College Admission Tests
Over three million high school students take the Preliminary SAT/ National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT) each year. Like the SAT, the PSAT is designed to measure the ability to understand and process elements of reading, writing, and mathematics. Students take the PSAT/NMSQT in their junior year to determine National Merit scholarship eligibility and to prepare for the SAT.
The test consists of four sections:
The Reading Test – 60 minutes, 47 questions
The Writing and Language Test – 35 minutes, 44 questions
Math Test, No Calculator Portion – 25 minutes, 17 questions
Math Test, Calculator Portion – 45 minutes, 31 questions
The PSAT/NMSQT has a total testing time of 2 hours and 45 minutes. There are no experimental sections or unscored questions on the PSAT.
The American College Testing (ACT) is a standardized test designed to measure high school students’ general educational development and their ability to complete college-level work. The questions on the ACT test the core subjects that students typically study through their third year of high school (English, reading, mathematics, and science). Although the ACT is taken more frequently in the Midwestern and Rocky Mountain states, the test is accepted by all U.S. colleges and universities. Approximately 1.5 million students take the ACT each year.
The ACT consists of four individual multiple-choice tests:
English - 45 minutes, 75 questions
Mathematics - 60 minutes, 60 questions
Reading - 35 minutes, 40 questions
Science - 35 minutes, 40 questions
The ACT Plus Writing also features an optional 40-minute Writing Test.
Actual testing time is 2 hours and 55 minutes (3 hours and 55 minutes with the optional Writing Test) but students should be prepared to spend between 4 and 5 hours in the testing facility, including administration instructions and breaks.
There is no experimental section on the ACT.
The Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT) is a standardized test that colleges use to evaluate applicants. Over two million students take the SAT every year and it is accepted by every college in America for evaluating a student’s college preparedness. It is designed to measure a student’s ability to understand and process elements in three subjects: reading, writing, and math. SAT scores are calculated based on a student’s performance relative to other test-takers, and have proven to be an indicator of collegiate success.
The SAT consists of four individual multiple-choice tests:
Reading - 65 minutes, 52 questions
Writing & Language - 35 minutes, 44 questions
Mathematics with calculator - 55 minutes, 38 questions
Mathematics without calculator - 25 minutes, 20 questions
The SAT with Essay also features an optional 50-minute Writing Test.
The TSI Assessment (TSIA) is part of the Texas Success Initiative program designed to help your college or university determine if you are ready for college-level course work in the areas of reading, writing, and mathematics. If you are an incoming college student in Texas, you are required to take the TSI Assessment - unless you are already exempt (read below) - to determine your readiness for college-level work. Based on how you perform, you may either be enrolled in a college-level course and/or be placed in the appropriate developmental course or intervention to improve your skills and prepare you for success in college-level courses.
The TSIA consists of 3 individual tests:
Writing, Essay - 1 prompt
Writing, multiple choice - 20 questions
Mathematics - 20 questions
Reading - minutes, 20 questions