On January 25, 2014, in Hong Kong, at the AsiaWorld-Expo examination venue, nearly ten thousand candidates participated in the SAT exam, known as the "American College Entrance Examination."
The SAT, or Scholastic Assessment Test, is organized by the College Board, and SAT scores are an important reference for high school students worldwide applying to prestigious universities in the United States. In recent years, as more Chinese students choose to pursue undergraduate studies in the United States, the SAT exam has gained popularity in China as a crucial reference for applying to American universities. Due to the lack of testing centers in mainland China, Hong Kong has become the preferred choice for many students from the mainland to take the SAT. The largest examination venue in Hong Kong—the AsiaWorld-Expo—has its testing area located in the underground section of the venue, which can accommodate thousands of people, leading candidates to humorously refer to it as the "mass grave."
It is reported that the number of Chinese high school students studying in the United States has quadrupled in four years. According to the Institute of International Education, in the 2010 academic year, the number of Chinese high school students studying in the United States reached 39,921, surpassing South Korea to become the largest source of international undergraduate students. The SAT, PSAT (Preliminary SAT, commonly known as the "Little College Entrance Examination" in the U.S.), and AP (Advanced Placement) exams are recognized as the three official exams by the College Board. Among them, SAT scores are a primary basis for U.S. universities to admit students and are a significant reference for high school students worldwide applying to American universities and obtaining scholarships. The impact of SAT scores on admission and scholarship amounts is substantial. Moreover, some prestigious universities in the United States require students from around the world to submit SAT scores. Some high school students from mainland China even travel to South Korea to take the SAT, sometimes participating more than once.
Prestigious universities in the United States typically require students to provide SAT scores; otherwise, they will not be admitted.
