Social media reports say the August SAT test administered in the United States was the same one offered in South Korea and China a year ago.

Assertions are circulating on Twitter that the August 2018 Scholastic Aptitude Test had been leaked overseas, with some saying it was the same test administered in Asia in October 2017. If so, that would give students who had the answers from last year an advantage over other students.

A post on Reddit pointed to a number of students from China who, the poster said, arrived at her SAT testing site in California on a privately chartered bus and showed their Chinese passports for identification. The poster suggested the group knew that day's test was the same one administered last year in Asia and had the answers in advance.

The College Board, which administers the test, wrote that it takes quality control steps before scores are released, which include conducting statistical analysis of certain test scores:

In response to numerous questions about rescoring or canceling the August test scores, the College Board said that scores would come out as regularly scheduled.

"For those of you who have asked about the SAT test on Saturday, Aug. 25/Sunday, Aug. 26, we do not comment on the specifics of test form and/or question usage, in order to protect the security of our tests," a statement read.

Most U.S. colleges and universities use the SAT to measure the capabilities of applicants. More than 6.7 million test-takers completed the SAT or a pre-SAT test during the 2015-16 school year, Maria Eugenia Alcón-Heraux, College Board director of media relations, told Student Union.

Likewise, many students judge schools by looking at the level of SAT scores a college or university prefers in deciding admissions. It is a metric that implies higher scores mean smarter students and better schools.

The College Board has come under fire before for test scoring and question recycling.

This June, the test administered faced a tougher grading curve because the questions were easier, according to the College Board. While the board maintained that the scoring was fair, many students taking the test for a second or third time said their scores dropped despite the fact that they got more questions correct. They demanded the test be rescored.

But cases of cheating, particularly on tests administered throughout Asia, have been rampant. Last February, many SAT scores from international tests were canceled in the wake of cheating, and the College Board concluded that it would reduce the number times that SATs are offered overseas from four per year to three, to reduce duplication of questions.

In an extreme case, three Chinese students were arrested last year for "attempting to defraud the United States" after the government proved they had paid another student to take the SAT for them, which led to their admission to American universities.

The Trump administration is opening new investigations into allegations of antisemitism at five U.S. universities including Columbia and the University of California, Berkeley, the Education Department announced Monday.

It's part of President Donald Trump's promise to take a tougher stance against campus antisemitism and deal out harsher penalties than the Biden administration, which settled a flurry of cases with universities in its final weeks. It comes the same day the Justice Department announced a new task force to root out antisemitism on college campuses.

In an order signed last week, Trump called for aggressive action to fight anti-Jewish bias on campuses, including the deportation of foreign students who have participated in pro-Palestinian protests.

Along with Columbia and Berkeley, the department is now investigating the University of Minnesota, Northwestern University and Portland State University. The cases were opened using the department's power to launch its own civil rights reviews, unlike the majority of investigations, which stem from complaints.

Messages seeking comment were left with all five universities.
A statement from the Education Department criticized colleges for tolerating antisemitism after Hamas' Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel and a wave of pro-Palestinian protests that followed. It also criticized the Biden administration for negotiating "toothless" resolutions that failed to hold schools accountable.

"Today, the Department is putting universities, colleges, and K-12 schools on notice: this administration will not tolerate continued institutional indifference to the wellbeing of Jewish students on American campuses," said Craig Trainor, the agency's acting assistant secretary for civil rights.

The department didn't provide details about the inquiries or how it decided which schools are being targeted. Presidents of Columbia and Northwestern were among those called to testify on Capitol Hill last year as Republicans sought accountability for allegations of antisemitism. The hearings contributed to the resignation of multiple university presidents, including Columbia's Minouche Shafik.

An October report from House Republicans accused Columbia of failing to punish pro-Palestinian students who took over a campus building, and it called Northwestern's negotiations with student protesters a "stunning capitulation."

House Republicans applauded the new investigations. Representative Tim Walberg, chair of the Education and Workforce Committee, said he was "glad that we finally have an administration who is taking action to protect Jewish students."

Trump's order also calls for a full review of antisemitism complaints filed with the Education Department since Oct. 7, 2023, including pending and resolved cases from the Biden administration. It encourages the Justice Department to take action to enforce civil rights laws.

Last week's order drew backlash from civil rights groups who said it violated First Amendment rights that protect political speech.

The new task force announced Monday includes the Justice and Education departments along with Health and Human Services.

"The Department takes seriously our responsibility to eradicate this hatred wherever it is found," said Leo Terrell, assistant attorney general for civil rights. "The Task Force to Combat Anti-Semitism is the first step in giving life to President Trump's renewed commitment to ending anti-Semitism in our schools."

The Times of India breaks down the most popular subjects for international students to study in the U.S.

STEM and business lead the pack. Read the full story here. (January 2025)

U.S. News & World report addresses some of the misconceptions about U.S. colleges and universities, including the difficulty of getting a visa.

Read the full story here. (January 2025)

US News & World Report details the three top factors in foreign students' decision to study in the U.S. They include research opportunities and the reputation of U.S. degrees. Read the full story here. (December 2024)