Standardised tests · Overview
Standardised testing, without the guesswork.
A standardised test controls every stage — purpose, question-setting, delivery, marking and score interpretation — under one scientific procedure, so results compare fairly across the world. Hanlin, founded by Ivy League and Oxbridge alumni with hundreds of tutors trained at leading universities abroad, coaches the full slate: TOEFL, IELTS, SAT, ACT, Duolingo and PTE, alongside the Oxbridge admissions papers.
The tests
Which paper does your application need?
Language tests prove English proficiency; SAT and ACT measure academic readiness for US admission. Cards open the dedicated pages where they exist.
TOEFL
The US-first English test — iBT at centres, a Home Edition, and a paper option. Now two hours long.
IELTS
The UK-first English test in Academic and UKVI forms — the default for UK bachelor's and postgraduate applications.
SAT
The College Board's admission test, now fully digital and adaptive, scored out of 1600.
ACT
The other US entrance exam — computer-based for international candidates, scored out of 36.
Duolingo English Test
The at-home adaptive test — one hour, no appointment, results inside 48 hours.
PTE Academic
Pearson's fully machine-marked academic English test, accepted for UK study and student visas.
Policy
Where the requirements stand.
Testing policy differs by destination and moves year to year — several US universities have recently reinstated test requirements after the optional era. An advisor tracks the current rules for each list.
United Kingdom
IELTS-led language requirements, with UKVI versions for visa routes and admissions tests for Oxbridge and G5 courses.
United States
TOEFL plus SAT or ACT; test-optional policies are receding as universities restore standardised requirements.
Canada
TOEFL or IELTS for language proof; selective programmes weigh curriculum grades alongside.
Hong Kong, China
English-medium universities accept IELTS and TOEFL, with programme-specific score floors.
Formats & scoring
The six tests in detail.
Delivery, structure, scoring and results timing for each paper — drawn from the Chinese testing centre and kept to the current arrangements.
TOEFL
Offered as the centre-based iBT, the Home Edition and a paper-delivered test.
- Structure
- Listening, speaking, reading and writing; shortened to 2 hours from 26 July 2023
- Scoring
- Each section out of 30, total 120
- Results
- 4–10 days after the test; valid for two years from test date
ACT
Computer-based for international candidates; US districts may still offer paper.
- Structure
- English, mathematics and reading, testing course mastery and independent reasoning
- Scoring
- Each section out of 36; the total is the average — and wrong answers are never penalised
- Note
- Choice of computer or paper in the US contrasts with the SAT's all-digital format
Duolingo English Test
Taken online at home, any time, with a computer and webcam — no appointment or centre.
- Structure
- One hour: a 10-minute intro, 45 adaptive minutes across the four skills, and a 10-minute video interview
- Scoring
- Out of 160; the adaptive engine adjusts difficulty as you answer
- Results
- Within 48 hours of validation, sent free to chosen universities; valid two years
IELTS
Academic IELTS for study; UKVI IELTS for UK visa and immigration routes.
- Structure
- Listening 30 min (+10 transfer), reading and writing 60 min each, speaking under 15 — about three hours; reading, listening and writing on computer, speaking face to face
- Scoring
- The 9-band scale per skill; UK master's courses commonly ask 6.5 overall with 6.5 in writing and reading
- Results
- ~3 days computer-based, 14 days on paper; valid two years
PTE Academic
Fully computer-marked — no examiner variance; a UKVI version covers pre-sessional routes.
- Structure
- About two hours: 1-minute introduction, 54–67 minutes speaking and writing, 29–30 reading, 30–43 listening
- Scoring
- Out of 90
- Results
- Within five working days, often 48 hours; valid two years for study, three for Australian migration
SAT
The reasoning test (SAT 1) scored out of 1600; subject tests (SAT 2) out of 800 each.
- Structure
- Three hours across reading, writing & language and mathematics, with an optional essay
- Digital format
- Two modules per subject: module one sits near the 600-point band, module two adapts to your accuracy — a weak first module caps the ceiling
- Note
- Subject tests present depth in maths, sciences and history to admissions offices
Test dates
- TOEFL & IELTS: multiple sittings monthly
- SAT: seven international dates a year
- ACT: five international windows
- Duolingo: any day, on demand
- Always confirm against the official calendars
Hanlin selects
Free past papers and guides.
Curated preparation sets from the resource centre, free to collect.
TOEFL reading
The long-sentence analysis handbook for TOEFL reading, in its latest edition.
IELTS official sets
The Cambridge official IELTS practice collections.
SAT mathematics
The must-know SAT maths formula sheet, updated for the digital test.
How it runs
The Hanlin coaching pipeline, in six steps.
The same pipeline behind every study-abroad programme at Hanlin.
Step 1Talk to an advisor
An enquiry call maps the target universities and the tests they need.
Step 2Placement diagnostic
An entry assessment pins down the real starting level.
Step 3Personal plan
A tailored admissions plan sets the score targets and the calendar.
Step 4Expert tutoring
The tutor team delivers the coaching, one-to-one or in small groups.
Step 5Staged testing
Regular mocks measure progress against the target score.
Step 6After-class support
Question-answering and revision guidance carry through between lessons.
Results
Where test-programme students landed.
From the published 2020–24 admissions lists — the complete boards live on the honours pages.
120 G5 offers
Cambridge 35, Imperial 30, UCL 27, Oxford 26 and LSE 2 across the five seasons.
US top tier
Cornell and Carnegie Mellon 25 each, UPenn 16, MIT and Johns Hopkins 14 each, Stanford 10.
Beyond
Toronto 16, Hong Kong 5, Melbourne 4 — and Harvard, Yale and Princeton on the full boards.
Faculty
The test-prep tutor team.
Five of the 100+ overseas-trained tutors presented on the Chinese testing centre.
Kelu Lun Bai
Hult San Francisco master's and Barcelona business degree with a Texas A&M exchange; seven years living and working across Europe and the US.
Coached national #1 finishes in IEO and NEC; triple-certified by College Board, Cambridge and the IBO; judge at the Diamond Challenge global final.
Dr Zhang
PhD in pure mathematics from Rochester and a Fudan post-doctoral researcher, selected for Chongqing Nankai's science stream in his own school years.
Seven years of research and university teaching; coaches the AMC–AIME–USAMO ladder, university mathematics and the maths sections of the admissions tests.
Dr He
Cambridge master's in technology policy; computer science and mathematics at Nebraska–Lincoln after a US high-school diploma.
Teaches fully in English across AP Calculus, AP Statistics, AMC, A-Level Maths and IGCSE Computing — five AMC 10 students into AIME in one season.
Micheal
Southeast University maths-physics programme, then aerospace engineering at George Washington under a NASA Sigma programme lead.
Students count 6 BPhO Super Golds, 27 Golds and 6 BAAO Golds; coaches AP and IB physics with long-running IA, EE and TOK writing support.
Mandy
Schulich business-analytics master's with York finance and HIT software-engineering degrees, and years of North American study and work.
Former university teaching brings first-hand insight into overseas grading and postgraduate admission; teaches AP Micro and Macroeconomics.
Guides
Latest testing reading, by exam.
The full library from the Chinese testing desk — every headline, grouped by test, ahead of the news section going live.
ACT & US policy8
Oxbridge papers — MAT, PAT & STEP9
SAT · language tests · Duolingo9
Talk to an advisor
Which test, when, and what target is realistic.
Three questions that need a diagnostic rather than a brochure. Scan and an advisor will set one up.
Scan to add an advisor
Say which competition or course you are asking about. Replies in Chinese or English.
Or call +86 21 6352 6630FAQ
Standardised testing, briefly answered.
The questions families ask when the test calendar first lands on the table.
TOEFL or IELTS — which should my child sit?
Both are accepted almost everywhere; TOEFL leans US and IELTS leans UK. Pick by target list and by format preference — TOEFL is now a two-hour, fully computer-delivered test, while IELTS keeps a face-to-face speaking interview and offers a UKVI version for visa routes.
SAT or ACT for US applications?
Universities accept either. The digital SAT is adaptive and scored out of 1600; the ACT averages four 36-point sections, allows paper in the US, and never penalises wrong answers. A diagnostic sitting of each usually settles the choice quickly.
Is test-optional still the norm in the US?
It is receding — Harvard, Yale, Brown, Dartmouth and Cornell have all restored standardised-test requirements in recent cycles. Build the testing plan as if scores are required.
How long are scores valid?
TOEFL, IELTS, Duolingo and PTE scores are valid for two years from the test date — PTE stretches to three years for Australian migration. Plan sittings so scores are still live at application time.
When should testing start?
Work backwards from the application season: a first language-test sitting in year one of senior high leaves room for retakes, with SAT or ACT settled by the summer of year two and Oxbridge admissions papers in the October of the application year.
How does Hanlin structure the coaching?
A six-step pipeline — advisor consultation, placement diagnostic, a personal plan, expert tutoring, staged mocks and after-class support — delivered one-to-one or in small groups, online and at the three learning centres.
Testing enquiries
Build the test calendar around the application.
Tell us the target universities and current level, and an advisor will sequence the tests, sittings and preparation blocks.