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Standardized Testing at TASIS
Standardized Test Information
University Entrance Exams
Prior to signing up for any of the university entrance exams, TASIS recommends you review the TASIS Standardized Testing Plan on the second tab and speak with your College Counselor to learn more about what tests are required by your potential universities, as well as an appropriate testing schedule based on your grade level and application cycle. If you are unsure who your College Counselor is, please email college@tasis.ch.
ACT
ACT
The ACT is a standardized test used for college admissions in the United States. It is currently administered by the ACT, a nonprofit organization of the same name. The ACT test covers four academic skill areas: English, mathematics, reading, and scientific reasoning. It also offers an optional direct writing test. ACT has rolling registration for the current academic year.
Note: As of Fall 2024, TASIS will no longer administer the ACT exam on campus. Students who need to take this exam can work with their College Counselor or the TASIS Test Coordinator to find a different ACT test center in the area.
More information about the ACT may be found at www.act.org. Students are responsible for registering for the exam through the same website no less than four weeks before the test date. A credit card is required to register.
PSAT
PSAT
The Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test is a standardized test administered by the College Board and cosponsored by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation in the United States.
This test is not required by any universities for admission; it is optional at TASIS.
24-25 Administration Date:
October 26, 2024
Registration deadline: September 23, 2024
SAT
SAT
The SAT is a standardized test widely used for college admissions in the United States. There are two sections to the test: Evidence-Based Reading and Writing, and Math. As of June 2021, the SAT no longer offers SAT Subject tests or the optional essay section of the SAT.
More information about the SAT may be found at www.collegeboard.org. Students are responsible for registering for the exam through the same website at least four weeks prior to the test date. A credit card is required to register.
Registration for the SAT opens approximately six weeks prior to the exam date. Our test center will appear full until that time. Please note TASIS is a public SAT test center so you must register early as space is very limited.
24-25 Administration Dates:
October 5, 2024 (Digital SAT)
Registration opens: August 22, 2024
Registration deadline: September 20, 2024
December 7, 2024 (Digital SAT)
Registration opens: October 24, 2024
Registration deadline: November 22, 2024
May 3, 2025 (Digital SAT)
Registration opens: March 20, 2025
Registration deadline: April 18, 2025
Note: TASIS will not administer the March 8 Digital SAT as the School will be returning from Academic Travel on this day. Students wishing to take the March Digital SAT should register at another test center through the Collegeboard website.
English Proficiency Exams
FOR STUDENTS FOR WHOM ENGLISH IS NOT THEIR FIRST LANGUAGE: We recommend that you take the Duolingo or IELTS English placement tests.
Duolingo
The Duolingo English Test is an inexpensive and flexible way to either meet this requirement at many universities, but also tell you if you need to improve your English fluency before next year. It costs about 50 francs and can be taken on your laptop in your room.
IELTS
The International English Language Testing System is for study, migration, or work, for UK universities specifically. Your ability to listen, read, write and speak in English will be assessed during the test. IELTS is graded on a scale of 1-9. This test is required by the United Kingdom for non-native English speaking university foreign applicants.
More information can be found here.
Students applying for a foundation course in the UK may be required to sit for the IELTS UKIV for the Tier IV visa, and this test is not offered at TASIS. You can register for that test here.
TOEFL
TOEFL is the Test of English as a Foreign Language that is accepted by some universities, but given it is not accepted in the UK for visa purposes, the College Counseling Department recommends students sit for an IELTS test instead of a TOEFL. There is no need to sit both exams.
Please note:
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TOEFL is no longer administered at TASIS. However, there are numerous testing sites in Milan and other parts of Switzerland. Register here.
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Currently TOEFL results are not accepted by UK Immigration authorities for the purpose of obtaining a study visa. Non-UK students interested in studying in the UK may be told by universities that they will need to take the IELTS after submitting applications.
Suggested Testing Plan for Grades 9–12
Notes for 2024-2025 School Year
All students planning to take an SAT are encouraged to enroll in the SAT test preparation course being offered on the TASIS campus in September. Details and registration are available here.
Additionally, please note that there will only be three SAT Administrations on the TASIS campus this year due to conflicts with SAT test dates and the TASIS Academic Calendar. Please see the Administration Dates tab for those details. Students wishing to take the SAT on other dates may register at other test centers if their schedule permits.
It is the recommendation of the TASIS College Counseling Office that every college/university-bound student take a free SAT practice test (available in the Bluebook App online) and a free ACT practice test to determine which test they prefer, and then focus on preparing for either the ACT or the SAT exam (not both). These tests may be used at many universities, world-wide in the admission process. TASIS is a test center for the SAT exam, but TASIS is not a test center for the ACT exam.
Students who have taken the tests will decide, with the help of their college counselor, if it is to their advantage to submit the score report of the ACT and/or the SAT. Students are responsible for researching the standardized test requirements for the colleges/universities to which they plan to apply. It is essential that students confirm the testing requirements for each school to which they are applying.
Additionally, international students (non-US passport holders) applying to US colleges or university programs taught in English may be required to submit IELTS (International English Language Testing Systems) or Duolingo scores if English is not the primary language. Students from non-EEA countries planning to study at a foundation course in the United Kingdom will need to submit a qualifying IELTS Tier IV score to receive a student visa. Please refer to the bottom of this page for more information regarding English Proficiency Testing.
The following provides a suggested plan in order to take advantage of all the standardized testing options available at TASIS to complete the college application process.
Grade 12 Students
September: All students planning to take an SAT are encouraged to do test preparation on their own, or to enroll in the SAT test preparation course being offered on the TASIS campus in September 2024. Details and registration are available here: https://www.testtakers-sg.com/tasis-satprep
October: Students applying to a US university or students applying to IE, Bocconi University should make sure they have taken at least one ACT or SAT before November 1st. In some cases, UK applicants applying with AP scores may be encouraged to take an SAT; please discuss this with your College Counselor. Early decision/ early action applicants to the US must complete their testing before November 1st.
- Students wishing to take the SAT should register for the October 5th SAT (www.collegeboard.org) - administered on campus
- Students wishing to take the ACT should register for the October ACT (www.actstudent.org) - administered off campus
December: Students wishing to retake the SAT should register for the December 7th SAT (www.collegeboard.org). This test date is fine for regular decision applications at most US universities, and for any university with a deadline of January 1st or later.
Students who have not attended TASIS for more than four years or who are enrolled in our EAL program should sit an English proficiency test before November 1st. We recommend either the IELTS exam (offered at USI) or the Duolingo English Exam.
Grade 11 Students
All students considering an application to a US university, Bocconi or IE university are encouraged to sit at least one ACT or SAT exam in Grade 11. Students planning to apply to universities outside of the US who are not full IB diploma candidates are also encouraged to sit an ACT or SAT exam in Grade 11 as these tests may be used as an entry requirement with AP courses or a High School Transcript.
For students planning to take an SAT, we encourage students to take the December or May SAT exam. The March exam will not be administered at TASIS as the test date conflicts with TASIS Academic Travel.
September: All students planning to take an SAT are encouraged to do test preparation on their own, or to enroll in the SAT test preparation course being offered on the TASIS campus in September 2024. Details and registration are available here: https://www.testtakers-sg.com/tasis-satprep
October:
- Optional PSAT on Saturday, October 26th (this is the qualifying test for the National Merit Scholarship Competition for US citizens/ Green Card holders in the Grade 11).
- Students wishing to take the SAT should register for the October 5th SAT (www.collegeboard.org) - administered on campus
- Students wishing to take the ACT should register for the October ACT (www.actstudent.org) - not administered on campus
December:
- Students wishing to take the SAT should register for the December 7th SAT (www.collegeboard.org) - administered on campus
March - please note that the March SAT conflicts with Academic Travel and students will not be able to sit this exam at TASIS.
February/April:
- Students wishing to take the ACT can register for the February or April exam (www.actstudent.org) - not administered on campus
May:
- Students wishing to take the SAT should register for the May 3rd SAT (www.collegeboard.org) - administered on campus
June:
- Students wishing to take the ACT can register for the February or April exam (www.actstudent.org) - not administered on campus
TASIS recommends that all Grade 11 students for whom English is not a primary language sit a Duolingo test before Grade 12 (https://englishtest.duolingo.com/).
Registration for each test opens at varying times based on the exam. Please check your specific test date on our website for more exact information regarding the registration date and deadline.
Grade 10 Students
No testing is recommended in Grade 10, but there is an optional PSAT test available in October.
October: Optional PSAT on Saturday, October 26 (this is the qualifying test for the National Merit Scholarship Competition for US citizens/Green Card holders in the Grade 11).
Grade 9 Students
No testing is recommended in Grade 9.
Test Preparation
Standardized Test Preparation
All students planning to take an SAT are encouraged to enroll in the SAT test preparation course being offered on the TASIS campus in September 2024. Details and registration are available here: https://www.testtakers-sg.com/tasis-satprep.
Additional Test Prep Options:
- ACT Test Prep
- Khan Academy (Free SAT Prep through the CollegeBoard)