Since ArborBridge works with students from all around the world, out of necessity we have become experts in all areas of time management. With tutors in California and New York and a majority of our clientele in London, Moscow, Hong Kong, and Tokyo, we have started to realize the importance of planning in advance. However, for our international students, managing time zone differences is the easy part. Recently, I’ve started to understand the challenges that students in curricula outside of the American standard face when trying to focus overlapping academic and test preparation priorities.
Be Prepared Before It’s Too Late
For example, we recommend that our U.S. students take 2-3 SAT Subject Tests in the spring of their 10th and 11th grade years. Most students opt for the June SAT date as AP testing often falls in the first two weeks of May, which in recent years has been known to sandwich May’s SAT weekend (this year, the two weeks of scheduled AP tests will begin the Monday following the May 4th SAT). Some students like the proximity of the exams, but some prefer to focus on one exam type at a time.
However, the June SAT date does not exist without conflict. Many schools finish the year in June, so students often find themselves studying for finals at the same time as they are prepping for the SAT Subject Tests.
As you can see, while the spring SAT test dates are ideal for scheduling academic-content related SAT Subject Tests, in order for students to perform to their potential, they must plan ahead. Now, imagine trying to plan and take academic finals, AP exams, and the SAT subject tests – as well as examinations required for admission to University in another country.
This is what a majority of ArborBridge clients experience as international students preparing for American university admissions. Most are in the IB or A-Level system, which has an academic calendar completely different from the typical American school schedule. Additionally, the content and grade requirements are often not aligned with the specific expectations assumed by the AP or SAT.
So, how do we support and prepare our international clientele for success on their AP and SAT Subject tests? It’s simple, and just two words: Plan ahead!
‘Part II: When To Take The SAT Subject Tests If You Are An International Student’ will be available soon.
