International diversity

By William Beacom. No one spoke English at my SAT center. The proctor struggled to read the script and probably didn’t know what “proctor” meant. My peers couldn’t understand my English when I tried to make small talk before the test. After the College Board decided to shut down all test centers in mainland China, I tested among hundreds of mainland Chinese attending an “SAT tour” in Hong Kong. The competition was fierce. After finishing the math section in under six minutes, a girl closed her test book, turned to me and watched me with the most malicious smile while I struggled to finish in time. When we got to the English sections, I made sure to drum my fingers on the table impatiently, as she anxiously watched her Hello Kitty alarm clock count down. Yes, it was a very stereotype-affirming experience for the both of us. More...