SAT subject tests....

Ever heard of them? Some may say yes and some no... but I am here to make sure by the end of this post you all say YES!
So here goes: Enjoy!

As part of the admissions section to get into an American University there are a few exams one must take. The first is a general exam called the SAT this is overall scored out of 2400 and covers writing, critical thinking and maths (next weeks blogpost will be on this)

But also to get into those even more difficult universities or just most univerisites you are required to have  at least 3 SAT subject tests now these are exams that are specific to different subjects and are each marked out of a score of between 200-800! Some colleges even specify on their website which ones you should have a score of: but you have to do your own research to find out I am afraid!

These allow you as a student to show in a 1 hour exam paper to showcase your achievements or strengths in particular subjects. It allows helps to differentiate yourself between other students as it allows colleges to see which subjects interest you and where you also excel.
There are 20 Subject Tests across five general subject areas: history, maths science, English and foreign languages. The SAT Subject Tests that you choose to actually take should be based on your strengths in certain subjects.
To find more help on which ones you should take visit:
http://sat.collegeboard.org/about-tests/sat-subject-tests/which-tests-to-take

These subject tests are avaliable in the following subjects:
Literature
Maths- level 1 and 2
U.S. History
World History
Biology E/M
Chemistry
Physics
French
French with listening
German
German with listening
Spanish
Spanish with listening
Modern Hebrew
Italian
Latin
Chinese with listening
Japanese with listening
Korean with listening

Lets start by going through each and telling you as a UK international student about each:
Literature: In order to feel ready for this test having a GCSE in english literature would be fine, but if you want to take English literature later on in college (majoring or minoring in it.. will explain about those later!) Then I suggest taking English lit in at least AS level, as this would most likely increase your mark.

Maths: There are 2 types- level 1 and level 2, level one has everything but trigonometry therefore level 2 has everything plus trigonometry: your best bet if you can only take one is to take level 2 and in order to do so a GCSE is a definitie and an AS and especially and A2 will help dramatically

Histories: Be careful of these: these exams are based on how history is taught in the US... dramatically different... WW2 yeh won by the US... not what we're taught here so unless you have taken a US history course taught in a US school don't take the US one. For the World you need a gcse but even me who loves History and wants to major in it, isn't going to take it due to the nature and US-ness of the questions!

Sciences: In order to do each science, you must I repeat MUST have a gcse in each separate science (triple science) also by doing an AS-level would really help! But if you download the SAT booklet off the collegeboard website this explains and provides a checklist for what each science covers and go through your cirriculam to see if you have covered everything in GCSE... but even doing AS level doesn't mean you still won't come acrosss questions you have no idea about.
Please note: Biology is called 'Biology E/M' as on the day of the test you can choose either Ecology: E (to do with animals, life cycles, food chains) or Molecular: M (biochemistry, meiosis, DNA)
I am doing OCR Biology and feel fully prepared after unit 4 of GCSE to do E but I am waiting till after AS level Biology to do M as most of the stuff we don't even think about until then!


Languages: Exactly what they say on the tin.. I would say a GCSE is necessary unless that is your native tongue and again an AS-level is helpful! Those exams with listening have some marks reserved for listening exercises therefore you need a cd player:
Following the link below to find out what else you need to bring with on test day:http://sat.collegeboard.org/register/sat-test-day-checklist

So to book your Subject test follow the link below and make an account with collegeboard:
Then book yourself in for a test date and place:
You can take a maximum of 3 a day (3 hours each with breaks inbetween!):


Now onto the books and how to revise:
There are different companies that sell different books to help not just with the SAT SUBJECT tests but also the SAT: one issue is they are hugely expensive so I have done a small review to help you decide which ones to get:

The brands are:

• Collegeboard
• Kaplan
• Barrons
• Princeton Review

To definitly get would be 'The official study guide for all SAT subject tests' by college board as this provides you with an full hour exam paper for each subject test so that you can try out each and those that you get the best score on can be the exams you actually take!

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Official-Study-Guide-Subject-College/dp/0874479754/ref=pd_sim_b_2

In terms of wanting to get specific books for each SAT paper maybe try one from each of the remaining 3 or look online for reviews: College Board do one whole book for both Maths level one and 2 where as the other companies have them as individual books: and considering each book costs around or sometimes less (like the one below... YAY!)  $20 or so dollars but around £15-£20, its not cheap to get like all of them!

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Official-Subject-Tests-Mathematics-Levels/dp/0874477727/ref=pd_bxgy_b_img_c

Also for some of them: such as with Kaplan try to get the most update version so for now the 2011-2012 of if they're doing them the 2013 ones!

Some other examples from each brand:
Kaplan:


Princeton Review:


Barron's:



I hope that was helpful to you!
If you have any questions please leave them below
My next post will be about the SAT
Much Love
S xxxx

 

I gotta go back, back, back to school again!!

Oh you won't find me,
till the clock strikes three,
i'm gonna be there till then,
I gotta go back (ummm) back back to school again!

Recognize it:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dJQGkx5LpuA
The opening song in Grease 2... give it a chance it may not be as good as the first but Michelle Pfifer is very good!!!

Now onto the point of this blog... I get distracted sometimes!!!
TODAY the 5th of September was my first day of year 11...
THE YEAR THAT COUNTS.. apparently last year didnt!! (Don't think so!!!)

So this brings me onto prepartion for college:
This year I will be taking extra exams for US college called the SAT subject tests in those subjects I am not taking for A-Level such as Biology to find out more information about these SAT subject tests:
http://sat.collegeboard.org/about-tests/sat-subject-tests
Don't worry there will be a whole blog post dedicated to it: that will be next weeks probably!

But onto again the point of this blog: an update on my day:
My school spends the first few periods of the first day handing out planners and timetables, we then spend the rest of the day in our lessons for that day:

This year I have just started Economics: I love it!
Over the summer I read 'Economics for dummies' to get myself in the mood and to read ahead... hey I told you I was keen!!

It really helped and already I feel just that bit more prepared!! Who knows I may be taking this subject at A-level if all goes well!!!

The folder we were given for this subject is yellow: matches the book yes I will grant you that but yellow really doesn't compliment my skintone!! I'm just kidding with you... I wouldn't not use a folder due to its colour and I not being two peas in a pod!!

Also a new year brought new year 7s.. .adorable I remember when I was a year 7.. who had a too long skirt and a ugly heavy backpack they'll soon realise handbags are in!!! But obviously given they were new alot of them got lost so I thoroughly enjoyed helping them to find their class and look forward to having to do this for the next few weeks while they find their feet!!.. (figure of speech they all do have feet btw!)

Otherwise the other subject were following on from what our year had done last year!! But what was being asked alot was friends to friends or friends to other pupils friends (the word friends is really starting to get on my nerves) about their results!! I was asked god knows how many times and simply told them only my history grade which I will tell you all too... A* i know I was so happy... but for the others I would simply say: I was very happy were you? xxx
Its the best way, it makes sure you don't seem to be boasting!

Maybe you want to see a list of what I bring to school: (Below is a photo of some of the things but I'll list them all too!)

The Obvious:
Folders/books for that day (depending on the lessons I have)
Pencil Case
Calculator
Maths Set
Planner
French dictionary (only when I have french)

The extras:
A4 lined notebook
To Do list pad
Filofax
Umbrella (Especially in this country)
Tissues
mirror

The extra extra girly extras:
Hand wipes
Mini First Aid Kit
'Being on' kit
Travalo
Hand cream
Hand sanitiser

Well as you can see my bag needs to be pretty big!! It is believe me... it also has to fit my lunch and a bottle of water... (but I keep that in my locker usually!) xxx

And do you like my shoes: they're from tesco!!!

If you have any questions please leave them below!
will blog very soon about the SAT /SAT subject tests!
Much love
S xxx

Do we have to go home??

So as you have probably read... and if you have not you should have read my above/below blogpost all about GOZO, I just spent the last week in the beautiful island of Malta staying at the Hilton Hotel in Portamaso, I had a wonderful time.. as you can probably guess from the title of this blog!!
When we got there we met up with my first cousins who had decided to also come on holiday with us.. us 3 girls (me, my first cousins: Izzy and Georgia) had an absolute blast, everyday was spent sunbathing, listening to music, swimming and relaxing and then in the evenings we all got dressed up and hit the town.. not literally as we weren't old enough into any of the clubs even though as we walked through that area we were handed little coupons saying 'free drink/cocktail' by different owners of those bars!...Flattery I think that we even looked 18!!!

(I promise to make a collage of photos and update it onto this blog!)
As much as this was amazing, my dad and I had the original plan of going everymorning scuba diving with an instructor in order to earn our paddy badge.. I know exciting.. not really!
 To tell you the honest truth the organisation until we got to the place where we were diving was very unorganised!!! We then put on our scuba suits and got taught all about the breathing stuff we had to carry and etc etc.. we then were pushed into the sea.. wait I WAS TOLD WE WERE STARTING IN A POOL... A POOL NOT THE SEA!! So I was ok for a bit but as we dove down to 12metres.. on my first dive, I suddenly panicked and swam to the surface.... I was so scared!! I know babish but it was the first time I had done anything like that... I then tried again and the same happened so I said I wanted to get out and didn't want to continue wiht the 5 day course!!
Then as I was trying to climb out of the sea... I felt a burning sensation.. on my arms and my left leg.. I asked if this was normal and turns out I got stung in 6 places by a jellyfish!! So the person at the reception poured vinegar all over me.. i smelt like fish and chips!!
But ahhh it was so painful!!! It felt like needles pricking my skin!! Xxxx

Will update later
Much Love
S xxxx

MY First...,.

The title does not mean what all your dirty minds think it does! Right now I am on holiday.. Celebrating my gcse results!! And it is my first time blogging on the go, on my iPod actually!

So I thought this week my blogpost would be an update.. I am now at the kempinski in Gozo which is  an island no bigger than Enfield, just south of Malta the island south of Italy!! I am very south!
So for the past two days I have been relaxing and sunbathing which brings me onto suncream, I have very fair skin and a multitude of freckles... this equals to me needing factor 50 suncream! if you also fit the above description as well as having incredibly sensitive skin.. i recommend the nivea suncream factor 50 comes in a white bottle:

Yes I know it says for kids but honestly... reaplying this baby and never again will the sun have its way with you and burn you sensless till you're red and peeling!!!

So you're probably wondering what i have been up to.. well when i got to Malta on Sunday we took a ferry over to Gozo and then went out that night for dinner and as you do on holiday... we all ate too much!! Then yesterday i spent the day reading and sunbathing.. listening to Jake Owen and Luke bryan,  have i mentioned how much love country music! Especially Taylor Swift's new song... you know the one!!!

 

We went out for dinner last night as well in Xlendi to a place called Da Manuel.. found on trip advisor like everywhere else my family eat at on holiday: http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/ShowUserReviews-g230155-d1816227-r118173315-Da_Manuel_Restaurant-Xlendi_Island_of_Gozo.htm
Sad to say we are leaving this afternoon to go back to Malta to the Hilton,  i LOVE it here Gozo especially this hotell.... it is so quite and beautiful see for yourself!

 

Will blog again soon all about Malta
Much Love

Sxxxx

US College: what's it all about?

Dear reader,
I can only guess you are reading this as you are one of my many (2) members of my blog, that look forward to reading my blog as you do your birthday(joking) and for that I thank you or you may be looking to find out about the US College system and have come to me, and for that I also thank you!

This is basically the introduction where I will explain the pros and cons of Studying in the US....
So without further ado.. enjoy!!
Within the last few years the US has become an increasingly popular place for UK and international students to study at university
This can be for

• undergraduate study*
• Post Grad study*
• Short term (year study abroad program)*
• etc etc etc.....

For UK students it may for a variety of different reasons:

• Risings fees in our own universities
• Not enough places in our universities therefore not getting in
• Not having the grades to get into a UK university
• The experience
• Programs offered
• Reputation

Lets tackle each one individually, PRICE first:
To start with I must say the fees overthere do not vary compared to our new rising fees.... for a in-state student (a pupil who lives in that state and parents pay state taxes) has a low fee much like that of our students (around 10-9$ Grand a year, of course once you work out the exchange rate it shows that for in-state students the US is much much more affordable!)
However if you are an out of state pupil (all international students) you can look foward to paying up to $25-30 grand a year for just tuition.. that leaves out food/room and board/life costs basically!) Even with the exchange rate that is more than we pay here!! I am under no circumstances trying to persuade you not to go to the US for unviersity instead I am merely trying to get you to understand what you're letting yourself in for!!
But heres the good part.... you ready: there are thousands of opportunities for scolarships/financial aid (which is basically money given to you by the school or other organisations to help you pay for your college tuition) Some are so big that they can pay for the whole thing (including room and board and tuition) but remember... these are very competitive obviously!! The financial aid information is found on the website of each college and some manage to provide over 90% of the students that require financial aid with it! (Plus one for the US, 0 for the UK)

Issues with number of places/grades:
Here in the UK we have over 400 universities (sounds alot.. its not) the state of Texas alone has half of our amount with 200.. and California... well 347.. overall the US has just under 4,000 universities (10 times our number) We are a populated country.. England and also the UK is pretty populated too! We are being asked to get grades of oxbridge level for universities that can't claim to be up to that standard because they want the best as they can ask for the best as they are so oversubscribed.. some UK universities have acceptance rates of less than some of the top State schools and even some of the privates. If you are lucky enough to be at that oxbridge level.. remember there is always Harvard!... but will get onto schools later!!! So overall the US as it has more universities and you my friend will be an international student something they like... (its different) you may have less problem with not getting in if you don't have oxbridge level grades! (2 for the US!))))

Experince:
This was my reason really, I want to broaden my horizons but this doesn't give the US an extra point as I am being a bit biased if I do!!
But there will be an entire blog post all about how your experience depends on the college you go to!!

Programs offered:
As there is so much more money going into universites due to higher prices and state taxes they can afford to offer a wider variety of programs.. but heres the thing!! Your years at univeristy will be totally different (duh) to if you stayed in the UK! This is due to the fact the US has something called majors which is the subject you study and take yoru degree in at the end.. however in order to get this degree you must stay at univeristy for 4 years instead of 2-3 like in the UK.... (1 POINT TO THE UK, as one/two less year(s) mean less money to pay so less debt)
This is due to the fact in your first 2 years of university in the US you kinda can study all the subjects you want.. like another 2 years of A-level and then only in the last 2 do you choose your degree subject.. so if you're undecided in year 13 it gives you the perfect opportunity as you don't have to decide then.. but have a 2 more years to take up new subject you've never studied, to grow and change and find where you want to be or what subject you like the most! (Another point to the US) but if you know exactly what you want to do the first 2 years you may find boring and a waste as you normally would have to do units in all 3 cores subjects.. to add up to points for your final 2 years (alot like UCAS points I guess!!) (So another point for the UK!)

Reputation:
I don't to tell you the honest truth understand this reason, they have IVY league schools (will be discussed in a later video) we have Oxbridge.... reputation well we have it they have it.. no points for anyone!!!

SO overall its a tie 2-2... well who could have seen that coming..
In order to chose you have to know what works for you: what do you want in a university? This question will play the biggest part in this series.. I can't tell each of you what you want its your job, I can only provide information/advice/websties/helpful links but otherwise you're on your own kiddo!!

But first you need to ask yourself if you could do it.. go halfway across the world away from everyone for 4 whole years (minus the summer hols of course) and enjoy yourself and work and come out with a good result???
For more information than I provided you with, in why Internation students may check out US colleges follow the link:
http://www.fulbright.org.uk/study-in-the-usa
(This is one of many links you will get, this is for the US-UK Fulbright: below is their little biography:)

The US-UK Fulbright Commission was created by a treaty signed by both countries on 22 September 1948.^[1] It is a non-profit organisation based in London, UK. Its aim is to foster mutual cultural understanding through educational exchange between both nations.^[2] To do this, Fulbright helps students, scholars and professionals interested in studying abroad in the US or UK through its world-renowned scholarship programme and its EducationUSA advice service.

Thank  you so much for reading,
I hope this was helpful, remember to check back in next week to hear about how to choose a university to apply for?
Much Love
S xxx

Definitons of stars* (as provided by wikipedia)
Undergraduate study: In the United States of America undergraduate refers to those who are studying towards a bachelor's degree. The most common method consists of four years of study leading to a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), a Bachelor of Science (B.S.), or sometimes another bachelor's degree such as Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.), Bachelor of Social Work (B.S.W.), Bachelor of Engineering (B.Eng.), Bachelor of Science in Public Affairs (B.S.P.A), or Bachelor of Philosophy (B.Phil.) Five-Year Professional Architecture programs offer the Bachelor of Architecture Degree (B.Arch.).
Post-Graduate study:Post-graduate education (or graduate education in North America) involves learning and studying for degrees or other qualifications for which a first or Bachelor's degree generally is required, and is normally considered to be part of higher education. In North America, this level is generally referred to as graduate school.
Short term: Where during your 3/2 years at a UK university you spend one of the years abroad studying at a US university.

All these options are avaliable to UK students!

Setaphil please....

Hello and good evening to you all!!!
Today was the 23rd, the 23rd of August.. but I'm guessing you already knew that!! Good, because otherwise you've probably spent your whole day in bed and unless your ill or heartbroken that ain't very productive!!!!! Today I woke up at 5 to 6am, why at 5.55 did you Saskia Feldman wake up at during your summer holidays? Well some of you may know today was the day for GCSE pupils to get their results. I am in year 10 and at the time of 6am my history gcse results when 'live' online, this was the only subject where I would get my whole gcse this year so you can tell with it being my favourite subject and all and the one I want to take for the rest of my life.. (more in the college series) i WAS PRETTY nervous!! So the best remedy.. either rescue remedy or setaphil (french thing!) Look them up they are just amazing WOW work wonders!

Oh you probably want to know my results for History lets just say I was incredibly incredibly happy, and that exam that I did in January?? Do you remember well it was good I resat it!!!

Then at 9am I along with my best friend went to collect our results for our other subjects... lets just say again I was very happy and haven't been able to stop smiling.. but I don't want to boast by putting them up online! By the time I had done catching up with my school friends I went home and my parents took my brother and I out for lunch in hampstead followed by a crepe... chocolate and banana from the best place in the world.. THE HAMPSTEAD CREPERIE!!!!
..... SERIOUSLY its just... just.... WONDERFUL!!!!
And to make my day even better I came home to see a congratulations card from my grandparents... LOVE YOU, NANA AND GRANDPA!! xxxx

 



So all my hard work I guess you could say payed off... see when you really work I mean really work hard at something.. you can achieve greatness!!! Its just one of the best feelings in the world!!!

 

I hope any of you that had results either today or last week (AS/A2/University places) did as well as you hoped for!!!

 

Writing the first college US blog now!!

Talk soon

Much love

S xxxx

Okay.. I am late again!! This is so unlike me... like really unlike me!!!

But on Monday I went away on holiday to center parcs: http://www.centerparcs.co.uk/
Which is an activity place/thing where they have water activities such as Kayaking to Abseling and Quad Bikes!!
My best friend Grace.. been featured on my blog already this summer... you guys know her so well now don't you!!! She treated me and I went to the Center Parcs-Longleat with her and her family!
The activities we did were:
-Canoeing
-Laser Shoot out
-High Ropes and Leap of Faith
-Aerial Adventure
-Badminton
-Mini Bowling

Now if any of you readers know me socially... you will know I am a huge scaredy cat/a giant baby when it comes to facing my fears! But this holiday I seriously let myself to go and me.. yes me I did a leap of faith from like the height of a 2 storey house and a zip wire over a lake!! Some of you are now giving me a round of applause.. now you're smiling... however some of you are thinking so what?! I don't care I am proud of myself and you know what I deserve to feel this way!!

I actually suit all the gear they give you, I should do all this more often:

Now below if this actually works is a couple of very short vlogs/videos of me and my best friend on some of the activities:

Me on aerial adventure...(basically an obstacle course in the tress!)

Me on the Leap of faith.. yeah that did require alot of faith!!!

Grace coming down on the ZIP WIRE.. got to love this girl

Grace doing Leap of Faith... yeh i KNOW she was amazing.. she actually did way better than me and held onto the handlebars!!! xxx

What's more in order to get around the whole park you use bikes.. now they say riding a bike is like riding a bike and I am incredibly happy to tell you it is!!! I got used to the bike in only one day and by the last day I was riding a bike in a maxi skirt... c'mon guys do I not get a round of applause at least for that!!! Most of the activies took place in the Jardin des Sport which was at the opposite end of the park to our lodge....so when we were there we stayed as long as possible to make it worth the huge journey!!

And overall you're probably wondering about our jumpers well.... the front said:
'Don't cry because it's over,
smile because it happened'
This is mine and Graces favourite quote ever!!!
Then the back said our nicknames!!

If you would like to look uber-cool on your holiday and get matching jumpers for you and your friend/s or family then look no further than: www.banana-moon-clothing.co.uk
Oh I sound just like an advert....well you know how it is!!!
Heres the back of Graces/Gracie:

The weather was well choppy/changy.. one of the days it was absolutely terrential (if that's how you spell it) the rain would not stop and then the next day I almost got burnt.. thank God for suncream!!! :D Ahhh how we all love the English summer!

I just want to thank my best friend and her family for such an amazing holiday!!

If you ever get the chance to go to Center Parcs... bear in mind it may be alot of great fun but it is not cheap in fact it is compeltely overpriced ££££££££££££££££££££££££££££
The food, the lodge, some of the activities!!!!!!


My next post will be an introduction to my US college series!!
Much love
xxxxxxx