Grab College Prep: College Admissions Tests

Most four-year colleges and universities require you to take at least one college admissions test as a part of your college application process. These tests are prepared by national organizations and are given several times each year at many locations. The two most common tests are the ACT® and the SAT®. ACT scores determine your eligibility for the Michigan Competitive Scholarship Program.

The ACT is made up of four separate tests, including English, mathematics, reading and science. When you take the ACT, you’ll get a score from 1 (low) to 36 (high) for each of the four tests. The final score — your composite score — is the average of your four test scores rounded to the next whole number.

The SAT has two parts, verbal and math. Your score on each test will be somewhere between 200 and 800 points, for a total possible score of 1600 points. Many students take the ACT or SAT in their senior year, because some of the subjects on the test are things usually studied toward the end of high school. However, if you want to improve your score, you should take the ACT or SAT at least once during your junior year (to practice) and then once during your senior year. You can also take the test as early as sixth grade for practice or for placement in special summer programs.

You have to register in advance for these tests and pay the test fee or get a fee waiver. See your high school counselor at the beginning of your junior year to find out the test dates and to get a test registration packet. Tell your counselor if you need help paying for a test or if you’ll need any special accommodations (due to a disability) such as extra time to complete the test.

There are also practice tests for the SAT and ACT.

The Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT)® is a practice test for the SAT and the qualifying test for the National Merit Scholarship Program and other scholarship and recognition programs. You can take it in the 10th or 11th grade.

Here are some of the things you can do now related to college admissions tests:

• Make sure you’re taking college prep classes. On the average, Michigan students who take recommended college prep classes score three points higher on the ACT than students who don’t take these classes.
• Read the information booklet that comes with the ACT and SAT registration packets. Do the practice questions included in these booklets to prepare for the test. You can also find practice questions for the SAT at www.collegeboard.com and for the ACT at www.act.org.
• With the help of your family, teachers and counselors, develop good test-taking skills.