How can I avoid taking the required SAT test to apply to a university?

Question

Is there another option for a student that was born in a different country? I heard there is a special test for students with another primary language... Thank you!

Answer 1

You will have to talk to the specific schools that you wish to apply to. Many students born in other countries with different primary languages have to take the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language ) but this is not a substitute for the SAT. Some schools do have policies waiving the SAT though, so check with the admissions office.

Answer 2

Most universities require either the SAT or the ACT. So, an alternative is the ACT. The test is set up a bit differently than the SAT. Some people perform better on the SAT, some better on the ACT. You may consider taking both and submitting the more impressive of the scores.

If you completed your schooling in the US I don't think there's a way to avoid taking the tests (how much time did you spend in the US education system?). Most universities require results from one or the other. I checked and the ACT is only offered in English, but I couldn't find any definitive information about the SAT and alternative languages.

I imagine the idea is that - with few exceptions - testing at the university level will be in English so there's not a need to support alternative-language testing in secondary schools. Sorry. :(

Answer 3

Students from other countries who apply to US colleges are often asked to take the TOEFL Test of English as a Foreign Language in order to prove that they can speak English. This is NOT a substitute for the SATs. They have to do both TOEFL and SAT.

The SATs are partly meant to show how good you are at reading and understanding complex ideas in English. If you can't do well in them, it is a kind of warning sign that you may have problems in dealing with the large amounts of hard reading that college students do. You should take the SATs, then if you have problems, you should try to work hard to remove your problems before you try to tackle a college course that would just leave you struggling to pass.  

Answer 4

you need a sat score to apply to a university. otherwise, you will have to attend a community college for one or two years then transfer over. that is the only way i know that you can avoid the sat. good luck