Career Center - College Entrance Exams

Entrance Exams

An entrance exam is required by the vast majority of 4-year colleges and universities as part of the admission process. College entrance exams are standardized aptitude tests used to evaluate a student's readiness for a college curriculum. Part of a student's college planning is to know which entrance exams are required for admission as well as the scores required for admission. A good test score can help students get into their school of choice, earn scholarships, and receive advanced placement or college credit. The primary entrance exams for high school students are the ACT and SAT. Some colleges have no preference and will accept either exam. Students are encouraged to check with their school(s) of choice to know which exam to take. This page provides pertinent general information about both the ACT and SAT to help students make an informed decision of which exam to take.

ACT (American College Test)

The ACT is a standardized aptitude test designed to measure a student's readiness for college. It is similar in content and importance to the SAT. The test is comprised of multiple choice questions from subject areas in English, mathematics, reading and science. There is also an optional writing section, which if chosen, complements the ACT English test. Some colleges may or may not require the writing test. Students should decide to take the writing test based on the requirements set forth by the colleges they plan to apply to. If a college requires the writing section they may not take the score of a test session that does not contain the writing section. It is important for students to know the college entrance requirements before they register for a test.

Each section of the ACT is scored on a scale of 1–36, and the final score is an average of all four subject areas. When a student takes the writing test, they will receive a subject-level writing score and an ELA score, which averages the English, reading and writing scores. The ACT is offered six to seven times a year, and the actual test time is just under three hours (not including the 30-minute writing section).

AP (Advanced Placement)

Advanced Placement exams are a series of standardized achievement tests taken by high school students to test their mastery of college-level material in a variety of courses. AP exams measure knowledge of the subject area learned in school, and are generally taken after a student has completed (or come close to completing) an AP course. Unlike the ACT or SAT this exam most likely will not be required for college entrance. However, colleges may want a student to disclose scores to further assistance with the determination decision into a particular program or area of study at the school. AP scores could sway an admission decision at a highly competitive school or a campus that is heavily impacted.

Students may take the exams without completing the correlating AP course. This is not recommended but it is allowed based on the collegeboard standards. Each exam is scored on a 1–5 scale, and scores are based on the student's performance compared to all other students who have taken the exam. Scoring a 4 or 5 (sometimes even a 3) on the exam will often count toward college credits at most colleges and universities.

PSAT (Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test)

The PSAT is generally taken by sophomores or juniors in high school. This test serves as a practice test designed to prepare students for the ACT and SAT through experience of the testing format and content. Since this test is a practice test it has no barring on college admission, but it is highly recommended that students take the test. Ideally it should be taken in the sophomore year or first semester of the junior year.

ACT and SAT scores are very important to a student's college planning successes and a student's decision to take this test will provide the best chance to get experience preparing for and taking a standardized test. Students who take the test are eligible to compete for a National Merit Scholarship. The test is given through school hours and will be administered to all GHHS sophomores either in the Fall or Spring. Juniors have the option of testing on the scheduled test day as well and may sign up in the student store.

SAT Subject Tests

SAT Subject Tests measure a student's ability to apply knowledge in particular subject areas. The test is administered separately from the SAT, and is usually only required by extremely competitive/selective schools. Subject Tests are are multiple choice, one hour exams available in English, History, Mathematics, Science and various Languages. The tests are constantly updated to stay current with educational trends. Similar to an AP test SAT Subject Tests may be used as a bases for admission decisions at a highly competitive school or a campus that is heavily impacted, for for course placement, and to advise students about course selection.

SAT (Scholastic Assessment Test)

Like the ACT the SAT is a standardized aptitude test that measures a student's readiness for college. It is categorized into three components: two subject areas consisting of multiple choice questions in reading, writing and language; and math. The third component is an optional essay which involves analyzing a piece of writing.

Each section is scored on a scale from 200–800, with a total possible score of 1,600. The optional essay results are reported separately. Students should confirm the essay portion requirement with colleges before they take the test. The SAT is offered seven times throughout the year, and students are given three hours to complete it (the optional essay takes an additional 50 minutes).

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