College Admissions Testing

ACT (THE AMERICAN COLLEGE TEST)

The ACT is an entrance exam used by most colleges and universities to make admissions decisions. The ACT contains four curriculum-based tests that measure academic achievement in the areas of English, mathematics, reading, and science as well as an optional writing test (National ACT only). The purpose of the ACT test is to measure a high school student's readiness for college, and provide colleges with one common data point that can be used to compare all applicants. Overall, the higher you score on the ACT and/or SAT, the more options for attending and paying for college will be available to you.  

During each school year, Lancaster High School will offer 2 ACT sessions to its students:  The first of these will be a voluntary day for sophomores, juniors, and seniors.  This session will be held at OUL in October.  Sophomore, junior, and senior students who wish to attempt the ACT in the fall should check the TAZ website for the exact date(s) and to register well beforehand.  

The second ACT session is only for juniors.  The state of Ohio requires all public schools to offer 11th grade students the CT, free-of-charge, in the spring of their junior year. For this session, students need to check the TAZ website for exact dates and room assignments  

Alternatively, Lancaster High School is also a national testing center for ACT.  Students who wish to sign up for a national ACT (held on Saturdays) should visit actstudent.org to register.  Practice materials and exams are also available on act.org.  

THE PRELIMINARY SCHOLASTIC APTITUDE TEST

NATIONAL MERIT SCHOLARSHIP QUALIFYING TEST (PSAT/NMSQT)

The PSAT/NMSQT is a test designed to prepare students for the SAT. Sophomores and junior students are able to take the test. Additionally, the National Merit Scholarship Corporation awards scholarship monies to juniors who qualify with their scores. The test consists of two critical reading sections, two math reasoning sections, and a writing section. Students will be able to review their answers to the questions and also know what the correct answers were. Students will receive a personalized statement of specific academic skills that need attention, along with suggested steps to improve those skills.  

Lancaster High School will offer the PSAT at OUL in October each year.  Sophomore and junior students who wish to attempt the PSAT in the fall should check the TAZ website for the exact date and to register well beforehand.  Students can also check out sample questions at www.collegeboard.com and take practice exams via the BlueBook app which is installed on all student chromebooks.