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VOA慢速英语--大学招生:准备能力测试

时间:2018-03-04 16:37:09

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College Admissions2: Preparing to Test Your Abilities

For many would-be college students, testing is the most difficult part of the undergraduate3 application process.

Applicants4 sit for hours taking tests. They answer questions about a number of subjects, sometimes providing answers both in writing and by saying them out loud.

In some countries, a single test result can be the only thing college or university officials consider when deciding whether or not to admit a student.

But that is not true everywhere. Ryan Griffin says that in the United States, test scores are only part of what school officials consider.

Griffin is head of International Admissions at the University of Missouri, a public research university in Columbia, Missouri. He notes that many schools have changed their thinking about this part of the application.

Griffin says a growing number of U.S. colleges and universities let applicants choose whether or not they want to take a standardized5 test, such as the SAT or ACT. He told VOA the University of Missouri does not require international applicants to provide results from either test.

Why? The College Board, a higher education group, created the SAT in 1926 as way of fairly measuring a student’s academic abilities and critical thinking skills. A university professor created the ACT in 1959 so as to offer a different method for rating6 college applicants. But Griffin says research has since shown the two tests are not as fair as was once thought, especially for students in need of financial help.

Colleges and universities have come to recognize that tests like the SAT and the ACT usually help students with experience in the U.S. education system. Additionally, official testing centers are available in some, but not all areas. They can be difficult to reach and costly8 for some applicants.

Still, Griffin says, if a student decides to apply to a school that does require a standardized test score, there is a lot to consider. Both the SAT and the ACT are divided into different parts.

Both tests have areas that measure a student’s abilities in mathematics, where they must choose the best answer to a question.

Standardized tests also require students to demonstrate9 their ability to understand a reading and express themselves in writing. But unlike the SAT, the ACT has a part with questions about science.

Schools usually prefer one standardized test over the other and will clearly state which of the two they want applicants to take, says Griffin. The different parts of both tests have their own test scores. And he thinks that students should consider taking either test more than once.

“There’s going to be some anxiety as far as sitting down for this test for the first time,” Griffin told VOA. “So it can be a good chance for the student … to feel as though they then have a better understanding … for their second attempt.”

Most Americans take the SAT or ACT in the spring of their next to last year in high school. If students decide to re-take the test, Griffin suggests doing so in the autumn of their final year.

Some colleges will only accept a student’s most recent test score. But another reason he says students should take either one more than once is that some schools will accept the highest score from both attempts. And if, for example, a student scores higher in math the first time they take the SAT, but higher in writing the second time, some schools will combine the higher numbers. Students can often ask schools how they weigh these scores, or read about their methods on the schools’ websites.

There are many test preparation books and classes available to people interested in paying for them. But Griffin says the best test preparation is to be well-rested the night before and calm the day of the test.

“It’s … important for students … to be confident in their knowledge, so that when they sit down to take the test there’s not an extra level of … pressure that they’re putting on themselves,” he said.

However, academic tests are not the only ones students from non-English speaking countries will face. After World War II, U.S. schools needed a way of measuring the language abilities of the greatly increasing number of international students entering the country. So a test of English as a foreign language -- the TOEFL -- was created in 1964.

Another test for non-native English speakers -- the IELTS -- was created in 1980. The IELTS is mainly for use by English-speaking European colleges and universities. But Mark Algren says it is becoming more widely used in the United States. Algren is the executive10 director of the Center for English Language Learning11 at the University of Missouri.

Algren notes that like the SAT and ACT, the TOEFL and IELTS are similar, and schools usually prefer one over the other. They also both have individually scored parts. These measure a student’s abilities in listening, speaking, reading and writing in English.

Like the academic tests, he says, there are many resources available to help applicants prepare themselves. But one of the best things any language learner can do is to take seriously the English language classes their school offers.

Outside of school, the best thing a student can do is read in English, notes Algren. All areas of language ability are important. But in a college environment, reading is the most commonly used language skill. And reading connects to the second most commonly used skill: writing.

“Read, read, read, read, read; because when you’re reading, you’re not only learning reading,” he said. “You’re learning vocabulary … You’re going to learn grammar.”

Unlike traditional standardized tests, Algren suggests students not take the TOEFL or IELTS more than once. Test results are considered acceptable12 for up to two years, and many schools, such as Missouri, only accept the most recent score.

Instead, Algren says, students should make use of internet-based practice tests. These will help student get used to the amount of time they have to complete these tests, and let them know where their strengths and weaknesses lie.

“Be truthful13 with yourself, because you do … get some idea of things you need to be working on,” he added.

Both Algren and Griffin agree that honesty is important, especially in testing. Schools have ways of looking at test scores to see if there is anything unusual about them that suggests a student cheated.

Also, in the case of language testing, many U.S. schools require international students to take an additional7 English ability test when they arrive. This to ensure that students are fully14 prepared to begin their studies.

I’m Pete Musto. And I’m Caty Weaver15.

Words in This Story

undergraduate – adj. describing a student at a college or university who has not yet earned a degree

application – n. a formal and usually written request for something, such as a job, admission1 to a school, or a loan16

standardized test – n. any form of test that requires all test takers to answer the same questions, or a selection17 of questions from common bank of questions, in the same way, and that is scored in a consistent18 manner

academic – adj. of or relating to schools and education

prefer – v. to like someone or something better than someone or something else

anxiety – n. fear or nervousness about what might happen

confident – adj. having a feeling or belief that you can do something well or succeed at something

practice – adj. describing the activity of doing something again and again in order to become better at it


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点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 admission 6Kuyx     
n.允许进入;承认;入场费,入会费,入场券
参考例句:
  • We attached a condition to his admission to our school.我们对准许他入校附加了一个条件。
  • By her own admission,she was responsible for the accident.她自己承认,事故应该由她负责。
2 admissions 36041e3ee38a9a1077863142ac4d5abb     
n.准许进入( admission的名词复数 );入场费;入场券;承认
参考例句:
  • a need-blind admissions policy 不考虑经济能力的录取政策
  • He's the Dean of Admissions for the University of Michigan. 他是Michigan大学的新生注册主任。 来自辞典例句
3 undergraduate vUczO     
n.大学生,大学肆业生
参考例句:
  • Mr. Stone spent his undergraduate days in Columbia University,majoring in economics.斯通先生在哥伦比亚大学度过了他四年的大学生活,主修经济学。
  • During this time,they are called undergraduate students.在此期间,他们被称为大学本科生。
4 applicants aaea8e805a118b90e86f7044ecfb6d59     
申请人,求职人( applicant的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • There were over 500 applicants for the job. 有500多人申请这份工作。
  • He was impressed by the high calibre of applicants for the job. 求职人员出色的能力给他留下了深刻印象。
5 standardized 8hHzgs     
adj.标准化的
参考例句:
  • We use standardized tests to measure scholastic achievement. 我们用标准化考试来衡量学生的学业成绩。
  • The parts of an automobile are standardized. 汽车零件是标准化了的。
6 rating 5kYzDZ     
n.级别,等级,额定值,责骂,收视率
参考例句:
  • It is a ship with a rating of 500,000 tons.这是一艘五十万吨级的船。
  • The opinion polls gave the president a high rating.民意测验显示人民对总统的支持率很高。
7 additional rJTyM     
adj.添加的,额外的,另外的
参考例句:
  • It is necessary to set down these additional rules.有必要制定这些补充规则。
  • I think we can fit in an additional room.我想我们可以再加建一间房子。
8 costly 7zXxh     
adj.昂贵的,价值高的,豪华的
参考例句:
  • It must be very costly to keep up a house like this.维修这么一幢房子一定很昂贵。
  • This dictionary is very useful,only it is a bit costly.这本词典很有用,左不过贵了些。
9 demonstrate VwWxp     
vt.论证,证明;示范;显示;vi.示威游行
参考例句:
  • Let me demonstrate to you how this machine works.我给你演示一下这台机器的运转情况。
  • How can I demonstrate to you that my story is true?我怎样才能向你证明我的话是真实的呢?
10 executive Ymlxs     
adj.执行的,行政的;n.执行者,行政官,经理
参考例句:
  • A good executive usually gets on well with people.一个好的高级管理人员通常与人们相处得很好。
  • He is a man of great executive ability.他是个具有极高管理能力的人。
11 learning wpSzFe     
n.学问,学识,学习;动词learn的现在分词
参考例句:
  • When you are learning to ride a bicycle,you often fall off.初学骑自行车时,常会从车上掉下来。
  • Learning languages isn't just a matter of remembering words.学习语言不仅仅是记些单词的事。
12 acceptable NIByZ     
adj.可接受的,合意的,受欢迎的
参考例句:
  • The terms of the contract are acceptable to us.我们认为这个合同的条件可以接受。
  • Air pollution in the city had reached four times the acceptable levels.这座城市的空气污染程度曾高达可接受标准的四倍。
13 truthful OmpwN     
adj.真实的,说实话的,诚实的
参考例句:
  • You can count on him for a truthful report of the accident.你放心,他会对事故作出如实的报告的。
  • I don't think you are being entirely truthful.我认为你并没全讲真话。
14 fully Gfuzd     
adv.完全地,全部地,彻底地;充分地
参考例句:
  • The doctor asked me to breathe in,then to breathe out fully.医生让我先吸气,然后全部呼出。
  • They soon became fully integrated into the local community.他们很快就完全融入了当地人的圈子。
15 weaver LgWwd     
n.织布工;编织者
参考例句:
  • She was a fast weaver and the cloth was very good.她织布织得很快,而且布的质量很好。
  • The eager weaver did not notice my confusion.热心的纺织工人没有注意到我的狼狈相。
16 loan w0RxB     
n.贷款;借出的东西;借;vt.借出;贷予
参考例句:
  • I asked the bank to help me with a loan.我请银行给我一笔贷款。
  • Has the bank okayed your request for a loan?银行批准你的贷款要求了吗?
17 selection EZ3xX     
n.选择,挑选,精选品,可选择的东西
参考例句:
  • We left the selection of the team to the captain.我们把挑选队员的工作交给了队长。
  • The shop has a fine selection of cheeses.那家商店有各种精美乳酪可供选购。
18 consistent hYwyU     
adj.坚持的,一贯的,一致的,符合的
参考例句:
  • He has been a consistent friend to the Chinese people.他是中国人民始终如一的朋友。
  • His action is always consistent with his words.他始终言行一致。

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