US University Applications: Grades, Tests and Activities

This guide is for parents whose child attends an international school and who are thinking about US undergraduate applications for the first time. It is based on official sources as of 2026-10-29. Requirements can change by university and by year, so use it to get the big picture only.

Start by matching the grade levels

US schooling runs 12 grades after kindergarten. Children usually start Grade 1 around age 6, though some start at 5 or 7. Which grades form elementary, middle and high school, and the age cut-off date, depend on state and district rules. Graduates receive a High School Diploma.

There is a simple rule for comparing with British year groups. The UK Year number is one higher than the US Grade number. For example, UK Year 7 equals US Grade 6, which is the age of Korean middle-school year 1.

Korea groups children by calendar year (January to December) and starts the school year in March. So children born September to December often sit one grade apart from the UK and US. Schools decide placement from birth date and prior schooling, so confirm with the school directly.

Grades: diploma and transcripts

According to EducationUSA (U.S. Department of State), undergraduate applications usually need the high-school diploma and transcripts. The school sends the transcripts directly to the university. It helps to learn your school's issuing process and timing early.

Tests: SAT and AP

Whether test scores are required depends on the university. Check each university's international admissions page.

The SAT total is 400-1600. Reading and Writing and Math are each scored 200-800. Each section has two stages, and the first stage decides whether the second is harder or easier (adaptive testing). Percentiles compare a student with all test takers worldwide over the past three years. See the College Board guide for details.

AP (Advanced Placement) courses are college-level courses taken in high school. Exams are scored 1 to 5. Multiple-choice and free-response scores are combined and converted, and the result is a recommendation on readiness for college credit or placement. Many US colleges give credit or placement for 3 or higher. However, each college sets its own policy. See About AP Scores.

Activities, essays and recommendations

In the official material I have, the parts of a US undergraduate application that are clearly named are recommendation letters from teachers and counsellors, and an essay or personal statement. How extracurricular activities are listed and weighed is not covered there. For that, read each target university's own guidance.

For comparison, two universities elsewhere describe how they read applications. The National University of Singapore says its admission is holistic and looks at academic and non-academic activities together. The University of Hong Kong says that meeting minimum requirements does not guarantee an offer, and that interviews, personal statements and references count. Scores alone often do not decide the outcome. It is wise to organise your activity record early and decide which teachers to ask for recommendations.

Timing, and Korea as another option

According to EducationUSA, undergraduate applications for September entry are typically due between November and January. Deadlines differ by university, so check each one separately.

If you are also considering Korean universities, the dates and methods differ again. Take Korea University's 2027 special admissions guide (Seoul campus) as an example. Online applications ran on 6-8 July 2026. Applicants could submit up to five certified scores, including language tests and standardised results such as AP, IB and SAT, and predicted scores were excluded. This is one university in one year. Rules differ by university and year, so always read the latest admissions guide of your target university.

Checklist

• I have confirmed with the school which US Grade my child is currently in.
• I have read the international admissions page of every target university.
• I have put each university's deadline (typically November to January) in the calendar.
• I know how the school sends the diploma and transcripts directly to universities.
• I have matched our SAT and AP plans with each university's test requirements and credit policy.
• I have chosen the teacher or counsellor to ask for recommendations.
• I have set a schedule for essay preparation.

Ask the school

• What is the process for issuing transcripts and sending them to universities, and how many days ahead must we apply?
• By when should recommendation letters from teachers and counsellors be requested?
• Can students take the SAT or AP exams at the school? What are the dates and how do we register?
• How was our child's grade placement decided from birth date and prior schooling?
• Is there a university counsellor, and from which grade does application advising begin?