How can I get a high score without studying at a center for the SAT?

Mr. Haike Zhao, Deputy Director of International Affairs at College Board (USA) - the unit that owns and manages the SAT exam globally, recently shared with candidates about things to keep in mind.

Even though it's not taught in the general education curriculum, there are still many ways for candidates to prepare for the SAT, according to experts.

Don't take the SAT too early.

Speaking at an information session at the American Center on October 24, Haike Zhao said that candidates usually take the SAT in grade 11 or 12, and that review should begin many years in advance, even in grade 8, not a month before the test date. However, this does not mean that candidates should take the SAT in middle school because the difficulty of this exam is not suitable for them.

"Instead, candidates can register for the PSAT - a test in the same SAT system for students from grades 8 to 10 - which is designed to be suitable for younger ages, helping to provide students with a good foundation. Because, the PSAT also tests the same content and skills as the SAT," Mr. Zhao advised, adding that from the PSAT results, candidates will know which areas they should improve.

The PSAT is also a cheaper predictor of future SAT scores. For example, if you score 1,400 on the PSAT 10, you can also score around 1,400 on the SAT if you take it on the same day. "So you don't need to take the SAT right away to know what you're capable of. The PSAT is like a 'pre-test' for the SAT," Zhao said. Similarly, PSAT scores can predict a candidate's AP scores.

A representative from the College Board added that in 2024, candidates can take the exam on November 2 and December 7. In 2025, available exam dates for the spring semester include March 8, May 3, and June 7. To take the exam, candidates can register through the authorized unit in Vietnam, IIG Vietnam, or high schools can connect with College Board representatives to open test sites right at the school for their students if there are many candidates.

The SAT is also an indicator that can predict academic ability at the university level, according to Mr. Zhao. That is because the higher the SAT score, the higher the average grade point average in the first year of university, according to a study conducted by the College Board. In particular, students with an SAT score of 1,400 or higher will have an average grade point average of over 3.57/4.0. "This is also the reason why many top schools want to recruit students using the SAT," Mr. Zhao explained.

A new trend that Mr. Zhao mentioned is that from the 2025 and 2026 admissions seasons, many top US universities such as Stanford, Yale, Harvard, Dartmouth, Caltech... are requiring SAT scores again after allowing applicants to choose whether or not to submit them. And in the 2023-2024 school year, according to statistics from the College Board, more than 2.2 million students will take the SAT, an increase of 18% compared to the previous year.

Free Resources

In Vietnam, the SAT test preparation market is becoming more bustling than before in the context of more than 20 Vietnamese universities, including leading representatives such as Hanoi University of Science and Technology, National Economics University, and Foreign Trade University, also using SAT scores for admission in 2024. This raises a question: is taking a test preparation course the only way to achieve high scores, or can candidates completely study at home?

Regarding this issue, Mr. Haike Zhao commented that candidates do not necessarily have to go to a test preparation center but can study on their own through many free resources from the College Board such as reference tests on Bluebook and test preparation programs on Khan Academy. "You do not need to pay for expensive review courses at the center to get a high score," said a representative of the College Board.

Zhao also noted that the SAT tests a candidate’s reading, writing, and math skills. These skills are also taught in high school, especially in AP classes. Therefore, the best way to effectively prepare for the SAT is to study hard every day, pay attention to lectures in class, and seek free support from the test’s parent organization, the College Board, Zhao said.

Mr. Haike Zhao, Deputy Director of International Affairs at the College Board, said the reason why American universities choose to recruit students using the SAT at high scores is because students can continue to achieve high scores when entering the classroom.

Mr. Le Quang Hung, a teacher at VietAccepted Test Preparation Center, also agrees with the above viewpoint. Mr. Hung shared that achieving a high score will depend on the cognitive ability, absorption and self-awareness of each candidate, because the new SAT test focuses on logical reasoning skills. If having a good foundation, candidates can absolutely achieve a high score just by self-studying with test preparation materials.

"However, some students who are not strong in logical reasoning can come to the center to practice more and build strategies to handle the test optimally," Mr. Hung shared with Thanh Nien .

SAT (Scholastic Aptitude Test) was first introduced in 1926 and has gradually become popular in US university admissions. From 2023, SAT will be tested on computers at units authorized by the College Board. The SAT test takes 134 minutes with 54 reading-writing questions and 44 math questions. In Vietnam, universities often reserve less than 15% of their admission quota for SAT/ACT (another US standardized test).

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/khong-on-thi-sat-o-trung-tam-cung-co-the-dat-diem-cao-bang-cach-nao-185241025113340278.htm