Testing & assessment
In career and college planning, tests are just a formal way of finding out what you enjoy and what your strengths are! And two these things are possibly the most important things to know when you're thinking about life after graduation. Here are a few tests to consider as you go through high school. For more information about preparing for or taking any of these tests, contact the Cardinal Career Center at EHS.
ACT is America's most widely accepted college entrance exam. It assesses your general educational development and your ability to complete college-level work. The multiple-choice tests cover four skill areas: English, mathematics, reading, and science. The Writing Test, which is optional, measures skill in planning and writing a short essay.
Some colleges and universities have decided to require or to recommend that their applicants submit scores from the ACT Writing Test. Others have decided Writing Test scores are not needed; their applicants do not need to take the test. It is best to check with the institution(s) you are applying to when you are deciding to take the Writing Test, to determine what the exact requirements are.
ACT's EXPLORE Assessment is designed to help eighth and ninth graders explore a broad range of options for their future. It prepares you not only for your high school coursework, but for your college and career choices as well. It marks an important beginning for a student's future academic and career success.
ACT's PLAN
Assessment helps
tenth graders build a solid foundation for future academic and
career success and provides information needed to address school
districts' high-priority issues. Using this test, you will be able
to measure your current academic development, explore
career/training options, and make plans for the remaining years of
high school and post-graduation years. PLAN can help all
students—those who are college-bound, as well as those who are
likely to enter the workforce directly after high school.
As a "pre-ACT" test, PLAN is a powerful predictor of success on the
ACT. At the same time, many schools recognize the importance of
PLAN testing for all students, as it focuses attention on both
career preparation and improving academic achievement.
Typically, PLAN is administered in the fall of the sophomore
year.
The PSAT/NMSQT measures critical reading, math problem-solving, and writing skills developed over many years, both in and out of school. You won’t have to recall facts from literature, history, or science, or complete math formulas, as this test measures your reasoning and critical thinking skills. The PSAT/NMSQT is taken in October of the junior year of high school. Sophomores may take the test for experience, but their scores will not be entered into National Merit Scholarship Competition. The fee for the PSAT/NMSQT is $12.00. The College Board makes fee waivers available to schools for juniors from low-income families who can't afford the test fee. Talk to your counselor for this form. You can obtain more information about this test, as well as sample questions on the PSAT web-site highlighted above.
Why
take the test?
*Get feedback about critical academic skills
*Practice for the SAT Reasoning Test
*Start getting ready for College
*Enter scholarship competition
SAT, like the ACT, serves as an important part of the admissions process for countless institutions in the United States. The SAT Reasoning Test is a measure of the critical thinking skills you'll need for academic success in college. The SAT assesses how well you analyze and solve problems—skills you learned in school that you'll need in college. The SAT is typically taken by high school juniors and seniors and is offered seven times a year in the United States. Both sections of the SAT are scored on a scale of 200—800, with two writing subscores for multiple-choice and the essay. It is administered seven times a year in the U.S., Puerto Rico, and U.S. Territories, and six times a year overseas.
SAT also offers Subject Tests, which are separate from the general SAT Reasoning Test and are designed to measure your knowledge and skills in particular subject areas, as well as your ability to apply that knowledge. These are usually used to demonstrate to colleges your mastery of specific subjects, such as English, history, mathematics, science, or language. Some colleges use the Subject Tests for admission, for course placement, and to advise students about course selection.
