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

“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.

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.

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.

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

American Standardized Tests

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

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

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.

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

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”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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).

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

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

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

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.

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.