LONDON, Sept. 27, 2013—With the likes of Oxford, Cambridge, and other great universities, England practically invented the concept of modern higher education. Why, then, did over 3,000 high school students show up for an American college fair in the middle of London?

The answer to that question is complex, but I think it reduces to three important elements: access, choice, and language.

  • 1. Access: American universities are more accessible than ever to international students, and that goes double for students who are as close as a six-hour plane ride.
  • 2.Choice: With greater access comes more choices. To a British student, the varieties of American colleges and the vastness of their academic offerings exceeds anything available in the UK (or anywhere else in the world, practically).
  • 3.Language: The language part is obvious—zeds, haighes, and excess u’s notwithstanding.

Questions about standardized testing

Other questions are far more specific. Our mission at the fair was to provide as much information not just about ArborBridge tutoring but also about standardized testing in general as we could. Many questions we receive are the same as would be asked by high school students in the US. Students wondered about the role of the SAT in the admissions process, they asked about testing schedules, and about the relationships between the SAT and its companion Subject Tests.

Other questions were more unique to Britons. Herewith are the Top Ten (or so) questions posed by British students at Fulbright College Day.

  • How does the content of the SAT compare with that of A-Levels and GCSE?
  • How do universities view A-Level scores in the admissions process?
  • How many times can/should I sit for the SAT?
  • What is the ACT? Should I sit for it?
  • Can the SAT get me a scholarship?
  • What math (or “maths”) is/are on the SAT?
  • How does GSCSE math compare to Math II?
  • When should I start studying for the SAT?
  • Do I need to sit for the SAT if I’m on a gap year?
  • What are Subject Tests? Do I need to sit for them?
  • Does ArborBridge administer the SAT?
  • Can you use GCSE scores in lieu of SAT?
  • Should I fear the SAT?

The answers to many of these questions can be complex. We’ll answer these questions in full in the coming weeks.

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Meanwhile, if you have further questions, please don’t hesitate to ask us at [email protected]!

–Sallie Oto & Josh Stephens

Sallie Oto is ArborBridge’s Director of Tutoring Services. She can be reached at [email protected].

Josh Stephens is ArborBridge’s Director of International Development. He can be reached at [email protected].