Testing
Many forms of assessment may be used to determine student's aptitude, abilities, and skills. These assessments may be useful and/or required for post-secondary options.
Assessments may help students identify:
- Interests and preferences
- Goal setting for post-secondary plans
- Aptitude, abilities, and skills
Most colleges require students to take one of the most common standardized tests: the SAT or the ACT. Check with the colleges your child plans to apply to for their specific testing requirements.
Academic Testing
The ACT test is a popular college entrance exam accepted by all universities and colleges in the United States. The ACT is based on what students learn in high school and provides personalized information about their strengths for education and career planing.
Did You Know? Students in Clark County School District will take the ACT test free of charge during their junior year of high school. The ACT is part of the state-mandated testing for college and career readiness.
The ACT WorkKeys is a system of assessments and curriculum that build and measure essential workplace skills that can affect job performance and increase opportunities for career changes and advancement.
The SAT is another extremely popular test used by colleges and universities. The SAT tests student abilities rather than knowledge. Some colleges may also require students to take an SAT Subject test. The SAT Subject Tests measure student knowledge in specific subjects.
The SAT Suite of Assessments includes the PSAT/NMSQT, PSAT 8/9, PSAT 10, SAT, and SAT Subject Tests.
Other Common Tests
PSAT
PSAT can be used as practice for the SAT tests, as well as to qualify for the National Merit Scholarship Corporation's scholarship programs. The PSAT measures skills in reading, mathematics, and writing. To learn more, please visit PSAT.
Advanced Placement (AP) Exams
Students participating in AP courses participate in a culminating AP Exam at the end of the course. There are currently 38 different AP courses available to students. All schools in the Clark County School District offer AP courses. To learn more, please visit the AP tab.
College-Level Examination Program (CLEP)
CLEP gives students the opportunity to earn college credit in various subjects by taking aligned exams. To learn more, please visit CLEP.
International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme
The IB Diploma Programme offers a two-year curriculum for high school students. Student work will be assessed as direct evidence of achievement in the stated goals of the Diploma Programme. Select Clark County School District schools offer IB. To learn more about the IB Programme, please visit IB Programme. To see a list of schools in CCSD, please visit IB in CCSD.
Preparing for the Test
Don't Let Your Student Make These Mistakes!
- Not Using Available Resources
- Not Using Test Taking Strategies
- Not Taking the Test Seriously
- Waiting Until the End to Study
Student Tips for Test Taking
- Take a Practice Test
- Sign up for a prep class
- Join a study group
- Prep online, try these free resources KhanAcademy's SAT Prep or OpenEd by ACT.
Contact your school today to find out what tests your school offers.