, one of the class leaders of the open SAT class, asked the question, "How does the SAT test assess college readiness?"

Mr. Haike argues that the SAT is not a language test like IELTS or TOEFL; the purpose of the SAT (or AP) is to measure a student's readiness for university, that is, how well a student will perform in university programs and environments, and whether they are capable of graduating.

"For example, when assessing literacy skills, we evaluate students' understanding within specific contexts and situations. Or, in the College Board's math assessment method, the questions are structured to be interconnected, with each subsequent question directly linking to the previous one. Therefore, if a student answers the first question incorrectly but gets the subsequent questions right, we can assess their thinking process and accurately determine their individual abilities, rather than relying solely on the correct/incorrect answers," he said.

It's clear that the SAT exam aims to assess critical thinking, teamwork skills, communication skills, professional writing skills, presentation skills, and many other soft skills, not just reading, writing, or math abilities. Therefore, preparing for and conquering the SAT exam will provide students with a more comprehensive range of skills.

Class monitor Bao Chau continued to ask Mr. Haike Zhao: “Vietnamese students are confident in the Math section, but the Reading Comprehension section of the SAT still seems to be a challenge. Do you have any advice for Vietnamese students?”

Representatives from the College Board affirmed that Vietnamese students are passionate about learning and study seriously. And each student possesses a "talent" in a particular field.

"I know that you all have studied very hard, in addition to your regular classes, you also attend extra classes, study online... I think that's too much pressure for you. Therefore, if you feel confident and proficient in the knowledge you've learned and can apply it to the exam and in life, that's already a success."

SAT Open Class students pose for a photo with representatives from the College Board and ISPH.

Don't place too much importance on grades because there are many opportunities out there, and everyone can choose a university that suits their abilities, not necessarily one belonging to the Ivy League (IL) – the top group of universities in the United States. Do we know how many senior executives (CEOs) graduated from top universities, or which university has the most CEOs? Nobody knows.

So, to all the students preparing for the SAT, I want to say that demonstrating your academic abilities is already a great achievement. Don't compare yourself to others and put unnecessary pressure on yourself; simply improving compared to your own previous performance is already a great accomplishment.”

In addition, he advised students that to excel in the SAT or AP exams, they should solidify their foundational knowledge in class and combine it with SAT/AP study materials on Khan Academy. They won't become proficient quickly; it takes time and serious preparation. Hard work and discipline are key to achieving high scores on these tests.

He also shared that to do well in the reading and writing sections, students can learn from everyday life materials, without relying too much on College Board resources. Regarding mathematics, Andrew believes that the essence of mathematical skills is not the ability to solve problems, but the ability to apply mathematical knowledge to real life. This is what differentiates excellent students… High school students should be encouraged to approach mathematics in English, which will help them understand the essence of the problem and explain the results of the problem, rather than simply knowing how to solve it.

Besides offering advice to Vietnamese students to confidently conquer the SAT exam, representatives from the College Board and The Vietnam Foundation reached a consensus on the vision and strategy for implementing free SAT and AP preparation classes in Vietnam through the Khan Academy platform, promising many collaborative activities in the near future.

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