1. Test Preparation for Higher Education
SAT – ACT – LNAT – UKCAT – BMAT – ISAT – IMAT
Varun Jain
Founder, Brighter Prep

2. “Why should I take the Standardized Test” To get into a college
To complete a high school diploma
It is what they have to do to succeed in life.

3. Why many students don’t do well in standardized tests
Because they think test scores are important but knowledge is of limited or no use?
They feel that these tests are of little or no value in “real” life is pervasive among students and is highly detrimental.

4. How to motivate students
Standardized tests actually do help a student in life.
This truth needs to be constantly reiterated and demonstrated in order to justify the tremendous effort that it requires to learn and succeed in these tests.

5. How Standardized Tests Help students In Life
English: understand people, problem-solve, invent
Math: analyze information, create solutions
Time Management, Discipline
Decision Making Skills

6. American Standardized Tests

7. PSAT versus SAT PSAT SAT 2 Critical Reading 2 Math 1 Grammar
2 Grammar + Essay
1 Experimental Section
2 hours and 10 minutes
3 hours and 45 minutes

8. PLAN versus ACT PLAN ACT English – 30 minutes Math – 40 minutes
Reading – 20 minutes
Science – 25 minutes
English – 45 minutes
Math (+Trig.) – 60 minutes
Reading – 35 minutes
Science – 35 minutes
Option Essay – 30 minutes
1 hour and 55 minutes
3 hours and 25 minutes

9. Should we use PSAT and PLAN results to determine which test a student should take?
The PSAT and particularly the PLAN test are not accurate enough to adequately determine which test is better for a student.

10. Differences between SAT and ACT
Math section only contains Algebra and Geometry
Explicitly tests vocabulary
Questions are abstract: the questions look and feel different than those from school.
Essay is mandatory
No science section
Timing is not as difficult
Math section contains Algebra, Geometry, and Trigonometry
Vocabulary is not tested
Questions are much more straightforward (almost the same as questions students see in school).
Essay is optional
Contains a science section
Time is extremely difficult
Happens on the same day as SAT Subject Tests
Happens on Different Dates from SAT or SAT Subject Tests

11. When should a student take the SAT and/or ACT?
The best testing schedule is for students to take the January SAT and the December ACT in their junior year. The reason for this is twofold:
Students need to know an official score before spring of their junior year
The January test offers the “Question-and-answer” and the December test offers the “Test Information Release”

12. Current SAT versus New SAT
3 hours and 45 minutes
3 hours (plus 50 minutes for the Essay [optional])
Critical Reading
Writing
Mathematics
Essay
Evidence-Based Reading and Writing
Reading Test
Writing and Language Test
Math
Essay (optional)
Emphasis on general reasoning skills
Emphasis on vocabulary, often in limited contexts
Complex scoring (a point for a correct answer and a deduction for an incorrect answer; blank responses have no impact on scores)
Continued emphasis on reasoning alongside a clearer, stronger focus on the knowledge, skills, and understandings most important for college and career readiness and success
Greater emphasis on the meaning of words in extended contexts and on how word choice shapes meaning, tone, and impact
Rights-only scoring (a point for a correct answer but no deduction for an incorrect answer)
Score Scale ranging from 600 to 2400
Score Scale ranging from 400 to 1600

13. Medicine Entrance Exams ISAT - Australia IMAT – Italy
UKCAT – UK BMAT - UK
ISAT - Australia IMAT – Italy

14. UKCAT Test Structure Scoring –
Section
Item
Standard Time
Verbal Reasoning
44 items
22 minutes
Quantitative Reasoning
36 items
25 minutes
Abstract Reasoning
55 items
14 minutes
Decision Analysis
28 items
32 minutes
Situational Judgement
67 items
27 minutes
Total Time
120 minutes
Scoring –
300 to 900 points for the first 4 sections (Overall 1200 to 3600)
Band 1 to Band 4 for Situational Judgement

15. UKCAT Timeline
Registration Opens
01 May 2015
Testing Begins
01 July 2015
Registration Closes
22 September 2015
Registration Deadline
05 October 2015
Last Testing Date
06 October 2015
UCAS Medicine Application Deadline
15 October 2015
You can only take it ONCE in one particular admissions cycle

16. 24 Medical Colleges in the UK ask for UKCAT
 University of Aberdeen 
 King's College London
University of Central Lancashire
University of Manchester 
University of Dundee 
University of Newcastle 
Durham University 
University of Nottingham 
University of East Anglia 
Plymouth University 
University of Edinburgh 
Queen Mary, University of London 
University of Exeter 
Queen's University Belfast 
University of Glasgow 
University of Sheffield 
Hull York Medical School 
University of Southampton 
Keele University 
University of St Andrews 
University of Warwick 
St George's, University of London 
Cardiff University
University of Leicester

17. BMAT Test Structure Aptitude and Skills
Generic skills in problem-solving, understanding arguments, data analysis and inference.
35 multiple-choice questions
60 minutes
Scientific Knowledge and Applications
The ability to apply scientific knowledge from school science and mathematics
27 multiple-choice questions
30 minutes
Writing Task
The ability to select, develop and organise ideas, and to communicate them in writing, concisely and effectively. 
One writing task from a choice of four questions
Accepted by Oxford, Cambridge, Imperial, UCL, Leeds, Brighton and Sussex and NTU Singapore

18. BMAT Timeline
Registration Opens
01 September 2015
Testing Date
4 November 2015
Registration Closes
01 October 2015
Results
25 November 2015
Late Registration Deadline (Late Fee)
15 October 2015
UCAS Medicine Application Deadline
You can only take it ONCE in one particular admissions cycle

19. IMAT
The International Medical Admissions Test (IMAT) is an official part of the selection process for all English-taught degrees in Medicine and Surgery at six Italian universities:
Bari University
Milan University
Pavia University
Rome ‘La Sapienza’ University
Rome ‘Tor Vergata’ University
Second University of Naples
Section – 1- General Knowledge and Logical Reasoning
27 MCQ
Section 2, 3 and 4 cover Bio, Chemistry, Physics and Math
33 MCQ
Total Time 100 Minutes
Registration begins in July and test happens in Mid September every year

20. Monash University (Melbourne) University of New South Wales
ISAT is for international students applying to medicine, dentistry, veterinary science and physiotherapy courses at a selection of Australian universities
Monash University (Melbourne)
University of New South Wales
University of Queensland
University of Sydney
University of Tasmania
University of Western Australia
University of Western Sydney – Medicine
ISAT is a 3-hour computer-based multiple-choice test designed to assess a candidate's intellectual skills and abilities that are the foundation of academic success at tertiary level.
Registration opens in March every year and students can take test mostly before August every year.

21. LNAT – National Admissions Test for Law
Law Entrance Test
LNAT – National Admissions Test for Law

22. LNAT Test Structure
Section A: The first part is a computer-based multiple choice exam. You’ll be asked to read passages of text and answer questions that test your comprehension of them. Your scores from the multiple choice section of the test are checked by computer, and a mark out of 42 is created. This is known as your LNAT score.
Section B: In the second part of the test you will be asked to write one essay from a list of three proposed subjects. This section is not marked by the test centre and does not contribute to your LNAT score, but it is your opportunity to show your ability to construct a compelling argument and reach a conclusion.
You must take the test in the UCAS year in which you are applying to university. You can only sit the test once in the cycle (September to June).

23. 11 Law Colleges Require LNAT Score
University of Oxford
UCL Faculty of Law
SOAS University of London
King’s College London
Durham University
The University of Nottingham
University of Glasgow
University of Birmingham
University of Bristol
IE University, Spain
NUI Maynooth

25. How can you motivate students
The brain is a muscle
Foster intellectual curiosity

26. The Brain is like a Muscle
Students think that their intelligence is static
They often do not know that hard work creates intelligence

27. Foster Intellectual Curiosity
Connect what students are learning to real life (and ask them how it connects).
Allow students to express and discuss what interests them.
Students will see that learning matters and that they can apply what they learn to life.

28. Productivity is never an accident
Productivity is never an accident. It is always the result of a commitment to excellence, intelligent planning, and focused effort.