Dear customer,

Welcome to the April 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.

We at ICON+ have provided you with a unique insight into the mind of one of our experienced SAT coaches. In this comprehensive and in-depth interview we get to grips with some of the difficult aspects of the SAT. 

Everybody is looking for tips to score higher on the SAT - and who could be better to ask than somebody who has made teaching the ins and outs of the exam his career? I had the opportunity to sit down with one of ICON+’s senior SAT teachers, Mariya Kamova, to get some FAQ’s answered.

So what’s the biggest mistake students make on the SAT?

 I think the main mistake would be thinking too much about planning the essay - that leaves students with less time to write. Additionally, focusing mainly on the difficult questions is the wrong way to approach the SAT. Students should focus on completing the easy and medium level questions before trying to solve the hard ones. What they often do not know is that only truly skillful test takers are able to cover all the questions on the SAT.

Is the Quantitative or Verbal section easier?

I would say that for Asian students, the quantitative sections are definitely easier. The reason is that their educational system focuses more on math. Furthermore, I guess for native speakers it is not so easy to catch the grammatical mistakes. They rely on what sounds "nice" or what “right”.

What are some effective strategies for time management during the exam?

The exam is done in such a way that every minute is important. I advise my students to cover as many easy questions in a section as they can and then come back to the difficult ones. They need to remember that they only have one minute per question. For the critical reading section, it is better for students not to spend too much time reading the texts, but rather focus on answering the questions.

To read the full article click here

School Type:
Private University, Rural

 Location:
Segovia, Spain
Size and Student Body:
• 900 Undergraduate
• 38% Spanish
• 62% International

• 55% Male
• 45% Female

Admissions:
• Regular Application Deadline: Rolling admissions policy, places allocated on first-come basis
• Rolling Notifications Beginning: Notifications sent as soon as admissions process is complete
• Applicants Admitted: 1 in 3

• SAT and International Baccalaureate required for international students
• SAT I Range for Middle 50% of First Year Students: 1760-2240
•SAT Critical Reading: 600 to 750
•SAT Math: 580 to 740
•SAT Writing: 580 to 750

Cost:
• Tuition & Fees: 18,000€
• Room, board, and other expenses: from 300€ (shared room/flat) to 900€ (on campus)

• Total: 18,300-18,900€

Highlights:

IE University offers a distinctive international contemporary style of higher education where business management, technology and humanities form the core of their practical application methods. Their educational approach is an extension of the infamous IE business model. With a flexible curriculum classes are offered in both English and Spanish. Furthermore, the IE campus is situated in the breath-taking Covent of Santa Cruz la Real, a National Heritage site in Segovia, Spain.  IE offers a truly unique university experience.

IE University’s website: http://www.ie.edu/university/home

On April 8, 2011, the UK Border Agency announced that they are now accepting the TOEFL exam in applications for all UK visas under the points-based system. Whether you want to work, study, or live in the UK, the TOEFL is now accepted as an effective measure of English language ability.

Although the TOEFL has traditionally been considered a North American based exam and the IELTS has been more popular in the UK and Commonwealth countries, institutions and governments are increasingly accepting both English as a second language tests.

Today, more than 7,500 institutions around the world accept TOEFL to show English proficiency for admissions purposes. Although the majority of these are in the US and Canada, more than 1,000 are located in Europe, and significant numbers are in Australia, New Zealand, and Asia. You can find the universities, colleges, and agencies accepting this exam in the TOEFL Destinations Guide at  http://www.ets.org/toefl/why

To learn more, please visit the ETS website at:http://www.ets.org/toefl/news/toefl_toeic_uk_visa_proficiency