TESTS TO BE TAKEN

Tests to be Taken 

Students applying to US universities/colleges need to take certain tests : 

1. SAT 
2. Advanced Placement Tests
3. TOEFL/IELTS

1. Importance of the SAT - American Undergraduate Programs focus upon the holistic development of personality of a student. They do not have a single point focus on academics alone. Moreover, the learning is not only teacher and book knowledge driven but also focuses on peer-learning and developing intellectual abilities in a student.  

So, admission to the best colleges and universities in the U.S. is based on the complete profile of a prospective student. This profile is a function of numerical and subjective parameters. Numerical parameters include academic grades (GPA), scores on SAT-Reasoning Test, and sometimes scores on SAT-IIs and APs. Subjective parameters are more complex and include quality and participation in extra-curricular activities, work experience, unique perspective a candidate may have, cross cultural experience, leadership and team skills, the diversity a candidate may add to his peer-group at the college, etc. Most of the subjective parameters are indicated in essays that a student needs to write. Letters of Recommendation provide a neutral third person assessment of the subjective parameters by the teachers. 

As students applying to colleges come from diverse countries, backgrounds, academic-subjects and systems of education, so SAT provides a common objective numerical yardstick to compare all candidates. 

Good colleges are also concerned whether an admitted student would be capable of handling the academically rigorous programs offered by them. High GPA and SAT scores take care of this concern, so they are important parameters for selection. 

Moreover, as top Ivy League colleges receive a huge number of admission applications, so an easy way to weed out/reject a bulk of candidates is to use a minimal score on the SAT as a qualifier. This cut-off value of SAT score is higher for more competitive top Ivy League colleges and changes every year.  

Apart from the SAT, some programs may require you to prove your academic excellence by submitting scores on Advanced Placements. 

2. Role of Advanced Placements - Advanced placement is the opportunity to skip a prerequisite course typically taken in the first year of college and jump right into a higher-level course in the same subject. The Advanced Placement Program (or AP) is also the name of college-level courses taught in high school.

Advanced placement (AP) classes can help high schoolers gain admission into selective colleges. Taking advanced placement (AP) classes in high school can help you earn college credit alongside your diploma and lead to tuition savings as an undergraduate.

Benefits of taking Advanced Placement (AP) classes

• You save money on tuition.
• You can graduate sooner.
• The classes impress college admissions officers. 
• AP classes help develop college-level academic skills.
• These classes can increase your chances for college-specific merit aid.

Unless you're applying to the most selective universities, 4 to 5 AP courses over your high school years is more than enough. For students applying to the most selective colleges, you might need 7–12. But even so, taking 4 AP courses in a year can be extremely challenging.

3. TOEFL / IELTS – If a student’s mother tongue is not English, then English proficiency requirements are met by taking TOEFL/IELTS, though some universities waive off the requirement to take English proficiency tests if you write to them that your education has been done with English as the medium of instruction.