SAT Examination Jan 2012

ANChan59

This morning, my son sat the SAT Critical Reasoning Exam at the Asia-World Expo near the Airport, it's an eye opening experience for me.

1. So early in the morning - We arrived at the venue around 07:05;

2. So many mainland Chinese sit for the exam

3. Many students - Zone A - W + one function room, approx 3 big exhibition halls, say 100+ students per zone, so 2400+ students.......

4. Tung Chung and particularly City Gate flooded by mainlanders, all hotel rooms near the exam site are fully booked, of course, CNY is another reason....

5. The operation of the exam process is shit, exam delayed 45 min due to collection of mobile phones. Used another 1 hr 20 min to return the mobiles, one invigilator to return the mobile and the other 3 stood there doing nothing, my son suggested them to split the loading to speed up the process was not approved by the chief invigilator........ even you don't have mobile deposited, but you can't leave the hall, also during the returning process, no one can go to toilet....

6. Some kids from China are pretty young, like 11-12 years old

7. The whole process is addressed in PTH with little English, zero Cantonese.

..............

eschung

Thanks for sharing.  Can't believe that sooner or the later we are the minorities.  

ANChan59

Talk to other more experience parents, they said may be timing - Chinese New Year, more capacity....... In the past, some HK students took SAT at Taiwan, Singapore......

hhy2007

My friend from the mainland told me that those mainlanders without foreign passport are NOT allowed to take SAT in the SAT examination center(s) in China. They have to take SAT abroad.  Hong Kong is the nearest place to them.  Well, such arrangement helps Hong Kong make some money, and at the same time makes SAT more challenging and inconvenient to the mainlander students.

ANChan59

I don't have hard feeling on mainlanders, just new for me only.

Will they make the SAT more challenging? I am not sure. From my son's observations, some students really can't finished the papers.

hhy2007

Some people here in Hong Kong say that the SAT in HK is more difficult than those in other places because of those mainlander students, although I don't quite believe it.  However, just think about the hardship in travelling far away to an unfamiliar place to take exam, I think it's already more demanding to those mainlanders than to us.  Some of my friends here are thinking to let their kids take SAT in Singapore or back to the States. But to me, I think it's quite demanding as well to travel that far to take SAT in Singapore or back to the Sates. I’ll let my daughter to try her first SAT next year here in HK.

ANChan59

回復 hhy2007 的帖子

Thanks for your sharing and know more about SAT. In our plan, US more for back up, my son prefer HK and UK. IB fits all except US universities need SAT.
Personally, I don't think HK SAT papers more difficult than other countries. I guess conspiracy theory.  Nowadays, education is a huge business, should be more customer friendly.

I guess the invigilator checked the mobile and calculator so detail, may be they worry the Chinese students use high tech cheating methods......

bobbycheung

I always thought that everybody does the same SAT paper worldwide.  The SAT in HK is more difficult than others is probably just rumours.  My girl did it twice last year and she was asked to arrive at the test centre before 7:45 am on both occasions. I remember the test started at 8:00 am (though I am not 100% certain).  I also thought that the SAT tests in all different test centres in HK are supposed to start at the same time.  A delay of 45 minutes is in my view a bad practice as it means that candidates in other test centres got to see the exam paper 45 minutes before those in Asia-World Expo.  It might creat an opportunity for cheating.  

kym

I think I'll let my son take the SAT test next year, but he has no interest to study in US. So I'm no sure is it worth to spend time any money to prepare for it. Some people suggest him to take IGCSE Eng, and he think that enhance the chance to get into those top UK universities. If aiming for the US he needs to do lots of EC and be leader in some area. I would prefer him to concentrate his IB study. May be using the SAT result to apply local universities, hope it help a bit.

kkbbkk

My son took SAT both in HK and the US. In HK, he took it as a stand by student. So we went to the centre that could likely have spare seats. My advice is to call or email the HK Exam Authority. The officer is so experienced that they will give you info as to which centres have fewer Mainlanders / candidates.

I don't think the level of difficulties in the US and HK are different. But for so many years, I wonder why no SAT and AP be conducted in the Mainland. My guestimate is that the College Board (exam organizer of SAT and AP) fears of cheating and impersonation in the Mainland.

I recalled that when my son took TOEFL few years back to apply for high school, he was not required to present Passport (ID was fine). Last year, when he took TOEFL to apply for University, he is required to bring Passport. ID documentations requirements is stricter as more and more Mainlanders crossed the boarder to take the exam.

ANChan59

A friend stationed in China told that only foreign passport holders can sit for SAT locally in China.

Local mainlanders need to take SAT outside China, HK is the nearest one and convenient for parents to do some shopping in HK, like flats........

They check the passport more vigorously because so many ghost writers for different public exam...

kkbbkk

Dear anchan59

I saw a lot of your threads in baby kingdom and agreed with most of your insightful views.

In case I missed some of your threads about how you choose the place of tiertery education, can you once again share with me why you put order of priority as hk, uk and us?

To me your son is so smart that he can be accepted to top universities in the US with financial aids  / merid - aid scholarship.

Of course, I am sure that your son can be acceped by university in hk /uk with good faculty. In case u need info of about how to apply for US universities, I am more than happy to share.

ANChan59

kkbbkk

Thanks for your flattering comments, My sharings just repay some other parents' assistance for my son, years ago in BK.

The priorities are set by my son and not me. When he was in primary and secondary, we arranged different summer programs in Australia (05), US (06), UK (08). Based on his personal experience and other info from his friends and seniors, he prefers UK more than US.

He puts local universities over overseas based on the following reasons:

1. He is interested in Medicine as first choice, so HK is the obvious choice;
2. He also knows study in HK is more economical than overseas, he prefers to study overseas in graduate school; and
3. He loves HK and us,

He also opens for other options, if:

1. University and program he can't turn down, like Ivy League or Oxbridge; or
2. He can't get in his favorite programs in HK.

I will seek for your advice about US later, PM you later.

riccichu

AN Chan 59

If my son take the SAT Exam, Is it easy or he has to do some studying or preparation. According some info, some courses are held for the SAT Exam. Do you think it is a must to take such courses? Does SAT result help if my son aims for local Unis. Thanks for your opinions.

ANChan59

回復 riccichu 的帖子

riccichu

My comments as follow:

If my son take the SAT Exam, Is it easy or he has to do some studying or preparation. (He attended a SAT Camp last summer and self-study before the SAT.)


According some info, some courses are held for the SAT Exam. Do you think it is a must to take such courses? (My son's comment on the course is positive.)


Does SAT result help if my son aims for local Unis. (Very marginal.)


ANChn59