Both tests matter for U.S. admission — but doing them in the wrong order wastes months.
The sequence we recommend
- Grade 9–10: English foundation + IELTS. Language skills compound; an early IELTS 6.5 unlocks SAT prep efficiency later.
- Grade 10–11: SAT. With solid English, SAT becomes a reasoning test, not a vocabulary test. Two attempts before grade 12 is ideal.
- Grade 12: retakes only if the scholarship math justifies it.
Why Kaplan materials change the game
As Kaplan Certified Education Provider in Vietnam, Clever Academy teaches with the same adaptive practice and score analytics used worldwide — students always know their realistic score range before the real test.
Campuses in Hanoi & Ho Chi Minh City, online nationwide. Book a free placement test.
