Standardized Tests
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Though the main idea of having TOEFL score if just to prove you're capable of surviving well in an English speaking community, especially in the academic environment of colleges, that test score is still being considered one of the core factors to your acceptance.

This article is not intended to give you advice on how to study TOEFL, SAT or ACT well, nor will it attempt to introduce these test models. You can easily find those on plenty of websites including those listed at the bottom. I just think these might be helpful to you all somehow:

- Be sure to take the test at least 1.5 months before the application deadline. ETS says it takes two weeks from testing date for your score to be available, but it also takes about 2 weeks to reach your hand. So normally it would take about 4-5 weeks from testing date for the score sheet to be in your hand, ready to be copied and put in your application.

- There is always new vocabulary in every TOEFL/SAT/ACT test. Don't panic if you find new vocabulary everytime you try to do a practice test.

- Though SAT/ACT score is not required for international students in many schools, having high scores of those is definitely an advantange of yours, since it's getting more competitive.

- I've got friends from other third-world countries having to study for TOEFL within 2 weeks before the test date, without any practicing materials, and still scored over 600, so don't complain there are not enough preparation materials in Vietnam. "Where there's a will, there's a way."

- Did I mention the importance of taking the test way ahead of time?

- Not only taking the test should be way ahead of time, but so should registering for the test. More and more people are trying to go abroad.

- Standardized tests are a matter of hard work.

- Standardized tests are a matter of hard work. (this is not an error :))

- Good luck.

That's it for now.