Dear customer,

Welcome to the June edition of ICON+’s University Access Newsletter. You are receiving this e-newsletter because you inquired about our test prep and/or admissions consulting services.

Whether you've been planning for college since Year 8 or you're just beginning to consider different programs, selecting colleges to apply to is a crucial yet daunting task. Peruse the article below to avoid common pitfalls and set yourself on the right path.

Why do you want to go to college, anyways?

No, really. Answer the question!

It’s tougher than you’d think to come up with a reply, right?

Many teenagers, when asked, “Why do you want to go to Caltech (or NYU or what have you)?” can spurt out reams of reasons. However, when faced with the most fundamental question, “Why do you want to go to college?” they instantaneously become mute.

Let’s face it. College is expensive, perhaps even exorbitant if you are determined to study abroad. What’s the point of spending a quarter of a million dollars and about four grueling years with your nose to the grindstone? What is it, exactly, that you are hoping to get out of this ordeal?

Enhanced career prospects? Exposure to different cultures and locations? Strong professional and social networks? Skills such as critical reasoning or research you can take wherever life leads you? A clearer vision of what you want to do with your career? The opportunity to explore a variety of academic fields? Deeper insight into one specific field?

If you think through the question posed to you calmly and honestly, you’ll most likely agree that the below reasons for choosing a university are quite ineffective.

Learn more here.

What a happy day - the one all you eager students have been waiting for! Well, for some of you, at least. Taking your test in Singapore means that, as an international student, you are subject to different registration deadlines. Furthermore, there are only six opportunities (as opposed to seven) in a given year to take the SAT in Singapore. So get your SAT test date booked as soon as you can as spaces fill up fast!

It’s important to note that you cannot take the SAT I and the SAT II Subject tests on the same day. You need to book these exams on two separate exam dates. Fees-wise, as an international candidate you will be charged USD$78, which converts to around SGD$96 per exam.

Below I’ve provided you with the updated Singapore SAT test dates and corresponding information. To read the full article click here

The IELTS is a wonderful multipurpose exam. This English proficiency test is not only used for applying to academic institutes but also for immigration purposes and work visas.
So the question is what mark do I need to attain on the IELTS to be successfully admitted to the school of my choice or to migrate to the country of my choice? Well, to be honest, the answer is not as simple or straightforward as many hope, as each country and academic program has different criteria to fulfill.

To start with, there are two versions of IELTS: Academic and General. Simply from the name, we can deduce that the General IELTS is required for most Immigration purposes and the Academic IELTS is needed for undergraduate and postgraduate programs. More specifically, the listening and speaking sections remain the same for both the Academic and General IELTS exams. However, students are given different reading and writing sections. Make sure you are taking the right type of IELTS for your ambitions.

Most undergraduate programs in the UK, Australia, New Zealand, Europe and other commonwealth countries require around 6.0/9.0 points on the Academic IELTS. However, certain schools may have higher standards. For example, Oxford University in the UK requires a score of at least 7.0 out of 9.0 for international students.

To read the rest of the article click here