US EDUCATION


preparation and making these world- class resources available to all kids, and particularly those kids who can't afford high- priced test prep,” said Cyndie Schmeiser, chief of assessment at the College Board. The ACT is another standardised test for


college admission in the United States. Like the SAT, it assesses high-school students’ general academic aptitude and a student’s ability to complete higher-education-level work. The tests are multiple-choice and cover four areas: English, mathematics, reading, and science. They also include an optional writing test, which measures a student’s skill in planning and writing a short essay. International students can sit the ACT


and the SAT from outside the US in order to gain entry into US higher-education institutions. Students can search for test centres outside the US on the College Board and ACT websites.


Advanced Placement The Advanced Placement (AP) is another programme of learning and assessment designed to help US higher-education institutions to assess students for entry into college and university. It is developed and administered by the College Board, the organisation responsible for the SAT tests.


The AP is specifically designed to be


closely linked to the first year of college in the US, so students typically take the programme to demonstrate a commitment to a discipline or subject that they hope to continue studying at college level. According to the Fulbright Commission,


the AP is more rigorous and in-depth than the standard high-school courses offered in US schools and compares favourably with A Levels and the International Baccalaureate, both of which are considered to be the gold-standard qualification for university preparation. “Nearly all highly ranked US universities


require applicants to submit scores from one of the US admission tests – either the SAT or the ACT,” says Jon Tabbert, head of US admissions at Dukes Education consultancy and Jon Tabbert Associates. “A strong test score is crucial to a


successful application, and because these exams differ greatly from those on traditional UK or international syllabi, they can be an extremely challenging element of the admissions process.” “We provide expert guidance and support


at every stage of preparation, whether families are choosing between the SAT and the ACT, preparing for a specific subject


test, or customising a structured tuition plan to optimise a student’s scores. When we advise our clients, we suggest that they take a look at both the SAT and ACT, to see if one test better suits their own educational preparation.” While the AP is not necessary for entry


into US higher-education institutions, students are able, by undertaking the programme, to demonstrate a commitment to the subject they hope to take further. And, especially for the most competitive of universities, successful completion of the AP could offer admissions officers further insight into a student’s academic abilities. The US’s education system, like the UK’s,


is likely to continue to experience change and reform as new political leaders jostle for position. Education, testing and curriculum development sit firmly at the heart of both the Republican and the Democrat presidential election campaigns. At the Republican national convention


this summer, delegates rejected “excessive testing and teaching to the test”. Hillary Clinton has already pledged to continue the work of the Every Students Succeeds Act, and has committed to providing opportunities for every child in America to learn computer science.


Since 1991


32 | Re:locate | Autumn 2016


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