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Breaking News

Australia News

Australia News

AUSTRALIA EASES STUDENT VISA LAWS FOR HIGH RISK COUNTRIES
Australia has eased the financial requirements for international students applying from ‘high risk’ countries like India, China and Pakistan.

International students from the so-called high risk countries would not be assessed according to the stringent Assessment Level 4 and 5 criteria now. The changes have been made to implement the recommendations made by the ‘Review of the Student Visa Assessment Level Framework 2013′ and would come into effect from March 22, according to a news report.

“This is certainly good news, especially for Indian students who can now realise their dream of getting quality education in Australia,” said a Melbourne-based education and immigration consultant Jag Khairra.

“The change in assessment levels for countries like India, Nepal, Bangladesh and Pakistan will help boost number of students from these countries,” he added.

The direct implication of the March 22 changes would be that the international students from countries like India, China and Pakistan would have to show lesser amount of money in order to gain entry to Australia. These students would now be required to provide evidence of funds for 12 months’ study in Australia instead of 18 months.

“This would mean students from countries like India and Pakistan would be able to apply for a student visa with up to A USD 20,000 (approximately Rs 1.1 million) less in the bank,” said a Sydney-based vocational college owner, Moninder Singh.

This announcement is likely to be welcomed by the Vocational Education and Training (VET) and English Language Intensive Courses for Overseas Students (ELICOS) sector institutes who have been affected by a significant downturn in the number of international student enrolments.

“The VET sector, which has been struggling from the last three-four years, shall see the revival in the education industry,” Khairra said.

The Australian VET sector providers experienced a dramatic drop in the number of enrolments from India after the alleged racist attacks on south Asian students in 2009. The plummeting graph became much worse as the Labour government decided to tighten the visa laws for students from higher Assessment Level countries (e.g. India, China, Pakistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, etc.) studying in the VET institutes.

Even before the latest reforms, Australian has been gaining traction as a favoured destination for Indian students wishing to study overseas. The overall number of Indians applying for Australian student visa has experienced a dramatic increase (115 per cent) in the past one year or so. The visa grant from India has also gone up in three figures.

Even though the number of Indian students getting Australian visa is very small compared to the pre-2009 figures, the South Asian country continues to be the second-largest source country for international student enrollments in Australia

Canada News

Canada News

CANADA ANNOUNCES NEW REGULATIONS FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
Source: http://www.cic.gc.ca

CHANGES BROADEN THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS IN CANADA

The new rules that will come into effect from June 1, 2014 will strengthen Canada’s reputation as an education destination internationally. The additional operational measures to support the implementation of the new rules are expected to be announced close to June 1, 2014.

Current Regulations

New Regulations, as of June 1, 2014

Applicants must show that they intend to pursue studies in Canada when applying for a study permit. Applicants must enrol in and continue to pursue studies in Canada. Failure to do so could lead to removal from Canada.
Applicants may apply for a study permit to pursue studies at any educational institution in Canada. Study permits will only be issued to successful applicants who are pursuing studies at an educational institution that has been designated to receive international students.
Study permit holders pursuing studies at publicly-funded and certain privately-funded post-secondary institutions must apply for an Off-Campus Work Permit to be able to work up to 20 hours per week off-campus during the academic session and full-time during scheduled breaks. Study permits will automatically authorize the holder to work off-campus for up to 20 hours per week during the academic session and full-time during scheduled breaks without the need to apply for a separate work permit. The study permit holder must be pursuing academic, vocational or professional training of six months or more that leads to a degree, diploma or certificate at a designated institution.
Any international student can apply for a Co-Op Work Permit if a co-op placement is an integral element of their course of study. Only international students who are pursuing studies at a secondary school or at a designated institution may apply for a Co-Op Work Permit if a co-op placement is an integral part of their course of study.
Visitors may not apply for a study permit from within Canada Visitors may apply for a study permit from withinCanada if they are at the pre-school, primary or secondary level, are on an academic exchange or a visiting student at a designated learning institution, or have completed a course or program of study that is a condition for acceptance at a designated learning institution.
International students who have completed their studies but hold valid study permits can remain legally inCanada until the expiration of their study permit. A study permit becomes invalid 90 days following the completion of studies unless the foreign national also possesses a valid work permit or another authorization to remain in Canada.
There are no references in existing regulations that clearly state that Registered Indians who are also foreign nationals are exempt from the requirement to obtain a study permit. Registered Indians who are also foreign nationals may study in Canada without a study permit as they have the right of entry into Canada.
Study permit holders are not authorized to work after the completion of their studies while awaiting approval of their Post-Graduation Work Permit Eligible international graduates will be authorized to work full-time after their studies are completed until a decision is made on their application for a Post-Graduation Work Permit.

New Zealand News

New Zealand News

New Zealand allows students greater work rights
In an attempt to attract a greater share of the world’s international students, New Zealand education minister Steven Joyce and immigration minister Michael Woodhouse have announced reforms of New Zealand’s rules governing students’ work rights while in New Zealand.
They also announced a new ‘streamlined and prioritised visa processing’ system which will make it easier for some students to apply for visas.
Mr Joyce said international education…contributes NZ$2.6bn a year to our economy and 28,000 jobs for New Zealanders plus it helps build strong linkages with the countries that are our trading future’. He added ‘Competition for international students is intensifying around the world and it’s important that we stay competitive’.

Students can work during all scheduled course breaks
The main changes are

  • Students studying full-time will be allowed to work during all scheduled course breaks(previously they were  only allowed to work in the summer holidays)
  • Doctoral and masters students will be allowed to work full-time
  • English language students will be allowed to work part-time

Mr Joyce said that the changes were expected to result in a net increase in the number of jobs available to New Zealanders. He said that, while students would take some jobs that might otherwise have been taken by New Zealanders, this would be ‘more than offset by the growth in the international education industry and the jobs it provides’.
Mr Woodhouse announced that the lowest category of education college –Category 4 colleges, would no longer be allowed to teach overseas students. He said ‘while we want more students to come to our shores to study, our focus has to be on providing them with the highest quality education New Zealand has to offer’.

Student Ambassadors

SIEC Student Ambassadors are official representatives of SIEC Education Pvt. Ltd. They are the link between SIEC and the students who are thinking of studying overseas.

We are now recruiting a new team of up to 20 students from various colleges and schools to be a part of our program.

Benefits

  • Be rewarded.
  • Develop your interpersonal, communication and leadership skills.
  • Social and academic networking opportunities.
  • Great opportunity for personal and professional development.

Duties

  • Refer students/friends who are considering studying overseas to SIEC.
  • Organise seminars and presentations at colleges/schools for SIEC counsellors.
  • Advice SIEC of college/school festivals, career expo details.

Student Ambassador

 

Verification

 

Visa Interview

Visa process is the most formidable part for students. Lack of proper information and incorrect supervision by inexperienced agents cause students to lose the opportunity of getting the visa even they have admission and every thing on hand.
At SIEC, we ensure student visa success and with our professional approach and direction chance of visa improve significantly and it become possible for student to reach their dream study destination.

Our extensive network of branches and every increasing experience provide us latest information on,

  • Accurate visa application procedures
  • Relevant and important documents required for visa interview
  • Guidance on providing sufficient financial documentation
  • Interview preparation through several mock interview sessions
  • Expected questions and suitable answers to satisfy visa officer

At SIEC, our mission is simply making you achieve your goal of studying abroad!

At SIEC, our dedicated team provide all the required information to face the ‘visa interview’ at the UK or US Consulate. In addition to providing information our mock interview sessions help student to address nervousness. At first, we carefully assess the background of the applicant and then determine strong and weak areas. Based on this first-hand information, our counselors will suggest appropriate answers and responses for given questions and situations.

With this specialized and adapted preparation, facing the interview for visa will become easier for you since you will be fully confident of what to do or not to do and how to tackle difficult questions and situations.

Proper planning, self-confidence, preparation and good presentation are the key aspects to succeed in the visa interview. SIEC makes sure that you, the applicant, are fully prepared to handle all these aspects successfully and get the coveted Student Visa for UK or USA.

See the following YouTube links that show examples of two students’ mock credibility interviews carried out by INTO.
They were also with 2 Chinese students both with GOOD ENGLISH. Note these interviews were also for DIPLOMA courses:

  • Student who is well prepared for the credibility interview: Watch Here
  • Student who is NOT well prepared for the Home Office Credibility interview Watch Here

Pathway Programs

Pathway programs are specifically designed for International students designed for Guaranteed Admission in TOP Universities upon successful completion of your pathways course to the required level. Salient features include:

  • Multiple admission intake in year
  • Admissions route for low academic percentage student
  • Highest level of personal care and support to students
  • Small class size and individual learning support
  • Access to first-class university facilities
  • Programs for Matric/O-Level/As Level to start university study and save academic year
  • Enabling admission for student which fail to match entry criteria
  • Wide range of academic programs including diplomas, foundation certificates or pre- masters Friendly environment and to help improve your skills in problem areas.
  • High level of academic support
  • Exceptional student support for non-academic matters
  • Comprehensive subject-based knowledge
  • English language skills nourishment
  • Leisure facilities during their university pathways course
  • Highest standards of teaching by university staff
  • Comfortable accommodation

University Pathway programs

Study Group

Study Group

Enabling growing number of international students to access to leading international universities.
Basically specializing in courses aimed at preparing international students for university-level education and the teaching of English to international students. Provide entry pathway to world’s

Foundation Studies gives international students the opportunity to study a pre-university year within a fully-accredited specialist program as the first step to completing tertiary studies and enable student to apply a broad range of specialized knowledge and skills in varied. Study group provide following pathway programs in each country.

Location

Study Group Institutions in Australia

Study Group Institutions in Canada

Study Group Institutions in Ireland

Study Group Institutions in Netherlands
Progression from the International Foundation Year:

Progression from the English Foundation Programme

Progression from the English Pre-Masters Programme

Study Group Institutions in New Zealand

Study Group Institutions in United Kingdom

Study Group Institutions in United States

Navitas

Navitas

The combination of on-campus university study, but in smaller classes and with more contact time with teachers and lecturers, modern study facilities, flexible entry dates, students can choose when they want to start their program and this make make Navitas programs a wonderful study option for international students.

Student have a choice of exciting, friendly, multicultural destinations for their study – from the beaches and rainforests of Australia, to the mountains and lakes of Vancouver, or the cultural heritage of England., is predicted to be hugely popular in the USA.

For international students, there is arguably no better pathway to academic success than taking a Navitas 1st year university program.

navitas_world_map

 

Navitas Institutions in Australia

australia NAVITAS

Navitas Institutions in USA

usa

Navitas Institutions in UK

NAVITAS UK

Navitas Institutions in Canada

canada

Navitas Institutions in New Zealand

Navitas Institutions in Singapore

INTO

INTO

Provides an exceptional educational experience to help students succeed in a fast-moving, globally competitive world by bringing ambitious international students and leading universities together. INTO offers international students the opportunity to fulfil their educational goals and achieve academic success at a world-class universities in UK, USA an China for higher quality standards of preparation for undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in the UK, US and China.

A range of generous scholarships for international students from all over the world also create real opportunities for international students to succeed. With major independent investment, INTO Centres deliver a world-class educational and cultural experience for international students, with fast, effective and assured progression to university degree courses, creating an unforgettable student experience.

INTO Institutions in UK

INTO Institutions in USA

INTO Map

Cambridge Education Group

Cambridge Education Group

Oldest and one of the fastest growing independent education providers in the world, Cambridge Education Group (CEG) has been delivering the highest quality academic, creative and English Language programmes, preparing thousands of students to progress onto the world’s leading universities since 1952.

CEG promises excellent teaching, premium facilities and the personal service students demand and ensure their happiness both personally and academically through regular Personal Tutor sessions with an extensive support network is key. CEG teaches its students to work hard and smart with Higher Education advice on the best degree or university for each individual.

CEG Institutions in UK

Cambridge

CEG Institutions in USA

CEG Institutions in Netherland

Gallery

IMAGES

IMAGES

Dawn Education Expo Lahore 2014

Expo SIEC Lahore

Faisalabad Office

Faisalabad SIEC

Islamabad Office

ISLAMABAD SIEC

SIEC Education Expo

Lahore Expo SIEC

Chisholm Institute Australia’s International Office in Karachi DHA Office

SIEC DHA Karachi

Karachi DHA Office

SIEC DHA

SIEC Canada Education Expo Karachi

SIEC Event 2

Dawn Canada Education Expo 2013

SIEC Event 5

Study Abroad Seminar in Islamabad

SIEC Event 6

Dawn Education Expo Karachi

SIEC Event Karachi Expo

Study Abroad Seminar in Sheraton Hotel Karachi

SIEC Event Karachi

Columbia College Canada Event

SIEC Event

University of Sunderland at Dawn Education Expo

SIEC Expo Karachi Event

Islamabad Office

SIEC Islamabad Office 2

Islamabad Office

SIEC Islamabad Office

Islamabad Office

SIEC Islamabad

Karachi Gulshan Office

SIEC Karachi 1

Dawn Canada Education Expo

SIEC Karachi 7

Seminar on Study in UK at Karachi Gulshan Office

SIEC Karachi

Dawn Education Expo Lahore

SIEC Lahore Dawn Expo

Lahore Office

SIEC Lahore Office

Lahore Office

SIEC Lahore

Head Office

SIEC Office 2

Head Office

SIEC Office 3

Head Office

SIEC Office 4

Head Office

SIEC Office

Lahore Office

SANYO DIGITAL CAMERA

VIDEOS

VIDEOS

Country Comparisions

Admission Tests:

Admission Tests:

USA UK AUSTRALIA CANADA NEW ZEALAND
Courses / Programs Admitted in For Bachelor’s and Master’s programs For Bachelor’s, Master’s and Doctoral (PhD) degrees For Certificate, Diploma, Undergraduate, Postgraduate and PhD programs For Certificate, Diploma, Bachelors, Masters and PhD programs For Certificate, Diploma, Bachelors, Masters and PhD programs
Mandatory Tests TOEFL or IELTS for English proficiency IELTS or TOEFL. Universities can waive the English requirement for admission if the student has scores of 65% and above in English in their 10th and 12th  standard. For admission, score requirement if flexible. IELTS. 5.5  bands (overall) is mandatory for applying for Visa. TOEFL or IELTS for English proficiency IELTS for English proficiency
Entry criteria Minimum second class Minimum high second class and IELTS 5.5 bands and above Second class and above with minimum 6 bands. For diplomas 5.5 bands overall. Minimum 5.0 bands if student wants to go for ELICOS program Minimum second class and IELTS 6.0 bands and above Minimum second class and IELTS 5.0 bands and above
How early can I apply Students need to apply nine months to one year before for financial aid and Six months before, for admission. Students may apply at least 3 to 6 months before starting date. Students may apply 3 to 6 months early. Students may apply at least 3 to 6 months before starting date. For Bachelor’s, Master’s and Doctorate: at least 3 months before course commencement date. For Diplomas and Certificates: At any point of time.

Cost of Education:

Cost of Education:

USA [USD $] UK [Pounds £] Australia
[AUD $]
Canada [CAD $] New Zealand [NZ $]
‘Master’s per Year’ $18,000 to $40,000 £6500 to £11,000 AUD 13,000 to AUD 20,000 $6,000 to $30,000 $18,000 to $22,000
Bachelors per year $12,000 to $40,000 £6000 to £11,000 Diploma $12,000 to $13,000 $10,000 to $28,000 $13,500 to $17,500
No of years 2 years for masters ( 4 semesters)
4 years for bachelors ( 8 semester)
I year for masters ( two semesters) 2 years Masters
3 years Bachelor’s
2 years diploma
2 years for masters 3 to 4 years for Bachelors 1.5 to 2 years for masters
3 years for Bachelors
Part time work 20 hrs per week only [On Campus only in first year] Full time during vacations. 20 hr per week during studies. Fulltime during vacations 20 hr per week during studies. Fulltime during vacations 20 hr per week during studies. Fulltime during vacations 20 hr per week during studies. Fulltime during vacations
Pay for part-time work 8 to 14 $ per hour 6 £-8 £ Per hour $ 16 to $22 Per hour $ 8 to $12 Per hour $ 10 to $14 Per hour
Shared Accommodation weekly cost Most common is shared accommodation
$120 to $150
London 200-250 £ Rest of UK 150-200 £ Most common is shared accommodation
$120 to $150
Most common is shared accommodation $250 – $550 Most common is shared accommodation $250 – $400
Deposit payable for admission confirmation Some universities ask for an 1-20 deposit (for issuing the same)- $ 200 to 1 semester fee. Normally 50% amount of first year tuition fee First semester fees + Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) First semester fees 1 year tuition fee payable after Visa Approval in Principal.

Visa Information:

Visa Information:

USA UK Australia CANADA New Zealand
Visa Application Fee $ 140 £ 289 AUS$ 535 $150 USD $150
AED 810
Interview Mandatory In some Rare Cases In random cases through Telephone In some Rare Cases In some Rare Cases
Time taken for grant  of Visa After Interview Between 7-15 Days 2-3 weeks for SVP, 4-8 weeks for non-SVP 6-10 weeks Positive Profile Category A: 15 days; Positive Profile Category B: 30 days; Other Student Visa Applications: 15 to 18 weeks approximately
Documents Required I-20, Sevis Fee Receipt, HDFC Bar Code, Academics, Financial Documents, Passport, Mandatory Visa forms [DS Forms], Any other relevant Documents Unconditional Offer Letter, Fee receipt, Academics, Financial Documents, Passport, Mandatory Visa Application form , Any other relevant Documents CoE, Academics, Financial Documents, Passport, Mandatory Visa forms, Any other relevant Documents Acceptance Letter, Fee Receipt, Academics, Financial Documents, Passport, Application forms, Supplementary forms, Any other relevant documents Covering Letter with Hand written SOP, Offer of Place and Accommodation Guarantee Letter, Medical Certificate, Police Clearance Certificate, Academics, Financial Documents, Passport, Application forms, Supplementary forms, Any other relevant documents
Visa Chances Depends on the interview Depends on the Interview and if student follows the visa Rules & Regulations Pretty good if student applying under Streamline visa process Pretty good if student follows the visa Rules & Regulations Pretty good if student applying under Streamline visa process

After Studies:

After Studies:

USA UK Australia CANADA New Zealand
Default work-permit 1 Year [OPT] or 29 Months STEM Program No PSW 1.5 Years Post-Graduation Work Permit from 8 month up to 3 years Post-Graduation Work Permit from one year up to 2 years
Permanent
Residency
By getting Green Card [around 5 years] 3-4 Years of Working Status Immediately after studies under General Skilled Migration, Skilled- Independent Overseas Student Visa[Subclass 880] through seeking Permanent Residence (PR) 1 year after working in Canada After receiving full-time employment offer
Citizenship Eligibility 4-5 years after Green Card as a permanent resident After 1 year of Stay in UK as a permanent resident Total of 4 years of presence in Australia out of which 2 years on permanent residence. After 2 years of Stay in Canada as a permanent resident After 5 years of stay in New Zealand as a Permanent Resident
Career Opportunities Really Good in IT, Biotech, Civil & other engineering areas. There is a shortage of skilled manpower in all the above mentioned areas. Areas in Demand are Information Technology, Hospitality, and Engineering etc. Very good but limited to certain occupations in demand. Areas in demand are Engineering, Management, Health Care, Finance, Biological Sciences, Hospitality & Tourism Engineering, Health Care, Architecture, Finance, Agriculture, Biological Sciences
Rules to bring dependants Allowed Dependants are only allowed to join if going for postgraduate qualification in a university Allowed Allowed Allowed
Economy The Largest Economy in the World [Although going through a bit of Recession as of now] Fifth Largest in the world & second largest in Europe. Sixth largest economy in the world One of the world’s wealthiest nations. It is one of the world’s top ten trading nations. Rated as Most Business friendly country by World Bank. Ranked 5th on HDI among English Speaking Nations World-wide.

Admission Tools

Statement of Purpose Guidelines

Statement of Purpose Guidelines

The SOP must focus on forthcoming career plans, reasons for picking a particular course and past study of the applicant. It should give an overview about the applicant&his/her mindset usingqualified English.

This statement forms a vital part of the application and helps the University assess it. It must include:

  • The reason why one wishes to study the chosen subject
  • Any experience one has related to the chosen field.
  • Any employment experience
  • The reasons one wishes to study in the UK
  • Applicant’s ambitions / goals / expectations
  • Personal and other areas of interest (Hobbies, sports, social or leisure)
  • Any other information which can support the application

The SOP should comprise of 350 words approximately & thewriting should be clear and natural. One must do a thorough check over spelling and grammaticalerrors before submitting the application.

In brief, steps are mentioned below that one can use to draft a good statement of purpose. Though it must be noted that these are only guidelines and not intended to throttleone’s creativity. The intention is to provide a sense of direction to the applicant regarding the content required.

Brief Introduction
The first paragraph should consist of the name, personal philosophy/motto, personality description, area of strength &personal interests (hobbies/sports) of the applicant. Acknowledging family as a source of motivation&vital support would add beauty in the SOP.

In addition justifications must be given for taking the spouse or children along or leaving them behind.

Education Background
Academic achievements must be mentioned in chronological order with respective dates. Also the language used in the respective institution (College, University, etc.) must be stated&the projects, researches, internships and training undertaken during the period of study connected to proposed area of education must be included in the application. One must also mention the academic strengths, highlighting achievements and receipt of any awards, rank and scholarships in the relevant field if applicable.
One must justify shifts in education interests, weak academic performance, repeated failures, and consistent low score and breaks in education, if any. If there is a similar course being offered in another country, for instance: India, then onemust elaborate the reasons for not wanting to enroll in India. Concrete and considerable links must be established, between the previous academic background and proposed course of study.

Employment History
In case of pertinent work experience, a connection must be established with the proposed course of study. In the incidents of break/s in employment, one must mention and provide justification for the same. If one is working with the family business, then the scope and application of the proposed course of study in relation to the family’s business interests must be highlighted.

Highlight Purpose for Proposed Course of Study
It is essential to provide the actual reasons for taking the proposed course, appropriately indicating wish to specialize in the particular field as applicable. Also the reasons for choosing UK as well as the particular institution of study must be highlighted.

Career Goals
It is to be explicitly explained why one wants to followthe chosen course of study (including an outline of the course) in the Institution in UK and how its accomplishment can help the applicant in the desired career pathways. This point is absolutely essential and therefore must be presented very clearly.

Remarks must be made on one’s career aspirations, both short-term and long-term and how the UK qualification can help one achieve them. Also the plans upon return to the homeland must be stated, i.e. whether one has a family business to return to or if they wish to join a firm or set up in their business concern. One must remember that their goals should be concrete and genuine, based on sound interpretations.

In Conclusion
Finally one can write how they came to know about the programme at the university they are applying for and any special reasons in choosing the same .The applicant can conclude the application by requesting the Institution to admit him/her into their desired program.

Name of Student:
Signature:
Date:
Statement of Purpose-DO’s & Dont’s

Strategies for success -the personal statement:
The personal statement provides one with the opportunity to distinguish oneself from all the other highly qualified people and is of major significance.

Aneffective Statement of Purpose is a very vital part of the application since it gives the School Admissions Committee the best opportunity to evaluate the full range of the Experience and knowledge one brings in his/her pursuit of a professional degree and the pertinence of their school to one’s objectives. The Statement of Purpose should be concise, well-written essay covering three diverse areas relating to the person:

One must begin with a summary statement of their preparation, then describe their background, education, and community and mention reasons they were attracted to that particular profession. Next comes the brief discussion on the academic preparation (including lab or Research), relevant work, and other experiences, i.e., volunteer work. It must be assured that the reader gets the idea what one has attained from these experiences – what qualities they have developed.

Applicants must further discuss how the school will help them meet their educational and career goals. They must state their skills, strengths, and uniqueness. Though this must be made sure that they adopt a positive tone & not seem contrite. Howeverany majorlapse in the academic record must be justified. The copy must be given to family, friends & career center for proofreading in order to avoid errors.

SOP Do’s & Dont’s

Dont’s:

  • Don’t underestimate the importance of the essay (A very common mistake).
  • Don’t undervalue the length of time it will take to write the statement of Purpose.
  • Don’t have someone else write the SOP! There are ethical issues involved though, but one is the best spokesperson for own self.
  • Don’t list everything that hasbeen done. There is usually a place on the application to list the activities. Avoid giving unnecessary details. The statement should read smoothly.
  • Don’t mention interest for one particular school in a general application that is being sent to many schools and vice a versa.

Do’s:

  • Keep a journal of work and volunteer experience.
  • Get an early start. This cannot be stressed enough.
  • Be honest, consistent and straightforward.
  • Be specific, not general.
  • Be comfortable with the self-image that you’re presenting.
  • Pay attention to detail – absolutely no spelling or grammatical errors.
  • Statement must be neat and error free. No excuses . . . you must make a good impression.
  • A summary of accomplishments first
  • Background information – people and events that influenced your decision.
  • Learning experience(s) serving as a choice for foundation career
  • The source of getting first-hand knowledge of the field
  • Leadership role activities
  • Career objectives and goals
  • Let your personality and individuality come through. Give personal insight on hopes, goals, motivations and dedication. Be interesting and unique. Do not be afraid to let your passion and commitment to a career come through.
  • Take the opportunity to elucidateanything you feel might raise questions (e.g., a weak academic quarter . . . Explain what was going on in your life, if a personal or academic issue posed an effect on you).
  • Be responsible for own background. Don’t discuss or compare yourself to the application standards or other students.
  • Have someone else read your statement but be careful of advice. Get two or three different opinions. Remember, it is your personal statement but other opinions and professional advice can make the difference in gaining acceptance.
  • Write a draft, edit, and re-writes many times as needed.
  • Make the essay look reading-worthy. Follow the guidelines for length, margins, and do not use too small a font. You can squeeze more on a page that way, but readers see hundreds of statements and don’t have time to deal with small font.
  • Keep a photocopy of each essay written. You need to keep a copy of every single piece of your application. It is imperative to have copies of everything, both for own reference before going to an interview and as documentation in case someone else loses or misplaces your application. This has happened to students so it’s better to be cautious. Keep paper copies in addition to disc copies.
  • Read the essay before an interview. Make sure you know what you wrote.
  • Be prepared to discuss and defend essay points during the interview.
  • Schools prefer unique essays so avoid copying any others

Sample Resume

Sample Resume

Junaid Siddiqui
FL-4.14, 2nd Floor, Block-5, Gulshan-e-Iqbal

Karachi, Pakistan
junaid.siddiqui@gmail.com
Tel: (021) 3481 6010

PROFILE:
Accounts student seeking a position as a Trainee Accountant. Reliable, trustworthy, conscientious. Worked for a firm of chartered accountants last summer and gained a good understanding of what is required of an accountant. Able to work on own initiative or as part of a team and can deal with administrative duties competently.

EDUCATION:

  • Bachelor of Commerce, The University of Karachi, Year- 2007,  Second Division.
  • Subjects studied: Business Studies, Computer Studies, Calculus, Financial Mathematics, Auditing.

EXPERIENCE:

Administrative Assistant, Akbar & Sons, 2006

  • Assisted the Senior Partner who was conducting audits on major companies in the area.
  • Handled incoming telephone calls to the Senior Partner from other companies and members of the public.
  • Organized and maintained the Senior Partner’s filing system.
  • Typed reports on an IBM Compatible PC using the WordPerfect word-processor.
  • Devised a new filing system to maintain the files held by the department.
  • Solved users PC problems including sorting out spreadsheets, explaining how to use complex features in word-processing packages.

Coordinator, Memon Community Center, 2005

  • Organized a local advertising drive that increased the number of elderly people coming to the center by 20%.
  • Organized games for people attending in the afternoons.
  • Escorted some of the elderly people to and from the center.

COMPUTER SKILLS:

  • Microsoft Windows XP, Microsoft Office XP (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access).

Awards and accomplishment: (if any)
Professional memberships: (if any)

INTERESTS:
• Interests at university included organizing a charity quiz, which raised RS 15000. Movies and theater.

Academic Recommendation Letter

Academic Recommendation Letter

General Recommendation Letter:
Guidelines for Writing Recommendations for Academic Graduate School
The recommendation letter should clearly state the time period for which the person has known the applicant and in what way.

A recommendation that comes from professors who know the applicant and his/her academic work is of special interest and priority for Graduate schools, closely followed by recommendations from employers. Graduate schools are give more importance to faculty members’ summary estimates of the candidate’s general promise as a graduate student.

Higher number of recommendations reflects factual knowledge of the applicant and his/her performance. Hence, the more positive the letter is to the graduate school admissions committees the better advantage for the applicant.

Key Features of a Recommendation Letter:

  • Intellectual characteristics: How is the applicant being rated in overall intellect? What is the grasping power of the applicant, in terms of acquiring and retaining information? What are the applicant’s skill in analysis and logic? How does the applicant approach conceptually to deal with a complex problem? Is the applicant creative? Does the candidate show evidence of creativity? Have factors such as work, unusual circumstances, social or academic background affected the applicant’s academic record?
  • Knowledge of field of study: What is the level of applicant’s knowledge in his chosen field of study? Is he/she aware of methods in the field of study? Do they have any prior experience in research? Does the applicant have the mandatory laboratory techniques?
  • Ability to communicate: Is the candidate good in effective writing skills? Does the written work submitted reflect a mastery of the convention of English? Is the written material clear, well-organized and persuasive? Is there fluidity of expression in Oral communication?
  • Industry and self-discipline: Is the applicant consistent, efficient and motivated? Does the applicant possess the ability to work independently? Are there any reasons to question the integrity of the student towards his/her commitment to education?
  • Personal effectiveness: Is the applicant mature enough? What about the ability to adjust to surroundings? Would the recommender choose the applicant for graduate study under his/her auspices? Is the contender reliable enough to enjoy the trust and respect of fellow students?
  • Potential for graduate study: What is the projected forecast of the recommends concerning the applicant’s possible performance in graduate school?

English Language Proficiency

English Language Proficiency

IELTS
This test is for people who intend to study or work where English is the language of communication. It measures ability to communicate in English across all four language skills – listening, reading, writing and speaking. IELTS is jointly managed by British Council, IDP: IELTS Australia and the University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations (Cambridge ESOL) through more than 350 locations in 120 countries.

Why IELTS
It opens doors for you to more than 2000 educational institutions, government agencies and professional organizations across 120 countries where IELTS scores are recognized as a trusted and valid explaination of ability to communicate in English. IELTS is an English Language skill test that is required to be taken by non-native students for study in countries where the medium of instruction is English. Among the popular study destinations IELTS is accepted by universities in UK, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and USA.

Types of IELTS Tests
IELTS is offered as 2 types of tests. One, General Test, that is required to be taken by applicants who wish to seek permanent residence or employment in countries like Australia. Two, the Academic Test, to be taken by students who wish to Study Abroad.

Test Fees
Fees for IELTS Academic Test is Rs. 15,000/- for The Australian Education Council Test or Rs. 14,000/- for British Council Test. For additional score reporting, students have to pay Rs. 1,000/- per university, if the report has been sent by courier.

IELTS Test Structure

Listening:-
Duration and format
The Listening Module takes around 30 – 35 minutes. There are40 questions. There are four sections. The Listening Module is recorded on a CD and is played ONCE only. During the test, time is given for candidates to read the questions and write down and check their answers. Answers are written on the Question Paper as candidates listen. When the recording ends ten minutes are allowed for candidates to transfer their answers to an Answer Sheet.

Marking and Assessment
One mark is awarded for each correct answer in the 40 item test. A private band score conversion table is produced for each version of the Listening Module, which translates scores out of 40 into the IELTS 9-band scale. Scores are reported as a whole band or a half band. Care should be taken when writing answers on the Answer Sheet as poor spelling and grammar are penalized.

Reading:-
Duration and format
The Reading Module takes 60 minutes. There are 40 questions, based on three reading passages with a total of 2,000 to 2,750 words. Texts and questions appear on a Question Paper which candidates can write on but not remove from the test room. All answers must be entered on an Answer Sheet during the 60-minute test. No extra time is allowed to transfer answers.

Marking and Assessment
One mark is awarded for each correct answer in the 40 item test. A Band Score conversion table is produced for each version of the Reading Module which translates scores out of 40 into the IELTS 9-band scale. Scores are reported as a whole band or a half band. Care should be taken when writing answers on the Answer Sheet as poor spelling and grammar are penalized.

Writing:-
Duration and format
The Writing Module takes 60 minutes. There are two tasks to complete. It is suggested that about 20 minutes is spent on Task 1 which requires candidates to write at least 150 words. Task 2 requires at least 250 words and should take about 40 minutes. Candidates may write on the Question Paper but this cannot be taken from the test room and will not be seen by the examiner. Answers must be given on the Answer Sheet and must be written in full. Notes are not acceptable as answers.

Marking and Assessment
Each task is assessed independently. The assessment of Task 2 carries more weight in marking than Task 1.
Writing scripts are marked by trained and certificated IELTS examiners. IELTS examiners all hold relevant teaching qualifications and are recruited as examiners by the test centres and approved by British Council or IDP: IELTS Australia. Scores are currently reported as whole bands. Detailed performance descriptors have been developed which describe written performance at the 9 IELTS bands. These descriptors are confidential and apply to both the Academic and General Training Modules.

  • Task 1 scripts are assessed on the following criteria:
  • Task Achievement
  • Coherence and Cohesion
  • Lexical Resource
  • Grammatical Range and Accuracy
  • Task 2 scripts are assessed on the following criteria:
  • Task Response
  • Coherence and cohesion
  • Lexical Resource
  • Grammatical Range and Accuracy
  • Scripts under the required minimum word limit will be penalized.

Speaking:-
Duration and Format
The Speaking Module takes between 11 and 14 minutes and consists of an oral interview between the candidate and an examiner. All interviews are recorded. The overall structure of the test is summarized below.
There are three main parts. Each part fulfils a specific function in terms of interaction pattern, task input and candidate output.
In Part 1 candidate answers general questions about themselves, their homes/families, their jobs/studies, their interests, and a range of familiar topic areas. This part lasts between four and five minutes.
In Part 2 the candidate is given a verbal prompt on a card and is asked to talk on a particular topic. The candidate has one minute to prepare before speaking at length, for between one and two minutes. The examiner then asks one or two rounding-off questions.
In Part 3 the examiner and candidate engage in a discussion of more abstract issues and concepts which are thematically linked to the topic prompt in Part 2. The discussion lasts between four and five minutes.
The Speaking Module assesses how effectively candidates can communicate in English.

Part Nature of interaction Timing
Part 1: Introduction: Examiner introduces himself/herself and confirms candidate’s identity. Examiner interviews candidate using verbal questions selected from familiar topic frames.
Part 2:Individual Long Turn: Examiner asks candidate to speak for 1–2 minutes on a particular topic. Preparation time of 1 minute is given to make notes. Examiner asks one or two questions to round off the long turn.
Part 3:Two-way Discussion: Examiner invites candidate to participate in discussion of a more abstract nature, based on verbal questions thematically linked to Part 2 topic.

Tips & Strategies
IELTS exam involves technicalities, you must prepare for IELTS exam like any other exam even you have mastery over usage of English. On one hand, the fee for IELTS test is high. A person who achieves a low band score in IELTS has to wait for a month before he or she can appear for the test again. Thus, even you have a good level of English, you must prepare for at least 2-3 weeks for IELTS exam.

TEST OF ENGLISH AS A FOREIGN LANGUAGE (TOEFL)

Overview:
Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) is a compulsory English test conducted for every student from non-English speaking country looking for overseas education in English speaking countries like, USA, UK, etc. It is a test conducted for assessing the fundamental abilities in English and is accepted by over 6000 colleges and universities in 110 countries. This is over 3 times the number of any other English-language skill test. The test is administered in 180 countries at more than 1275 test sites. A TOEFL score is valid for two years and then is deleted from the official database. The maximum score for Internet based TOEFL (Computer Based TOEFL) is 120.

Why TOEFL test?
Performing TOEFL test provides several benefits that help you to assists for your abroad education. Some of them are:

  • Regardless to the place where you want to study, TOEFL test enables you to reach your desired goal. Depending on the test score will be eligible for getting admission in college or university in the world.
  • There is much flexibility in performing a TOEFL test whenever you want to take. You will be offered practice tools and feedback, and more alternatives to study abroad than any other English-language test in the world
  • TOEFL enables you various services such as, listening to lectures, view films, attend seminars, read textbooks, perform online research, speak with professors and other students, write academic papers, reports, e-mails and more

Test Modules
TOEFL test consists of four distinct modules, each determining the essential language skill that is used in the atmosphere of the academic.

Reading
This module determines the ability of understanding intellectual reading issues. The Reading module consists of 3-5 comprehensive passages (long passages and questions asked about them). They are chosen from the academic topics, which are found in student university textbooks.

Listening
This module determines the ability of understanding the English since it is used in the colleges and universities. Listening module consists of 6 comprehensive passages, two passages will be the conversations of the students and the other four will be academic lectures or discussions. Students have to understand the conversations and answer for the passage questions.

Speaking
This module determines the ability of speaking in English. Speaking module consists of 6 tasks, two independent tasks and four integrated tasks. In the independent tasks, students have to answer opinion questions concerning to the academic life. In two of the included tasks, students have to read a passage, listen to a passage and speak about how the ideas in the two passages are related. In the other two integrated tasks, students have to listen to long passages, review them and speak about the information in the passages.

Writing
This module determines the ability of writing that is relevant for colleges and universities assignments. This module consists of two tasks, one independent task where students have to read an academic passage, listen to an academic passage and write their reviews about the two passages. Another is the included task where students have to write an own essay.

Structure of the TOEFL iBT Test

Section Description Testing Time Questions Score Scale
Reading 3-5 passages from academic texts; approximately 700 words long; 12-14 questions per passage. 60-100 minutes 36-70 questions 0-30
Listening 4-6 lectures, some with classroom discussion; each
3-5 minutes long; 6 questions each. 2-3 conversations; each 3 minutes long; 5 questions each.
60-90 minutes 34-51 questions 0-30
Break 10 minutes
Speaking 2 tasks to express an opinion on a familiar topic;
4 tasks to speak based on what is read and listened to.
20 minutes 6 tasks 0-4 points converted to 0-30 score scale
Writing 1 task to write based on what is read and listened to; 1 task to support an opinion on a topic. 50 minutes 2 tasks 0-5 points converted to 0-30 score scale
Total Score 0-120

Variations in Different TOEFL Tests iBT / CBT / PBT

Post Secondary Level TOEFL @ iBT
Maximum Score 120
Graduate Programs 100
Maximum Undergraduate 92
Minimum Undergraduate 86
College 80
Community College 61
Fee $ 165
Additional Score Reporting Fee $ 17
Time Length 4:30 hrs

PTE ACADEMIC OVERVIEW

The Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE Academic) is an English Language test designed to assess the willingness of non-native English speakers to participate in a university-level English language instruction program. PTE Academic is accepted by universities in USA, UK, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, amongst others.

It was created by Pearson Language Tests part of the Pearson PLC group and endorsed by GMAC® (Graduate Management Admission Council), owners of GMAT® (Graduate Management Admission Test).

It is a computer-based exam which focuses on real-life English used in academic surroundings. Throughout the test, students will listen to a variety of accents and academic language encountered at higher education institutions in English speaking countries.

Test Fees
In Pakistan the registration fees for PTE Academic Test is Rs. 14,800./-. The test scores can be sent to any number of institutions for free.

TEST MODULES

SPEAKING and WRITING – These modules assess all communications skills of a test taker.

Module includes:

  • Reading a Text Aloud
  • Repeating a sentence
  • Describing an Image
  • Re-telling a Lecture
  • Answering short questions
  • Summarizing a text
  • Writing an essay

READING – This module assesses reading skills of the test taker.

Module includes:

  • Reading Comprehension
  • Re-ordering Paragraphs
  • Filling Blanks in a text

LISTENING– This module assesses listening of the test taker.

Module includes:

  • Summarizing spoken text
  • Multiple Choice Questions based on recording
  • Fill blanks in a transcript based on recording
  • Writing a dictation.

PTE ACADEMIC STRUCTURE
The test is administered in a single 3 hours test session. The test is divided into 3 timed sections, 1 short un-timed introduction and an optional 10 minute break.

Part

Time Allowed

Introduction Un-timed
Speaking and Writing 77-93 minutes
Reading 32-41 minutes
Optional Break 10 minutes
Listening 45-57 minutes

Test Scores
Test Scores are available online usually within 5 business days from taking the test. Test taker can report scores to any number of institutions for free. Selected institutions can retrieve scores online usually within 48 hours.

Aptitude Tests

Aptitude Tests

GMAT

It is a computer based standardized test that assesses the aptitude abilities in a person for accomplishing the academic of business curriculum. Students from different backgrounds belonging to different countries in the world can take the GMAT test. This test is a decisive part for admissions in more than 4000 graduate programs in 1800 schools around the world. Presently, several leading Business Schools in India also require GMAT scores for admission.

Test Modules
The GMAT test consists of following three modules that determines fundamental verbal, mathematical and analytical writing skills in the test taker. The maximum score for GMAT is 800 and the mean score is 533 in 2005-06. The test score is valid for 5 years.

  • Analytical Writing Assessment (AWA)
    In this module test taker has to prevail two writing tasks, Analysis of an Issue and Analysis of an Argument. The maximum time limit will be 30 minutes for writing each essay. The range of test score in AWA range from 0-60 points, representing the average ratings of two essays.
  • Quantitative section
    This module consists of 37 multiple choice questions, which has to be completed within 75 minutes. The test evaluates the competence of arithmetic, elementary algebra, and common geometry which are categorized into two types of tasks: Data Sufficiency and Problem Solving. The range of test score in Quantitative section range from 0-60 points
  • Verbal section
    This module consists of 41 multiple choice questions, which are categorized into three tasks – reading comprehension, critical reasoning, and sentence correction. The maximum time limit for completing this module is of 75 minutes. The range of test score in verbal section range from 0-60 points. Moreover, there will be few pretest questions (they are not scored) assorted in verbal and quantitative sections, which cannot be identified. Therefore you have to answer all the questions in the test.
  • Maximum Time Limit : 3 hours and 45 mts
  • Maximum Test Score : 800
  • Mean Score (2005-06) : 533
  • Test Fee : U.S. $ 250 Worldwide
  • Additional Test score Reporting

Structure of the GMAT Test

Modules

Number of Questions

Time Limit

Analytical Writing

Analysis of an Argument (30 minutes)
Analysis of an Issue (30 minutes)

2 Essays

60 Minutes

Optional 5 Minutes Break

Quantitative Section

Problem Solving (23 to 24 questions)
Data Sufficiency (13 to 14 questions)

37

45 Minutes

Optional 5 Minutes Break

Verbal Section

Critical Reasoning (14-15 questions)
Sentence Correction (14-15 questions)
Reading Comprehension
(4passages with 12-14 questions)

41

75 Minutes

GMAT Changes
With an addition of 300 new questions (within the question bank) in two of the three sections of GMAT, the test has become tougher for students to crack. Altogether about 33% questions have been added, which brings in a change of more than one third to the test. These changes have been announced in May 2009.

Following are the changes made:
Verbal Section:
Sentence Correction type – More questions emphasizing on pronoun and modifier rules. Lesser focus on comparisons and idioms-related questions. A total of 57 new questions have been added to the question bank.
Reading Comprehension type – Two Biology related passages have been replaced with one on Social Science and the other on Business.43 questions have been introduced.
Critical Reading type – 50 old questions have been replaced with 50 new questions.

Quantitative Section:
Problem Solving type – 19 questions have been removed in this section and 56 questions have been added.
Data Sufficiency type – Reduction of questions related to fractions, decimals and percentages. Questions related to Algebra have also been reduced. Also, 75 old problems have been replaced with 94 new problems in the question bank.
Data Sufficiency question type within this test has got more new questions introduced than other sections.

No changes have been made to the Analytical Written Assessment (AWA) Section.

GRE

The GRE General Test measures verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, critical thinking, and analytical writing skills that have been acquired over a long period of time and that are not related to any specific field of study. The GRE General Test is required by many graduate and professional schools in the U.S and is an important criterion for admission to their graduate programmes. Applicants must submit their GRE scores together with certain other records/requirements as part of the process of admission to graduate schools. The GRE is administered by Educational Testing Services (ETS). ETS is responsible for conducting the GRE test under the guidance of the college education board of the U.S. GRE is a multiple-choice Computer Adaptive test and it is a mandatory for students seeking Masters Degree or PhD degrees in the USA for most of the Universities.

Test pattern

  • Verbal section
    The skills measured include the test taker’s ability to analyze and evaluate written material and synthesize information obtained from it analyze relationships among component parts of sentences recognize relationships between words and concepts.
  • 30 questions in 30 mins
  • Score range: 200 – 800 Analogies, Antonyms, Sentence Completion, Reading Comprehension
  • Quantitative Section
    The skills measured include the test taker’s ability to understand basic concepts of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, and data analysis reason quantitatively solve problems in a quantitative setting
  • 28 questions in 45 mins
  • Score range: 200 – 800
  • Quantitative Comparison, Discrete Math, Data Interpretation
  • Analytical Writing Assessment (AWA)
    The skills measured include the test taker’s ability to articulate complex ideas clearly and effectively examine claims and accompanying evidence support ideas with relevant reasons and examples sustain a well-focused, coherent discussion control the elements of standard written English
  • 2 essays
  • Analysis of an Issue (45 mins.)
  • Analysis of an Argument (30 mins.)

Total score range for the test: 400 – 1600 (Verbal + Quantitative); 0 – 6 (AWA)

The GRE scores are technically valid for five years However, most of the top universities do not consider scores more than two years old .Being a Computer Adaptive Test, it is conducted throughout the year, on all weekdays you can register for the test online at www.gre.org OR by post/ telephone/ fax.

Test fees is US$180 This includes reporting your scores to 4 universities of your choice, on the day of the test If you want to report your scores to additional universities (or if you do not report your scores to any university on your test day, and would like to do so later), the fee is US$20 per university.

The GRE is a computer-adaptive test, which means your performance on previous questions determines which question you’ll be asked next. The change to GRE has been cancelled.

Computer Adaptive Test
The GRE Test is a CAT (Computer Adaptive Test). This means that the computer adapts the level of the questions to the test-taker’s ability. Initially questions of medium difficulty level are administered to test – taker. If he / she answers these questions correctly, a more difficult question is given. Otherwise, an easier question is administered. So, at every stage, the computer tailors the test to the examinee’s level. In this examination, the score depends both on the number of questions attempted and the number of correct responses.

Some points which you must know about the Computer Adaptive Test

  • In verbal section each question has five answer choices and you must select one choice as your answer
  • In the quantitative ability section each problem solving and data interpretation question has five answer choices. However, quantitative comparison questions have only 4 answer choices.
  • Only one question appears at a time. To move to the next question, you have to mark an answer to the question that is currently on your screen
  • Once you have confirmed your answer to a question you can’t go back to a question and change your answer
  • The questions are graded into 5 categories ranging from the easy to the hard category
  • More points are awarded for getting the harder questions right
  • You are penalized for not completing the test. Hence, your score depends on your accuracy, the difficulty level of the questions and the number of questions you attempted. At the beginning of the test, every candidate gets a question of average difficulty level (level 2 or 3)
  • Questions in the verbal and the quantitative sections need not always be administered in groups. For example, if the first question that appears in the verbal section is an antonym, then you need not necessarily get a series of questions on antonyms alone. Two questions on antonyms may be followed by one question on analogies, followed by one on sentence completion. In other words, questions can appear in any particular order. Similarly, in the quantitative section, one question on problem solving may be followed by one question on quantitative comparison. This may be followed by one question on problem solving. Hence, the type of question that will come next cannot be predicted

SAT

Scholastic Aptitude Test
SAT (Scholastic Aptitude Test/ SAT-I) is a precondition Reasoning Test conducted for the admissions of undergraduate programs in United States. It is a 3 hour test that determines the skill of the students in verbal, mathematical and reasoning skills that are required to evaluate the skills needed to complete the academic successfully. The test is administered several times a year. Many universities also require SAT-II test score along with the SAT-I score for admission. Every year around 2 million students take SAT. Many colleges and universities finds SAT as a more credible test for predicting the student’s skill. The test scores are valid up to 5 years of the test date.

Test Modules in SAT
Typically, SAT logic test are categorized into three major sections, Critical Reading, Writing and Mathematics, with a total of 10 sub-sections including a dummy section. These sections are discussed below:

Critical Reading
SAT exam begins with Critical reading questions that determine various reading comprehension skills. It includes two 25-minute sections and one 20-minute section with 48 reading comprehension questions and 19 sentence completion questions. The scores are scaled on a 200-800 point scale with the total time limit of 70 minutes. This module consists of the following subsections:

  • Sentence Completion: It measures the vocabulary of the applicants and understanding the sentence structure i.e., how the different parts of a sentence fit logically together. Here each sentence has one or two blank space which has to be filled correctly with the given multiple choices
  • Passage-based Reading: This section comprises of two types of passage reading, Vocabulary in Context and Literal Comprehension. It measures the reading abilities of the students and thinking carefully about different passages ranging from 100 to 850 words approximately. These passages will be extracted from a variety of fields like, humanities, social studies, natural sciences, and literary fiction

Writing Section
The writing section of SAT is based on the old SAT-II subject test in writing. The total time limit of writing section is 60 minutes. It includes multiple choice questions and a brief essay. The essay score accounts to be around 30% of the writing score and the multiple choice component accounts to be around 70%.
The multiple choice questions include, Error Identification, Sentence Improvement questions that tests for grammar knowledge and Paragraph Improvement questions that test for student’s understanding of logical organization of ideas.
The essay section is administered as the first part of the test, which has 25 minutes of time limit. They have to be written in response to the specified prompt, which are typically thoughtful and are designed to be accessible to students despite of their educational and social backgrounds.

Mathematics Section
This section is also known as Quantitative Section determines important skills like, estimation and number sense using multiple choice questions and student response questions. Mathematics section includes topics like, exponential growth, absolute value, and functional notation. It consisting of three scored sections:

  • A 25 minutes section – It contains 20 multiple choice (problem solving) questions to be completed in 25 minutes
  • Another 25-minute section – It contains 8 multiple choice (problem solving) questions and 10 grid-in questions, within the time limit of 25 minutes
  • A shorter section of 16 multiple choice (problem solving) questions to be completed in 20 minutes of time

In addition there will be a dummy section formally called as Variable or Equation section with the time limitation of 20 minutes. However this section does not count towards the individual score and they cannot be recognized in the test so as to not skipping those questions. They are only used for the future edition of SAT

Structure of SAT Test
Sections Mathematics Section Critical Reading Section Writing Section
Time 70 Minutes 70 Minutes 60 minutes
Sections 25-min. sections (2) &
20-min. section (1)
25-min. sections (2) &
20-min. section (1)
Multiple Choices – 35 min. &
Essays section – 25 min
Content – Number & operations;
– Algebra & Functions;
– Geometry;
– Statistics,
– Probability, &
– Data Analysis
– Critical Reading
– Reading comprehension,
– Sentence completions, & paragraph-length
Grammar, usage, and word choice
Marks 800 800 800

The three parts of SAT are scored separately as reading score, a writing score, and a math score that range from 200 to 800 each. The average score of each section will be about 500. This average score is acceptable by almost all the colleges and universities. Yet few top colleges/universities expect for above average SAT scores of above 2100, which would puts in the 90 percentile.

A good SAT score will certainly increase your chances of secure admission in better colleges/universities. Your SAT subject score is measured on a scale of 200 to 800. Usually a SAT score of about 500 in every section (Mathematics, Writing and Critical Reading) is considered as a good score to get admission in good colleges/universities.

Below table gives the requirements of SAT score for some popular colleges

College SAT Math SAT Critical Reading SAT Writing
Auburn (Main Campus)

520 – 630

500 – 610

510 – 620

Carleton

660 – 740

670 – 750

640 – 740

Duke

690 – 790

690 – 770

680 – 780

Harvard

700 – 790

690 – 800

690 – 780

Middlebury

640 – 740

630 – 740

630 – 740

Pomona

680 – 760

690 – 760

680 – 760

Stanford

680 – 780

660 – 760

670 – 770

UCLA

610 – 720

570 – 680

580 – 690

MIT, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

720 – 800

660 – 760

660 – 750

With this Information, you will be able to analyze the requirement of SAT score in your preferred colleges. Good SAT score even helps in seeking scholarships and financial aids for the entire study program