Testing

College Admissions, Placement, & the ASVAB

College Entrance Exams

What Admissions Tests to Take and How to Prepare (source: U of Portland)

College entrance exams are used by admissions counselors to evaluate applicants from different high schools and locations. For example, if an admissions counselor from one of the colleges in the pacific northwest is comparing an applicant from California with a 3.7 GPA to an applicant from New York with the same GPA—are the two students equally prepared, capable and meriting admission? Entrance exams such as the ACT and SAT help answer this question.

Commonly used COLLEGE ADMISSIONS TESTS:

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Check with your post high counselor at school to see if you qualify for a test FEE WAIVER.
Don't pay for an exam until you ask about fee waivers!

Check with your counselor to see when you can take the ACT in school as a junior. This is an opportunity take a college admissions test where you are most comfortable and it's FREE.

Other resources...

What is a test optional/test free institution?

Test optional: This is a blanket term for schools which do not require applicants to submit test scores before admissions decisions are made. Talk to your counselor to see if it's in your best interest to submit your scores or not.

Test-free: This refers to institutions that will not consider ACT or SAT results in the admissions process even if scores are submitted. Test-free is sometimes referred to as “test blind”.

What are college placement tests?

After you’ve been accepted by a college, you may need to take placement tests. Colleges use placement tests in subjects like math and English to check the academic skill levels of entering students. Then the college can place each student in classes at the right level.

Placement tests are used to determine the academic skills of entering students. Based on the test results, the students will be placed in the classes that best match their current skills. Low test scores may mean taking developmental courses to improve your academic skills.

Check with the college that you will be attending to find out what placement exams you'll need to take.

Considering a career in the military?

(or want to learn more about how your skills match careers?)

Fact Sheet: https://www.officialasvab.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/ASVAB-Fact_Sheet.pdf

ASVAB scores are used to determine if you are qualified to enlist in the military and to assign you to an appropriate job in the military. The information provided here will help you prepare to take the ASVAB.

Ask your school counselor if the ASVAB will be administered on your high school campus.

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