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Taking the Tests:
» Standardized Testing: The Big Picture
Take out a number 2 pencil...
You may have to take tests like the ACT, SAT® I: Reasoning, and SAT II: Subject Tests because they're an admission requirement of the college you're interested in attending. Many colleges require the ACT or SAT I for admission because it's an important additional piece of information in admitting students.
Standardization for your Protection
It's tough for colleges to compare students who come from different regions, experiences, and kinds of schools. There are thousands of high schools, and courses and grading standards can vary.
An "A" earned in the same course taught by different teachers in your school may not represent exactly the same amount of work, the same teaching, or the same level of learning. Likewise, an "A" earned in the same course taught in different schools and different parts of the country may not really be the same. Test results are an added tool for admission counselors evaluating students from many different high schools.
Admission is Never Based on Test Scores Alone
Test scores supplement, not replace, other important information like your high school transcript. For most college admission offices, your grades and courses are still considered the best academic predictors.
Keep in mind, too, that these tests do not measure motivation, creativity, or special talents (even though these qualities will contribute to your success in college and throughout life).
A test is just one of many tools that help colleges make admission decisions.
Tests are Tools for You, Too
Depending on the test, your scores help you:
- Compare yourself with students already attending the college you're considering.
- Show what you've achieved and learned throughout your academic life.
- Assess your strengths and weaknesses, to see where you should focus your work.
What Do The Tests Really Measure?
College Admission & Placement Tests
You've probably taken a standardized test or two already, and you've probably heard of ACT, SAT®, and AP® tests. But what do they really do?
The ACT
The ACT Assessment® is designed to assess high school students' general educational development and their ability to complete college-level work. The tests cover four skill areas: English, mathematics, reading, and science reasoning.
The SAT I: Reasoning Test
The SAT and ACT are both widely used admission tests. Many colleges accept either one, but some require one or the other. The SAT measures your verbal reasoning, critical reading, and math problem solving skills. It tells you how well you use the skills and knowledge you've learned so far, both in and out of school.
SAT II: Subject Tests
You can take Subject Tests to show colleges your mastery of specific subjects, like English, history and social studies, math, science, and language. Colleges can use your Subject Test scores to:
- Make admission decisions.
- Help determine how well prepared you are for college programs.
- Place you in freshman or higher-level course work.
- Advise you on course selection.
PSAT/NMSQT™
The Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test is co-sponsored by the College Board and National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC). It offers you:
- Low-stakes practice for the SAT.
- An evaluation of your skills and comparison with other college-bound students.
- An opportunity to enter scholarship competitions.
- A chance to learn about colleges interested in students like you.
Advanced Placement Program® (AP)
The AP program gives you an opportunity to take college-level courses and exams while you're still in high school. With AP, you may earn credit, advanced placement, or both for college.
CLEP®
CLEP is the most widely accepted credit-by-examination program in the U.S. today. CLEP helps students of all ages earn college degrees faster by getting credit for what they already know. With a satisfactory score, you can earn from three to twelve college credits toward your college degree for each CLEP you take, depending on the exam subject.
The Long and Short of Test Prep
For Admission and Placement Tests
It's probably not what you want to hear, but preparation for admission tests should start long before you hear the letters S-A-T or A-C-T. These tests measure skills developed over a long period of time. Fortunately, there's a lot that you can do early on to have an impact on your results.
Long-Term Preparation
Inside the Classroom - One of the best ways to get ready is to take solid academic courses (and study hard for them, of course). Enroll in the most challenging courses you can handle in English, math, science, social studies, foreign languages, and fine arts. Your classroom experiences will affect how well you do on admission tests.
Outside the Classroom - You spend six hours or so each day for 180 days each year in school. So what happens the rest of the time? That's important, too. For example:
- Read regularly. Read newspapers, novels, your textbooks, poems, or even the blurbs on the back of your cereal box. Students who have strong reading habits do well on the verbal part of the SAT® or ACT.
- Learn to attack new words. Look up unfamiliar words in the dictionary and try to get a handle on prefixes, suffixes, and root words. Studying a foreign language can also help you figure out new words.
- Get involved. Clubs, sports, games, part-time jobs, and other activities can improve your problem-solving skills.
Short-Term Preparation
During the later high school years, think about what you need to know on test day. For example, taking the PSAT/NMSQT™ gives you a chance to become familiar with the SAT I format and the types of questions, and you can use your scores to pinpoint where you need to do more work. Your sophomore year, you can take the PLAN test in preparation for the ACT. Reviewing actual test questions and tests can also help you be more comfortable on test day.
International Students: Admission Tests
Undergraduate Exams
Admission tests give colleges a standard way to evaluate applicants. Be sure to verify which tests are required by the colleges that interest you.
SAT
SAT tests are commonly required or recommended by U.S. colleges. They're used for undergraduate admission and placement.
SAT I: Reasoning
The SAT I measures your developed verbal and mathematical reasoning abilities. It helps college admission officers determine where you're likely to succeed in your first year of college.
SAT II: Subject Tests
Subject Tests measure your knowledge and your ability to apply that knowledge in specific subject areas, such as English, math, and languages. You may be required to take one or more Subject Tests if applying to a selective college.
ELPT™ (English Language Proficiency Test™ )
This is a Subject Test that measures language skills, specifically English language proficiency. It's for undergraduates:
- who attend U.S. high schools, or
- whose best language is not English, or
- who have completed two to four years of English language instruction in an English as a Second Language program, or
- who have studied in an international school where courses are taught in English.
ACT Assessment®
The ACT Assessment® is designed to assess high school students' general educational development and their ability to complete college-level work. The tests cover four skill areas: English, mathematics, reading, and science reasoning.
Advanced Placement (AP®) Exams
AP Exams measure your knowledge of college-level subjects. A "qualifying" grade can earn you advanced placement or credit (or both) in college. Exams are offered in 33 subjects during a two-week period in May.
APIEL™ (Advanced Placement International English Language)
This AP exam measures non-native speakers' readiness to do university-level work conducted in English. Successful performance on the exam provides you with a language proficiency credential that confirms your ability to use English successfully in academic work. If you do well on the APIEL exam, you may be exempt from ESL courses.
TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language)
TOEFL evaluates the English proficiency of people whose native language is not English. It measures your ability to understand North American English. It's generally required of undergraduates seeking a first degree and graduate students seeking an advanced degree. The TOEFL is offered at over 300 test centers around the world, and the computer-based test may be scheduled at the convenience of the student. Learn more.
Taking the Tests
» Standardized Testing: The Big Picture
Meet the SAT & SAT II
Meet the ACT & AP Exams
Meet the PSAT/NMSQT
Meet the CLEP
Test Day
The White House Initiative gratefully acknowledges collegeboard.com for providing the content found on this page.
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