SAT Preparation in Ankara and Online
International university applications may require more than just a diploma, GPA, or school performance. Institutions often utilize additional examinations to more closely evaluate students’ academic readiness.
SAT: Essentially an English Examination
The SAT is often described as an examination consisting of two distinct sections: English and Mathematics.
We believe this distinction is somewhat misleading, as the entirety of the SAT is, to a large extent, a language examination. The English section directly measures language proficiency, while the Mathematics section measures the use of language through the medium of mathematics.
Therefore, to succeed in the SAT, knowing only mathematics or only English is insufficient; the student must be able to use the academic language with ease.
What Does the SAT Measure?
The primary purpose of the SAT is to assess whether a student can successfully navigate undergraduate education in the United States. The underlying question is essentially:
- Can this student read the texts assigned at the university level?
- Can they follow the language used in lectures?
- Can they comprehend academic discussions?
For this reason, the examination does not measure mere grammar or vocabulary; it seeks to measure the usage of academic language.
Academic Vocabulary
Many students can comfortably use English in their daily lives. However, the language expected by the SAT is distinct from this.
The vocabulary, forms of expression, text structures, and terminology encountered in the exam are much closer to the academic language one will encounter in a university setting.
Consequently, high SAT scores require not just a strong command of English, but a strong academic vocabulary as well. Our experience shows that this is one of the areas where students struggle the most.
What Does the Mathematics Section Actually Measure?
SAT Mathematics is often perceived as being more difficult than it actually is. However, when viewed from the perspective of content, the examination measures quite fundamental mathematical skills.
Compared to the Turkish national curriculum (MEB), many of the topics can be considered to be at a middle school level. Therefore, the true difficulty of SAT Mathematics stems not from the mathematics itself, but from the “language of mathematics.” The student must be familiar with the terminology, be able to interpret the question correctly, and be able to translate the given information into the correct model.
Furthermore, the SAT seeks to measure certain fundamental skills that students will frequently encounter in daily academic life. Literacy in graphs, interpreting tables, the ability to understand basic statistical concepts, interpreting ratios and percentages, and the effective use of a calculator are among the primary ones.
For this reason, the mathematics section of the exam often measures the ability to correctly utilize fundamental mathematical tools rather than advanced mathematical knowledge. Hence, we view SAT Mathematics not so much as a mathematics exam, but as a test of language and interpretation through mathematics.
At IB Evi, the mathematics department is led by Hakan Torun, who has been teaching mathematics since 1999. For details on preparing for the SAT Math section, see Hakan Torun’s mathematics tutoring page.
A free mock exam he wrote in the format of the digital SAT math section (two modules, 44 questions) is available on his resources page.
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When you contact us through the contact form below, our experts will reach out to you as soon as possible.
Who is SAT for?
SAT is not just a test used for university applications.
Today, many prestigious summer schools, academic programs, and student selection processes also take SAT results into account. In particular, strong SAT results obtained at an early age can help a student build a more academically competitive profile.
For this reason, some students prefer to prepare for the test well before they begin their university applications.
When Should You Start SAT Preparation?
The common view is that SAT preparation is only for 11th and 12th-grade students. We strongly disagree.
Students with strong language proficiency can start preparing for the SAT at a much earlier age.
In fact, some students can achieve highly successful results as early as the 9th grade.
This is because the determining factor of the exam is not advanced mathematics, but language proficiency and academic literacy.
SAT and Summer Schools
The SAT is often associated only with university applications. However, many prestigious academic summer schools and student programs also take SAT results into account.
A strong SAT score often conveys the following message: This student may be academically ahead of their peers.
Therefore, the value of the exam can emerge not only during university applications but also in earlier stages.
Our Approach to the SAT
We do not view the SAT as a mathematics exam. For us, the SAT is an assessment that evaluates academic language, terminology, reading skills, interpretive abilities, and fundamental mathematical literacy all together.
Therefore, we see SAT preparation not merely as a process of solving problems, but as a journey to improve academic English.
This is because high scores are often driven not by more mathematics, but by stronger language proficiency.
Frequently Asked Questions
This section contains questions frequently asked to us about the SAT and their corresponding answers.
No, it is definitely not a test that measures rote memorization. The SAT tests students' skills in critical reading, data analysis, problem-solving, and logical reasoning. The exam consists of two main sections: Reading and Writing, and Math. The questions measure how information is adapted to new and complex scenarios rather than the memorization of formulas.
The biggest change occurred in the duration and structure of the exam. The exam is now taken via computer or tablet instead of paper and pencil, and its duration has been reduced from 3 hours to 2 hours and 14 minutes. Furthermore, it has an "adaptive" structure; meaning the difficulty level of the questions in the second module is personalized based on your performance in the first module. Reading passages have also been made much shorter and clearer compared to the old format.
Daily conversational or standard school English may not be sufficient for this section. The SAT expects students to quickly analyze dense academic articles, scientific texts, and literary passages. For success, it is necessary not just to memorize vocabulary, but to develop skills in grasping the main idea of a text, deconstructing the author's argument, and recognizing the meanings of words within their context.
In terms of content, it is not heavier than the Turkish high school curriculum (like YKS); in fact, it does not include topics such as limits, derivatives, or integrals, focusing instead on algebra and data analysis. However, its difficulty stems from the fact that the questions are long, narrative-based, and require interpretation. Calculators are allowed throughout the entire math section of the exam, which indicates that the system measures how accurately you construct the logic rather than your calculation skills.
The SAT tests not only what you know, but how quickly you can use that knowledge under pressure. As emphasized on the page, this is a test of "academic endurance." The only way to overcome the time problem is to get used to the exam rhythm by solving plenty of full-length practice tests with a stopwatch, and to learn to move on (question strategies) instead of losing minutes on a question you are stuck on.
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