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

1. What is the SAT?
   The SAT Reasoning Test is a test students usually take for college admissions. The test has three sections: Critical Reading, Writing and Math and 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.
    
2. 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.
   
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3. When is the SAT given?
   The SAT is given seven times per year in the following months: October, November, December, January, March, May, and June. The test dates vary by year. To view specific dates visit Collegeboard.com.
   
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4. Why should I take the SAT as a 7th grader?
   7th and 8th graders may take the SAT for a special competitioin called the John Hopkins University Center for Talented Youth (JHU-CTY). If a student scores high enough, he/she is recognized on a state level and can win scholarships to the JHU-CTY summer courses, a prestigious honor.
   The students who enroll in this competition also get a head start in preparing for the SAT/PSAT exams. Many 7th and 8th graders take specialised SAT courses from Excel Test in preparation for this competition, and, by enrolling in the Platinum Exam Club, continue to work with Excel Test over the next five years. As a result, when these students reach the 11th grade, they tend to score extremely high.
   The scores for any SAT exams taken in middle school are automatically removed from the student's record before they enter high school.
   
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5. 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 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 SAT Exam.
   
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6. How do I register?
   To register online, visit www.collegeboard.com.
   To register by mail, you need The Paper Registration Guide for the SAT and SAT Subject Tests, which is available from your school counselor. The Guide includes a registration form and return envelope.
   
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7. How much does it cost to take the SAT?
   The SAT Reasoning Test costs $50.00 + a $27 late fee if you register after the registration deadline. For more SAT-related fees, click on the following link: http://sat.collegeboard.org/register/us-services-fees
   
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8. 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
   
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9. What if I take the SAT and mess up?
   On the day of your test if you want to cancel your score during 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.
   If you've already left the testing center, you can mail or fax your form. However, College Board must receive your request form no later than 11:59 pm (Eastern Time) the Wednesday after the test.
   Download and print the SAT Request to Cancel Test Scores form or write your request. You must provide the following information to cancel your scores:
   -Test date
   -Test center number
   -Name of test you are canceling — either the SAT or SAT Subject Test(s)
   -Name, address, sex, birth date and registration number
   -Signature (required or the cancellation will not be processed)
   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
   225 Phillips Boulevard
   Ewing, NJ 08618
   USA
   
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10. What is Score Choice?
    Score choice allows you to choose which SAT and SAT Subject Test scores you would like to send to colleges, at no additional cost. Different universities and colleges now have different score choice practices. Some schools require only the single highest test date score, some schools state that they combine the highest scores from different sections across test dates, and some schools require you to send all of your scores. View the score-choice practices of different schools. Always check with the schools you plan to apply to as well before sending your scores.
    
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11. 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. Your score report shows your current test score, in addition to scores for up to six SAT and six Subject Test administrations. 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.
    
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12.  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, extra-curricular 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	2200 or above
    Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)	2200 or above
    New York University (NYU)	1950 or above
    Rice University	2200 or above
    Princeton University	2200 or above
    Stanford	2200 or above
    University of California: Los Angeles (UCLA	2050 or above
    University of Colorado: Boulder	1850 or above
    University of Houston	1500 or above
    University of Southern California (USC)	2050 or above
    University of Texas: Austin	1850 or above

    
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13. Why is ExcelTest the best choice for SAT preparation?
    ExcelTest Courses offer unique and extremely effective strategies not taught anywhere else, by highly experienced, dynamic instructors. We also offer many different course formats, from our in-class Core Classroom Course to our Online Course. All of our courses cover the same material and have the same extras and advantages:
    Highest Score Increase Guarantee - if you do not improve by at least 300 points, we will provide you with an extra-help course free of charge.
    Course materials are heavily researched original material as well as official SAT guides. That includes our ExcelTest SAT Manual with tricks and tips to do well on the SAT and the complete ExcelTest produced solutions to each SAT exam from The Official SAT Study Guide: For the New SAT, and a copy of The Official SAT Study Guide: For the New SAT.
    We offer a $1000 college scholarship to any Excel student who recieves perfect score of 2400. We love to see our students succeed!
    
    
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14. 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 before 10th grade. Otherwise, a student should start by the summer before their 11th grade, to maximize the effectiveness of our program because there are no distractions such as school homework, projects, exams or any other school activities. Students should start preparing for the SAT no later then the summer before their 12th grade.
    
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15. Where can I get a sample SAT to practice on?
    You can download this sample test from the College Board to practice on a Real SAT exam. If you would like to take the SAT with the essay portion and have it scored for free by one of our in-house graders, please log in to our website and create a free account.
    
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16. 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%.
    
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17. How do extra-curricular 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 your class rank is 50%, the SAT is 25%, and the rest of the 25% is extra-curricular activities and recommendations. Private schools tend to rely more on extra-curricular activities for admissions then public schools.
    
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18. 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 with 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, then you may not need an educational consultant. You can also approach the career services or counseling departments within the institutions that you are considering applying to. You may want to find out ahead of time, if they charge, if so, how much before committing to a service.
    
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19. 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.
    
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20. 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 paid or volunteer work, after-school or summer program participation, to internships. You should inquire with your parent's 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 in a job, an internship, or helping out at home, your experience is an important way to demonstrate key qualities. The participation in the various activities may even help you find a topic for your college essays. Whatever qualities that you develop by 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 ExcelTest after 10th grade, if possible. 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!
    
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21. 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, so they rely more heavily on tuition, endowments and other private sources of revenue. Private colleges are usually more expensive than public colleges, but 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 to narrow down your search 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 the different career options and field of studies. 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.
    
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22. What are Dual Degree Programs?
    Dual Degree Programs differ from university to university. In general terms, universities offer a Bachelors Degree and Masters Degree in your field of studies in a shorter amount of time versus if you pursued the two degrees independently (varies by university). They also offer different variations such as offering an Associate Degree and Bachelors Degree or two different Masters Degrees.
    
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23. Why should I consider a Dual Degree Program?
    Students successfully completing the program earn two degrees: Associate and Bachelor, Bachelor and Masters, or Masters and Masters (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, also having two degrees will give you an edge in the interview process when applying for employment over other candidates.
    
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