Test availability in Singapore is still a major issue for many students. If you go to a school that is a "closed" SAT test center, then lucky you. These schools administer the test only to present or past students. If you don't go to these schools then seats are absurdly limited and at present the earliest reliably available date is March 12, 2022. Large local Singaporean system schools used to take up the lion's share of the demand for the SAT, but these schools are currently not acting as test centers due to Covid-related restrictions. Until these schools open up again, this situation will not improve. If you are stuck not being able to take the test, don't despair! Universities can't require that you take a test that you can't access and nearly every one of them is formally test optional for those applying to start in August 2022. Take a few deep breaths and talk with your university counseling team at your school or contact us if your school doesn't have one.
In the past, there was an option available for letting "College Board find you a place" for the SAT. This allowed College Board to vet testers and prioritize those that are bone fide Singapore residents for places. Otherwise all the spots were historically taken by students from China who are unable to take the test there. The registration platform has been "upgraded" in the last 4 months and this option seems to be no longer available. College Board as an organization is focused on the domestic American market (where the real money is) and phone calls to the customer service lines or pleading emails will sadly probably be a waste of time. So, get your spot for March or May 2022 now! If you are applying this year to start in 2022, not having a test score shouldn't hurt you, so concentrate on other areas of your application.
What about the ACT? The test is listed as available on the registration website with a number of options through Spring of 2022. This test is now taken exclusively on a computer in an authorised test center but we have profound concerns that what is listed on the website doesn't match up with reality. There are some test centers in the region listed on the website as available that we know aren't going to be open for months to come. So, have a try if you feel lucky but don't worry or stress if the test doesn't actually happen. We are operating in a world of modest hopes and low expectations. Your grades in school have always been the most important part of your application and is where you should be focused.
December 2020 FAQ Answered!
How do I get a seat to take the SAT test in Singapore?
If you attend a school that is a closed test center (you know who you are), then get the secret test center number from your school and register via the College Board website. If you do not, then things get a bit more complicated.
In normal times the bulk of the openly available seats to take the SAT in Singapore were supplied by local MOE schools with large capacity such as ACJC and VJC. There are presently restrictions from these schools administering the test and hence a major mis-match in supply/demand for seats. We anticipate that when we move to "Stage Four" then things will open up and these centers will again open up. When this happens, students who are on the official College Board wait list will be first in line. You get on this list by letting "College Board find me a place" during the registration.
No amount of emails or calls to College Board in New York will be of any use. If you can't test, don't worry about it. (see below)
What if I can't get a seat to take the SAT?
Note that this test availability problem is hardly unique to Singapore and kids all over the world (including large swaths of America) are not able to test. As a result, all American schools are now test optional at the very least and you will not have to submit scores. If you do not submit scores, this will not hurt your application. Chartering a speedboat to try to get a to a test center in Batam or Johor is completely crazy town.
What about the ACT, should I take that in April/June?
As reported earlier, the ACT gave up on international by cancelling international tests until April 2021 and firing all the international staff. Presently there are places notionally available in Singapore for the June test administration but we doubt that these will be fully open. Try to take the SAT instead, the ACT is even more of a mess at present.
What does "Test Optional" mean?
It means that the SAT/ACT test scores are OPTIONAL and you do not have to submit them, especially if you can't take the test! Universities will use other parts of your application in lieu of test scores.
Should I still submit test scores?
If the university is test optional (U. California legally can't even look at scores now!), and your test scores are solid, then go ahead and submit test scores. If your test scores are poor relative to the rest of your application, then no need to send them.
Will it hurt my chances if I do not submit scores?
No, schools are test optional, see above. Universities need students and will be making it easier, not harder.
Will universities be test optional for class of 2022 as well?
Probably. Hard to say for sure and schools are likely not keen to commit to anything that far out but unless things snap back to a new normal very soon, then most universities will be test optional for kids starting in 2022 as well.
What about the SAT Essay and SAT Subject Tests?
Just a few American schools still technically "recommend" these tests and that number goes down every week. We anticipate (and hope) that these tests will die a graceful death with the next admissions cycle. They are still required by some non-American schools so check with the specific university. We can see the tests being quietly fully cancelled and still being required by some universities who didn't get the memo.
Where can I get more specific guidance?
Our webinar in December covers all of this ground, but the best person to help you is your university advisor at your school. NOT a commercial university placement agent. NOT a WhatsApp group. NOT what you heard from your friend's cousin's half-brother whose kid "got into Stanford". There has been a proliferation of fake news on all things of late, and admissions and testing has hardly been spared.
We encourage people to have a look at our blog for our most recent postings as well as our Twitter feed where we post interesting links.
SAT Test Center Registration
For those of you who are not taking the SAT at a closed test center, you may have to deal with the possibility of not having your desired test center (or any test center) available as an option.
Although the test center shortage issue will probably be limited to the October and November test dates only, here's what you need to do if you find a similar issue when you register for the December and January test dates.
To register, visit the College Board website:
Note that you will not know whether a test center is available until midway through the registration process.
If you are denied a test center while going through the registration process, you should opt for the "Let College Board find a Test Center" option per the screen-shots detailed here. Students going for the October and November test dates were assigned a place on an ad hoc basis this way:
NOTE: You will not have this option if you have already registered for another test date and want to change test dates! You will need to contact College Board directly by phone during College Board's office hours from 8 AM - 9 PM EST (12 hours behind Singapore Standard Time). You will also have to pay a fee to change the registration date.
SAT Registration Warning for Fall 2014 Test Dates!
We have received early notice that there has been a surge of Chinese students taking the SAT in Singapore in October and perhaps into November as well. For a number of reasons, the test is not administered in China to Chinese citizens so there is a mass migration every test date to take the test elsewhere. Due to problems with the timing and availability of the test in Hong Kong this October, the open test centers in Singapore for October and November are now full.
What does this mean? College Board (who administer the test) have stated “We are working diligently to create additional SAT capacity in Singapore to serve students in the country.” How this will lead to more seats in Singapore is still pending and we will keep updates listed on our website, Facebook page, and Twitter feed – stay tuned. We at Testtakers are very concerned with this problem and have been tracking the matter closely and has been advocating strongly for students in Singapore to have a chance to take the test.
Note that if your school is a closed test center (SAS, UWC, etc.) count yourself lucky and take the test at your school. If you aren’t among this privileged few, you will have to take the test at an “open” test center which will hopefully have more seats open up soon. It might not be a bad idea to register for the December test date just to have that in reserve. If you want to get pro-active, please contact College Board asking for an update.
