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Students and parents (and unfortunately many school counselors) are often unfamiliar with the Early Round (Early Action or Early Decision) option at many of America’s elite schools. We have crunched the data on the Early Round vs. Regular Decision admission rates, which should show you that whenever possible, you should apply to EA/ED.
While most Ivy League Schools offered Early Decision options, Princeton, Harvard, and Yale offer Restricted Early Action option to students. If student choose to apply to one of them, they cannot apply to any other private schools in the early stage, and public schools that offer ED options.
While most Ivy League Schools offered Early Decision options, Princeton, Harvard, and Yale offer Restricted Early Action option to students. If student choose to apply to one of them, they cannot apply to any other private schools in the early stage, and public schools that offer ED options.
If you look at the admission rates for Early Round, they are significantly higher at all 8 schools. (We have developed a ratio, which we term ER/RD, which measures how great of an advantage ER applicants have.) The ER/RD ratio ranges from 2.1 (Cornell) to 3.0 (Harvard). In simpler terms, it means you are 2.8x more likely to be admitted to Brown applying in ER than in RD.
Though Stanford has decided to not release their early round admission data, we can assume the situation is similar since all elite schools are still competing with each other for elite students.
Based on the above data, we can easily find out that, because of the timing of application, students with similar/ same background & academic performance will have diversely application outcome. Therefore, we highly recommend you to organize your timeline and work on your college application scheme at the earliest possible, including ahead preparation for related tests. This way, you can apply to your ideal colleges at the most advantageous timing and hence gain the admissions successfully.
Though Stanford has decided to not release their early round admission data, we can assume the situation is similar since all elite schools are still competing with each other for elite students.
Based on the above data, we can easily find out that, because of the timing of application, students with similar/ same background & academic performance will have diversely application outcome. Therefore, we highly recommend you to organize your timeline and work on your college application scheme at the earliest possible, including ahead preparation for related tests. This way, you can apply to your ideal colleges at the most advantageous timing and hence gain the admissions successfully.
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From 4 January 2020, some small changes of IELTS format are being introduced to the instructions and layout of the paper-based Listening test:
1. The word ‘Sections’ will be changed to ‘Parts’ – The paper-based test will now be divided into Part 1, 2, 3, 4.
2. The Part 1 example will be removed.
3. The page number references will be removed. Eg. ”look at questions 1-4 on page 3” will be shorten as ”look at questions 1-4”.
More information: https://www.ielts.org/about-the-test/test-format
1. The word ‘Sections’ will be changed to ‘Parts’ – The paper-based test will now be divided into Part 1, 2, 3, 4.
2. The Part 1 example will be removed.
3. The page number references will be removed. Eg. ”look at questions 1-4 on page 3” will be shorten as ”look at questions 1-4”.
More information: https://www.ielts.org/about-the-test/test-format
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There are some changes to the SAT, starting 2020-2021, announced by CollegeBoard
This will impact current 10th graders who plan to take the Chinese test but haven't done so, especially. If you need help with the arrangement of test taking schedule or other information, feel free to contact TrinityScholar by Live Chat, leaving us a message, Line, Email, or call 886-2-27716002
- The test dates will be in the following months: August, October, December, March, May, and June. College Board moved the test in November to August.
- No SAT II (SAT Subject tests) in March, and no SAT I in June
- The language with listening test will be moved to May; however there's no Chinese test in May 2020 published on CollegeBoard's website yet.
This will impact current 10th graders who plan to take the Chinese test but haven't done so, especially. If you need help with the arrangement of test taking schedule or other information, feel free to contact TrinityScholar by Live Chat, leaving us a message, Line, Email, or call 886-2-27716002
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In the last couple years, the admission requirement on standardized tests, i.e. SAT, ACT, AP, IELTS, TOEFL, and so on, is getting more and more diversified and flexible. According to “Will UC schools drop their SAT scores requirement?”, a recent article on L.A. Times, by TERESA WATANABE, it said that the University of California system, one of the largest public university system in the U.S., is considering dropping the SAT and ACT as an admissions requirement, for the reason that the standardized tests are increasingly seen as an unfair admission barrier.
Our Takeaways
Now, there are more than 1000 universities in the US have adapted this “test-optional” policy and you can have the full list from Fair Test’s website. https://www.fairtest.org/university/optional
However, when you look into the details, there are different situations that fits different applicants.
1. No SAT/ACT at all for all students – such as Pitzer College (except homeschooled, Joint Medical Program applicants, and students attending schools from which grades are not provided.)
2. No SAT/ACT for US or Canadian citizens, still required for international students. – such as Brandeis University
3. Applicants can choose to submit different test results such as SAT, ACT, 3 AP test results, or 3 SAT II Subject Test results. However, this might also come with additional requirements. For example, the University of Chicago requires at least 1 of these SAT subjects has to be math or science, and 1 be English, Social Science, Arts or World Languages. As for AP exams, they need to be at least one in Math, Computer Science, or Science and at least one in English, History, or Language..
University of California system is the most popular college system in the US with nearly or over 100,000 applicants to its top 3 campuses (LA, SD and Berkeley), and the single largest university source of customers for the College Board. Test-optional is not an easy decision to make. It’s highly doubtful that UC will go with no requirement for all applicants, but set up new application rules. So, here comes a more important question, “what’s the fairer alternative(s) of SAT and ACT as admission requirements, free from family income, parents’ education, or even race?”
However, when you look into the details, there are different situations that fits different applicants.
1. No SAT/ACT at all for all students – such as Pitzer College (except homeschooled, Joint Medical Program applicants, and students attending schools from which grades are not provided.)
2. No SAT/ACT for US or Canadian citizens, still required for international students. – such as Brandeis University
3. Applicants can choose to submit different test results such as SAT, ACT, 3 AP test results, or 3 SAT II Subject Test results. However, this might also come with additional requirements. For example, the University of Chicago requires at least 1 of these SAT subjects has to be math or science, and 1 be English, Social Science, Arts or World Languages. As for AP exams, they need to be at least one in Math, Computer Science, or Science and at least one in English, History, or Language..
University of California system is the most popular college system in the US with nearly or over 100,000 applicants to its top 3 campuses (LA, SD and Berkeley), and the single largest university source of customers for the College Board. Test-optional is not an easy decision to make. It’s highly doubtful that UC will go with no requirement for all applicants, but set up new application rules. So, here comes a more important question, “what’s the fairer alternative(s) of SAT and ACT as admission requirements, free from family income, parents’ education, or even race?”
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Starting next September, high schooler could retake ACT individual sections, instead of the entire exam.
Officials at ACT said on Oct. 8 that starting next September, students who want to improve their scores would be able to retake single sections of the five-part test, including reading, math, science, English and optional writing, which lasts about three hours, instead of sitting for all of them again. The change would allow students to avoid getting worse marks on sections they had taken earlier and students will get a new “superscore” that combines their highest scores on the subsections from each time they took the test.
There’s already discussion about whether this change eases students’ anxiety or further disadvantages students without access to extra test-prep resource/ coaching.
However, one thing is for sure—College Board, owner of SAT, the other dominant of this game, would have to come up with some similar changes in reaction to this new policy of ACT.
Read the full news here.
(Updates on Nov. 27)
Starting from the test at September 2020, students who take the ACT at US test centers will be able to:
Officials at ACT said on Oct. 8 that starting next September, students who want to improve their scores would be able to retake single sections of the five-part test, including reading, math, science, English and optional writing, which lasts about three hours, instead of sitting for all of them again. The change would allow students to avoid getting worse marks on sections they had taken earlier and students will get a new “superscore” that combines their highest scores on the subsections from each time they took the test.
There’s already discussion about whether this change eases students’ anxiety or further disadvantages students without access to extra test-prep resource/ coaching.
However, one thing is for sure—College Board, owner of SAT, the other dominant of this game, would have to come up with some similar changes in reaction to this new policy of ACT.
Read the full news here.
(Updates on Nov. 27)
Starting from the test at September 2020, students who take the ACT at US test centers will be able to:
- Retake just one (or two or three) section(s) at a time after completing one full ACT.
- Directly submit their ACT superscore by choice to colleges and universities if they have taken the full ACT more than once or participated in section retests.
- Choose between online testing and traditional paper testing. If students choose online testing, they will get scores back in as soon as two days.
- Registration for ACT Section Retesting and online testing will be open approximately 1week after the July 2020 test date.
- Only superscores will be available to them, beginning in Sept. 2020.
- Section retesting will NOT be offered at international test centers in 2020 but ACT is evaluating the availability in the future.
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Freshman or transfer? International students vs. California residents (in-state), vs. non-California residents (out-state)
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How's summer so far? At TrinityScholar, we assist you to reach your dreams in higher heights; cramming for a test is never our mission. However, it happens that students get everything prepared but need the last kick of a better score. With our unique and customized teaching methods, our students not only improve, but could improve efficiently and effectively.
The numbers speak for themselves. Let's see the amazing improvements of TrinityScholar's students in different tests.
The numbers speak for themselves. Let's see the amazing improvements of TrinityScholar's students in different tests.
Student J.C.
With 12-hour class at Trinity Scholar, he scored from 30 on March 11 to 35 on June 7
Note: Average ACT is 21 while the full score is 36, and 35 is top 0.78%, 99.22 percentile
With 12-hour class at Trinity Scholar, he scored from 30 on March 11 to 35 on June 7
Note: Average ACT is 21 while the full score is 36, and 35 is top 0.78%, 99.22 percentile
Student D.L.
October 2018 Test: 86 percentile
After 10 hours of classes at Trinity Scholar
June 2019 Test: 96 percentile
October 2018 Test: 86 percentile
After 10 hours of classes at Trinity Scholar
June 2019 Test: 96 percentile
Student C.Y.
SAT Mock Exam on 6/10 880 & on 6/26 1290, score improvement 410 points in 2 weeks
Student A.C.
SAT Mock Exam on 6/10 890 & on 6/26 1140, score improvement 250 points in 2 weeks
Student N.H.
PSAT Mock Exam on 6/18 1130 & on 6/25 1500 core improvement 370 points in 1 week
SAT Mock Exam on 6/10 880 & on 6/26 1290, score improvement 410 points in 2 weeks
Student A.C.
SAT Mock Exam on 6/10 890 & on 6/26 1140, score improvement 250 points in 2 weeks
Student N.H.
PSAT Mock Exam on 6/18 1130 & on 6/25 1500 core improvement 370 points in 1 week
Student A.W.
SAT Mock Exam on 7/22 1130 & on 8/7 1240, score improvement 110 points in 2 weeks
Student S.K.
SAT Mock Exam on 7/22 1290 & on 8/7 1470, score improvement 180 points in 2 weeks
Student B.S.
SAT Mock Exam on 7/22 1160 & on 8/7 1330, score improvement 170 points in 2 weeks
Student D.W.
SAT Mock Exam on 7/22 1490 & on 8/7 1540, score improvement 50 points in 2 weeks
Student P.C.
SAT Mock Exam on 7/22 1310 & on 8/7 1470, score improvement 160 points in 2 weeks
Student E.K.
SAT Mock Exam on 7/22 930 & on 8/7 1130, score improvement 200 points in 2 weeks
SAT Mock Exam on 7/22 1130 & on 8/7 1240, score improvement 110 points in 2 weeks
Student S.K.
SAT Mock Exam on 7/22 1290 & on 8/7 1470, score improvement 180 points in 2 weeks
Student B.S.
SAT Mock Exam on 7/22 1160 & on 8/7 1330, score improvement 170 points in 2 weeks
Student D.W.
SAT Mock Exam on 7/22 1490 & on 8/7 1540, score improvement 50 points in 2 weeks
Student P.C.
SAT Mock Exam on 7/22 1310 & on 8/7 1470, score improvement 160 points in 2 weeks
Student E.K.
SAT Mock Exam on 7/22 930 & on 8/7 1130, score improvement 200 points in 2 weeks
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opic：Gender Inequality
Field：Social Science
At the beginning of the class, the teacher asked the class which industries might have the issue of gender inequality, and then further explain the phenomena with samples in the class material.
In the U.S., the sports industry is one of the industries with serious gender inequality. Women are paid much less than men are paid. According to a report, 40% of women in the sports industry have experienced gender discrimination. Take World Cup as an example, the US women football team got 2 million bonuses for their golden medal, whereas US men football team received 35 million after they won the championship. Apparently, the gender pay gap was extremely huge. The good news is, the remuneration for women is rising every year, there are over 90% of the sport games pay men and women equally. "Women are far more visible in sports today than at any previous point in history," says UN Women in a statement. Hopefully, the issue of gender inequality will finally diminish.
Besides the contents from the magazine, the teacher also showed the class some related videos, which could further enhance students' listening and speaking.
Field：Social Science
At the beginning of the class, the teacher asked the class which industries might have the issue of gender inequality, and then further explain the phenomena with samples in the class material.
In the U.S., the sports industry is one of the industries with serious gender inequality. Women are paid much less than men are paid. According to a report, 40% of women in the sports industry have experienced gender discrimination. Take World Cup as an example, the US women football team got 2 million bonuses for their golden medal, whereas US men football team received 35 million after they won the championship. Apparently, the gender pay gap was extremely huge. The good news is, the remuneration for women is rising every year, there are over 90% of the sport games pay men and women equally. "Women are far more visible in sports today than at any previous point in history," says UN Women in a statement. Hopefully, the issue of gender inequality will finally diminish.
Besides the contents from the magazine, the teacher also showed the class some related videos, which could further enhance students' listening and speaking.
Key Vocabulary of the Class
Gender pay gap [n.] the difference between men’s and women’s salaries.
Equality [n.] the quality or state of being equal.
Discrimination [n.] prejudiced or prejudicial outlook, action or treatment.
Discrepancy [n.] the quality or state of disagreeing or being at variance.
Revenue [n.] the total income produced by a given source.
Equality [n.] the quality or state of being equal.
Discrimination [n.] prejudiced or prejudicial outlook, action or treatment.
Discrepancy [n.] the quality or state of disagreeing or being at variance.
Revenue [n.] the total income produced by a given source.
Summer Schedule & How To Sign Up
L3 Reading and Writing 2019 Summer Class Schedule
- Session 2: 09:30am – 12:30pm (Junior) 13:30-16:30 (Core and Honors), July 1 to July 18
- Session 3: 09:30am – 12:30pm (Junior) 13:30-16:30 (Core and Honors), July 22 to August 8
- Session 4: 09:30am – 12:30pm (Junior) 13:30-16:30 (Core and Honors), August 12 to August 29
- Each session includes 14 classes.
- Call +886-2-2771-6002 , Line: TrinityScholar (@mqz4477g) or E-mail
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Hi everyone! Today we are going to introduce US prison system, one of our popular topic of L3 Core.
The incarceration rate of the US is the highest around the world, and therefore the relating legislation are extremely crucial. Bill Clinton, the former US president, has signed a bill which states that individuals who commit the same crime more than three times will be punished life sentence. Although it looks quite reasonable, it is actually a controversial law. The US authority has already started to amend the legislation.
Besides reading the magazine, teacher also asked students to make sentences and write short paragraphs using the vocabularies and phrases from the article.
Another important point of the class is critical thinking. Critical thinking is the rational analysis of facts to form a judgement, and it is an important skill required by many western universities. When doing critical thinking, students can not only receive the opinion that the author made but also establish their own ideas. The development of the ability will definitely benefit pupils' future studies.
The incarceration rate of the US is the highest around the world, and therefore the relating legislation are extremely crucial. Bill Clinton, the former US president, has signed a bill which states that individuals who commit the same crime more than three times will be punished life sentence. Although it looks quite reasonable, it is actually a controversial law. The US authority has already started to amend the legislation.
Besides reading the magazine, teacher also asked students to make sentences and write short paragraphs using the vocabularies and phrases from the article.
Another important point of the class is critical thinking. Critical thinking is the rational analysis of facts to form a judgement, and it is an important skill required by many western universities. When doing critical thinking, students can not only receive the opinion that the author made but also establish their own ideas. The development of the ability will definitely benefit pupils' future studies.
Key Vocabulary of the Class
Mandatory [adj.] required by a law or rule.
Disparity [n.] distinction in quality or character.
Incarceration [n.] confinement in a jail or prison.
Mandated [adj.] official required.
Disparity [n.] distinction in quality or character.
Incarceration [n.] confinement in a jail or prison.
Mandated [adj.] official required.
Summer Schedule &How To Sign Up
L3 Reading and Writing 2019 Summer Class Schedule
- Session 2: 09:30am – 12:30pm (Junior) 13:30-16:30 (Core & Honors), July 1 ~ 18
- Session 3: 09:30am – 12:30pm (Junior) 13:30-16:30 (Core & Honors), July 22 ~ 8
- Session 4: 09:30am – 12:30pm (Junior) 13:30-16:30 (Core & Honors), Aug.12 ~ 29
- Each session includes 14 classes.
- Call +886-2-2771-6002 , Line: TrinityScholar (@mqz4477g) or E-mail