… It is one of the admission requirements to an undergraduate program in the U.S., for American and international students alike.
… The test scores help U.S. admissions officers compare your reasoning abilities and academic strengths with those of more than 2 million students who take the SATs every year.
… A high score is a good chance for you to get admission AND funding!

 

Brief VIDEO presentation on the SAT:

SAT actually represents two distinct tests: SAT Reasoning Test, also known as SAT I, and SAT Subject Tests, commonly referred to as SAT II.

 

SAT Reasoning Test
According to the official website www.collegeboard.org, the SAT Reasoning Test measures the critical thinking skills you will need for academic success in college.

Watch this video to learn about the test structure:

The three sections of the SAT Reasoning test are:
•   Critical reading which has sentence completion and passage-based questions;
•   Mathematics which requires math skills that students typically acquire during their first three years of high school: arithmetic, algebra, geometry, statistics and probability. A scientific or graphing calculator is recommended and may be helpful to solve some of the questions. However, all of the match questions may be solved without a calculator.
•    Writing which involves multiple-choice questions and a written essay.

In addition, there is one unscored section, known as the variable section. This unscored section may be either a critical reading, mathematics, or writing multiple-choice section. According to the information posted on the official website, this unscored section does not count toward the final score, but it is used to try out new questions for future editions of the SAT.

The essay will always be the first section of the SAT, and the multiple-choice writing section will always be the final section. All the other sections can appear in any order. Test takers sitting next to each other in the same testing session may have test books with entirely different sections.

The test is administered in the paper and pencil format and is about 4 hours long.

Each section of the SAT is scored on a scale of 200-800, with two writing subscores in the Writing section for multiple-choice questions and the essay.

SAT Subject Tests: to take or not to take?
Subject Tests measure your knowledge of particular subjects (literature, history, foreign languages, math, physics etc.) and your ability to apply that knowledge.

Many U.S. colleges require or recommend one or more Subject Tests for admission or placement. Colleges which do not require Subject Tests will still take them into consideration, since the tests offer a better picture of your academic abilities.

Just like the SAT Reasoning Test, the Subject Tests are administered in the paper and pencil format. They contain multiple-choice questions and each subject test takes one hour to complete.

You can take up to three Subject Tests on a given test date. Mind that NOT ALL Subject Tests are available on every test date! Full information available on the official website www.collegeboard.org.

Each test is scored on a scale of 200-800.

Acceptable Equipment for Some Subject Tests (information available on the official website):
If you take Mathematics, you are recommended to use a scientific or graphing calculator for the SAT Subject Tests in Mathematics. Calculators are not allowed for the other Subject Tests.
If you take a Language Test with Listening, you will need to bring a portable battery-operated CD player, equipped with earphones.

The SAT is administered six times a year, in once a month in October, November, December, January, May, and June. At one test administration, you can take the SAT I or up to three subjects in the SAT II. You cannot take the SAT I and II on the same day.

 

SAT test centers in Romania are located in Bucharest, Arad, Baia Mare, Constanta, and Iasi.

Please note that not all the test centers are open on all six dates. When you create a Collegeboard/SAT account you will be able to check if you can take the test at your choice center on a specific date.

According to the information currently available on the official website www.collegeboard.org, in Bucharest the SAT is currently offered by:
•    Fulbright Educational Advising Center;
•    American International School of Bucharest, Sos. Pipera-Tunari 196, Comuna Voluntari-Pipera; tel: 021 204 4300; website: www.aisb.ro/;
• Bucharest Christian Academy, Aleea Mizil 62B, sector 3, Bucharest 032347, email:  office@bcaromania.org, tel: 021-323 58 87, website: www.bcaromania.org/;
•  Tudor Vianu National Natl College, Str. Arhitect Ion Mincu nr.10, sector 1; tel: 021 222 6670; website: www.lbi.ro.  

The SAT is also administered in:
•    Arad: Vasile Goldis Natl College
•    Baia Mare: School no. 5
•    Constanta: Mircea cel Batran National College
•    Iasi: Euroed Foundation

According to the information available on the official website www.collegeboard.org for academic year 2012-2013:
•    SAT Reasoning Test costs $86 ($51 = basic SAT registration fee + $35 = international processing fee).
•    SAT Subject Tests cost $24.50 (basic registration fee) plus $35 (international processing fee). On top of this you will add $24 if you plan to take a foreign language test with a listening section, or $13 for all the other subjects.

 

The test fee entitles you to one score report, plus up to four official score reports that College Board will send directly to the institutions you designate when you register. For each institution you select after the test, you will have to pay a $11.25 fee.

Registration methods vary according to payment method: credit card (most convenient) or bank check. Note: the card does not need to be in your name, so you can use the cards of family or friends, with their permission.   

 

If credit/debit card (Visa, Master Card, Discover, American Express) is available, you can register online at www.collegeboard.com.

Go to the section International Registration to find dates and registration info. You need to sign in, create an account with your profile: personal information, education background, type of college you are planning to attend, your high school courses etc. Mind that not all of the sections are compulsory, but some are so please be patient and provide required answers before selecting test, date, and center!

Mind that there are two pages listing test centers in Romania, so click the blue arrow button if you do not find the center you are looking for first off! College Board holds the seat for about 20 minutes for you to finish registration.

At this point, you are required to upload a photo in order to secure the integrity of the test administration. Check acceptable photo information on the website and carefully choose what photo to include. Your photo will become part of your Admission Ticket, and will be available to colleges where you send scores. Carefully preview information on your ticket before confirming! Reservation is not complete until you make the payment.

You can print your Admission Ticket from your College Board account.

If a credit/debit card is not available, then you can pay by bank check and register by mail.
•    In order to be issued a bank check you can approach any bank that conducts hard-currency transactions and pay the fee. The beneficiary of your bank check will be the The College Board.
•   Fill in the “2013-2014 Registration Form and SAT Questionnaire” available in the paper registration bulletin which you can download from the official website. Then mail the registration form with the bank check to the SAT representative for Europe. When filling out the registration form, you need to use black or blue ink. Do not use a pencil!

Useful tips
•    Photocopy the registration form as well as the bank check and keep the copies for reference.
•    Send your test registration by registered mail (scrisoare recomandata cu confirmare de primire). If the early registration is approaching, you may like to send it by courier service to meet the deadline!
•    As a rule, information regarding the test date and center location is mailed with your Admission Ticket.
•    If you do not receive the Admission Ticket by mail at least a week prior to the test date, you must call College Board in the United States. Refer to the website for contact information of College Board Customer Service.

It is advisable that you fill in the SAT registration bulletins in printed form. You can pick one up, free of charge, from the Fulbright Educational Advising Center, during public hours.

If you live outside Bucharest you can send the Fulbright Educational Advising Center a self-addressed stamped envelope (A4 size) with a note in which you mention that you need an SAT registration bulletin. You will receive it promptly.

Pay attention to registration deadlines!
If you are registering online or via post with the registratin form sent directly to the College Board program in the USA, regular deadlines apply to you.

According to the information available in the registration guide: “International mail must be received (not just postmarked) by the deadlines. Students applying through an SAT International Representative must submit their registrations (with full payment) by the early registration deadline. Deadlines expire at midnight Eastern Time.

Missed the registration deadline?
Solution: online waitlist status.

According to the official website, if you miss the last registration deadline, or if your paper registration has been returned unprocessed without enough time to resubmit it, you may be able to go online to request a waitlist status.

This status may be available from the last registration deadline up until five days before test day.
 
What you need to know before registering on an online waitlist:
•    Signing up for waitlist status does not guarantee you a seat on test day. You will be admitted to the test center on a first-come, first-served basis, determined by when you arrive at the center, not on when you registered.
•    Waitlist applicants are seated only after all regularly registered test-takers have been admitted and only if sufficient test materials, staff and seating are available.
•    The Test Center Supervisor makes all decisions regarding who is admitted to the test center on test day, and those decisions are final.
•    Waitlist status is only available online; you cannot request waitlist status with the paper registration form or by calling Customer Service.
•    You can request waitlist status for only one test center on any particular test administration date.
•    You can request waitlist status for only one test type (SAT or SAT Subject Tests) on any particular test administration date. Language with Listening Tests are not available for waitlist applicants.
•    You will be charged any applicable registration fees, including the waitlist fee of $45, only if you are admitted to the test center on test day.
•    All normal registration requirements apply, including the need to upload an acceptable photo.
•    You must be able to print your Waitlist ticket; it cannot be mailed to you.

You cannot register by phone, fax, e-mail or in-person at the testing center on test day!
Unregistered individuals will not be admitted to the test center under any circumstances.

All you need to know on test day procedures:
http://professionals.collegeboard.com/testing/sat-reasoning/test-day/expect

 

Still curious about the test day? Watch this simulator:
http://sat.collegeboard.org/register/sat-test-day-tips

 

Usually, approximately three weeks after you take the test, your SAT scores are released in a password-protected area of your SAT account called My Organizer. Although most scores are available on this first score release day, a small percentage might not be available at that time. If your scores are not available, you will need to check back later.

 

According to the information available on the official website, College Board mails the score report to you and to your designated institutions approximately 5 weeks after you take the test.

Your score report includes a detailed breakdown of your scores, information about what your scores mean, and how your scores compare to those of other test-takers. If you took the SAT Reasoning Test, your essay is also available to view online.

The test fee entitles you to one score report, plus up to four official score reports that College Board will send directly to the institutions you designated when you registered. For each institution you select after the test, you will have to pay a fee. According to the information available on the official website and in the Registration Bulletin, College Board mails the score report to you and to your designated institutions approximately 5 weeks after you take the test.

You can request additional scores online from your SAT account, by phone or by mail. You will be charged $11.25 fee for each institution you want scores to be sent to.

The fastest and easiest way to send additional scores is online and by phone. Payment can be made by debit or credit card. If you order scores by mail, you need to complete the “Additional Score Report Order Form” available from the College Board website and send it with the bank check to the College Board in the United States.

Further instructions on how to request additional score reports is available on the official website.

The SAT scores are valid for 5 years.

You have free access to our up-to-date SAT prep materials! To see what books and software are available at our center please check the Test preparation section. The preparation materials can only be checked out for study in the reading room and cannot be photocopied. To check out materials in the reading room, you need a valid ID.

 

You can also visit the links below with online SAT preparation, some free, some for a fee!

http://sat.collegeboard.org/practice/
Free practice questions and full tests both for the SAT Reasoning and the Subject Tests on the official website.

http://www.proprofs.com/sat/
Offers study guides with practice and explanations. Two free full practice tests; a third test is available for active members on their forum.

http://www.testprepreview.com/sat_practice.htm
Free practice questions for self-assessment.

http://www.majortests.com/sat/
Free practice questions for each section.

http://www.testpreppractice.net/SAT/Free-Online-SAT-Practice-Tests.aspx
Five free tests for Reading Comprehension, Sentence Completion, Sentence Correction and Math Problem Solving.

http://www.4tests.com/exams/examdetail.asp?eid=6
Free practice questions for the Math and Critical Reading sections.

http://www.test-guide.com/free-sat-practice-tests.html
Free practice questions.
http://www.number2.com
You need to register for access to the practice materials.

http://www.satexamprep.com/
You need to register for access to the practice materials.

http://www.onlinemathlearning.com/sat-test-prep.html
Free sample math practice tests.

http://testprep.sparknotes.com/testcenter/newsat/
The site is currently down for a revamp. Some guidelines and practice may still be available.

http://sat.testfrenzy.com/
Offers inks and descriptions of websites with SAT practice.

http://www.ivybound.net/prep/index.html
Online tutoring and classes, but for a fee.

https://www.onlinecollegeplan.com/sat-act-prep-guide/   
Other SAT Prep Resources

This section has been developed by FEAC staff based on visitors’ questions regarding this test, and to further support your journey to the U.S.!  
You may like to send YOUR interesting question so that we can expand this section.
Q: What is a “decent” SAT score?
A: Check the freshman/class profile on each university website to check the average scores of last year’s admitted applicants. Try to aim at scores at least 10% over the average, especially if you are aiming at getting financial aid too.
Mind that U.S. schools look at your performance in each section, not just at the overall score. Romanian students who prepare beforehand tend to score over 600 in the Critical Reading section, while 800 is certainly not impossible to get in the Math section.

 

Q: When is it best to take the test(s)?
A: Some applicants start preparation at the beginning of their junior year (clasa a XI-a) and take the tests in the spring of their junior year (May-June sessions) and fall-winter of the senior year (clasa a XII-a) so that scores arrive at the university by the application deadline.

Q: Do I have to take all Subject Tests?
A: As mentioned above in the description of the test, many U.S. colleges require or recommend one or more Subject Tests for admission or placement. Usually around three Subject tests in a variety of areas will offer admissions officers a better picture of your academic skills. So even if you’re a math and physics whiz kid, consider taking a foreign language test too to illustrate your well-rounded academic profile.

Q: How many Subject Tests can I take on a given test date?
A: You can take up to three Subject Tests on a given test date. Mind that not all Subject tests are available at each test date so you need to plan well.