Testing
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"Put your heart, mind, intellect, & soul even to your smallest
acts; this is the secret of success."
- Swami Sivanda
General Testing Information
What are the college admission tests, and how do they differ?
ACT:
This exam consists of four sections: English, Mathematics, Reading and Science Reasoning and includes an optional Writing test. The purpose of this test is to measure the skills and knowledge that have been developed since middle school. (84% of Edina’s 2010 graduates took the ACT). More information
SAT Reasoning Test:
This test is the longer version of the PSAT which most juniors took
last October. The SAT Reasoning Test consists of Writing, Math, and
Critical Reading sections. The purpose of this test is to measure the
writing, reading, and mathematical reasoning abilities that students
develop over time, both in and out of school, which are related to successful
performance in college. (27% of Edina’s 2010 graduates took the
SAT Reasoning Test.)
More information
SAT Subject Tests:
These tests are hour-long exams in mathematics, US History, world languages, literature and the sciences. Students are able to self-select the exams that they take, however, they should review college requirements to ensure that they are taking the appropriate tests. (For instance, many schools will “strongly recommend” that a student take the SAT Subject Test, math – either IC or the IIC (the more difficult of the two), and then an additional test of the student’s choice. Some of the colleges that require the SAT Reasoning Test will also require the SAT Subject Tests. More information
What entrance tests should a junior/senior take?
Juniors:
We strongly recommend that junior students take both the ACT and SAT Reasoning Test during the spring. The benefit of doing so now is that it will give juniors the experience in taking the particular test(s). Also, it is much less stressful to take the test in the spring, as the student would still have an additional opportunity to re-test in the fall if necessary. (Especially if in the summer, the student decides to apply Early Decision/Early Action to an institution with a November 1 deadline.)
For those students who are considering applying to certain competitive colleges and universities – for example, the Ivy League and the University of California system – they will need to submit 2 separate SAT Subject Test scores; some schools, however, will now accept ACT’s in place of SAT Subject Tests. We strongly recommend that these students take the SAT Subject Tests in the spring – especially if they are currently taking an AP course, because the test aligns well time-wise with the AP test.
Seniors:
If a senior student did not sign up to take an entrance exam last spring, and they are planning to attend a college/university next fall, one or both of the tests (ACT, SAT) should be taken this fall, along with the SAT Subject Tests if necessary.
Rules of thumb to be aware of:
- Generally, if a student is applying to a school in the Midwest, they will submit their ACT score. If they are applying to a school on the East Coast or the West Coast, then they will submit their SAT. (And many times, they’ll want the SAT Subject Tests as well.) There are numerous exceptions to this statement, as most schools state that they will accept either. Ultimately, the students themselves are responsible for knowing the test requirements of the schools to which they are applying.
- If a student is planning to attend a Minnesota public university (including the U of MN, St. Cloud, Mankato, Moorhead, etc.), they should take the ACT.
- If a student is planning to attend a Minnesota community college
(Normandale) they may wait to take the ACT until the spring of their
senior year. Community colleges usually use ACT scores as placement
tools, not for admissions purposes.
If the ACT's and/or SAT Reasoning Test were taken in the spring, should one or both be repeated?
In general, it is to the student’s advantage to re-take either one or both of the tests. Why? Because colleges are looking to accept, not deny applicants. They will usually make admissions decisions based on the highest ACT composite score, or the highest SAT combined score of the Writing, Critical Reading, and Mathematics sections. In addition, seniors who are applying to schools that have published admissions criteria, usually public institutions, have a good idea of their chance for admission. As a result, they can determine the necessity of re-taking the test. ACT will allow students to pick the best test date to send, whereas SAT sends all tests taken.
A final note – it may also be to the student’s advantage to re-take a test, as many scholarships are awarded with a student’s ACT or SAT score being a piece of the criteria. The difference of one composite point on the ACT, may be the difference between a scholarship and no scholarship.
For additional information, check out the ACT and SAT websites.
Last updated August 1, 2011