The SAT is being significantly revised, though I'm not sure when the changes take effect.

Currently it's a 50:50 split between numerical and verbal reasoning, about 1-1.5 hours each, both multiple choice.

The new tests tweak both sections and add a half hour essay.

Marking is standardised in both.

Nope, it's all multiple choice (at least the verbal and mathematics - not so sure about subject specific, known as SAT2s). It's not supposed to be the distillation of all your schooltime knowledge - that's what your GPA is for.

However, SATs are not the only criteria for university entrance. GPA, extra-curricular activities and personal statements all play a part, as well as interviews for the best universities.

I'm not sure what you mean by how they compare with A-Levels - they're entirely different. One is (supposed) to be a measure of intelligence requiring little in the way of factual preparation, the other of one's grasp of the factual content of a subject and ability to draw conclusions from those facts (also contentious). Not so sure how A-Levels would compare with SAT2s.

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by Demona
I'm not sure what you mean by how they compare with A-Levels - they're entirely different.

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Cheers, answered my question! And might I add, suddenly feeling very relieved not to be an ex-colonial.

So, erm, what the heck is a GPA? (I can tell I'm going to have *fun* here.)

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by Byron
So, erm, what the heck is a GPA? (I can tell I'm going to have *fun* here.)

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Grade Point Average; a number between 0 and 4.0 which is basically your final overall grade for high school, with a GPA above 3 being good, around 2 being bad, and below 1 being clinically dead. Bear in mind this is US grading so letter grades are very positive, with an A being a perfect 4.0, a B typically being 3.0 and a C 2.0.

Average grade for your subjects combined, or for individual subjects?

If it's the latter ... well "there but for the grace of the Atlantic" about covers it.

GPA is grade point average, which is more or less what it sounds like - your average grade for all the work you do in school, graded by your teachers, rather than a national qualification. I think it's usually based on end of term exams and some long essays. Basically it buggers up those of us who depend upon last minute revision following years of slacking

A typical conversion could look something like this:

Percent - 97% - 100% Letter - A+ Points - 4
Percent - 93% - 96.9% Letter - A Points - 4
Percent - 90% - 92.9% Letter - A- Points - 4

Percent - 87% - 89.9% Letter - B+ Points - 3
Percent - 83% - 86.9% Letter - B Points - 3
Percent - 80% - 82.9% Letter - B- Points - 3

Percent - 77% - 79.9% Letter - C+ Points - 2
Percent - 73% - 76.9% Letter - C Points - 2
Percent - 70% - 72.9% Letter - C- Points - 2

Percent - 67% - 69.9% Letter - D+ Points - 1
Percent - 63% - 66.9% Letter - D Points - 1
Percent - 60% - 62.9% Letter - D- Points - 1

Percent - 00% - 59.9% Letter - F Points - 0


Your GPA is an average to 1 or 2 decimal places. Obviously it varies between schools and states, and what percentage equals how many points can also vary between subjects in one school.

SATs are supposed to be an unbiased indicator of someone's academic potential regardless of educational advantage. There are several problems with this. One is that you can improve your score by familiarity with the format and practice - not by a lot, but enough to make a difference. So private tutors / schools which can afford to give you practice time will be a benefit. Another is that there are certain sorts of knowledge that will be an advantage - a large vocabularly will help you with the verbal, for example. Another is that scores can be presented combined to give you one score out of 1600 rather than as two scores out of 800 - which fails to give credit to the maths genius who lacks articulacy or the brilliant linguist who can't add up. And, of course, they give no indication of high aptitude and knowledge in a subject specific area. Perhaps these last two are not so much concerns in a university system which does not encourage specialisation until after about two years.

[edit] bah, entirely failed to notice that not one but 2 people had posted while I was composing.

(Edited by Demona 15/04/2004 09:33)

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by Demona
Basically it buggers up those of us who depend upon last minute revision following years of slacking

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Christ, you mean there's another way?! Apparently the Eighth Amendment has yet to see the inside of a high school.

Thanks for that epic post, just about all I could ever need (and, I'm getting the feeling, want) to know about SATs. (I've come out in goosebumps just reading it since my "grade point average" before GCSEs could be measured in a main course of nothing with a scoop of sod-all as a palette cleanser.) And multiple choice tests, really: the wonderful invention that got a certain failed-GCSE maths candidate one point shy of a national bronze award thanks to the principal of, ahem, random selection.

Needless to say the character I need this for is now set to be a little more numerate.

Talking of the everything-and-the-kitchen-sink type of uni, apparently the Americans have some evicted Scots to thank for that one. You want to tell em or should I?

I looked SAT's up for a friend who wanted to study in america a few months ago.

i think i have the sites....

www.collegeboard.com/
and
www.powerprep.com/

The first one has stiff for students, parents and teachers so it might compare SAT/A'level grades.