Step Two: Survive
Entrance Tests
Date Added: June 1st,
2002
By Chris Stallman
| E-mail
Entrance
tests aren't very much fun. But they're a requirement and,
with the right preparation and determination, they can easily be
conquered. But before you can begin all of this, you'll need
to understand what the tests are for and what the differences are.
What are these tests for?
Standardized
entrance tests are given to help colleges decide if you're a
good candidate for their school. This raises the question, "why
don't they just look at my grades? Why do I have to take a test
too?". The tests are given because an A given by one teacher
may not be the same as an A given by another. After all, some classes
are easier than others to receive good grades in. By placing every
high school student on a standard, it's easier to compare them.
Standardized tests try to determine how much the student
has learned in high school and how they will perform once admitted
to college. These tests are important but the school never bases
their decision on them alone. Consideration is also given to your
GPA, class rank, essays, and extracurricular activities.
What are the various
tests and their differences?
The three tests
are the ACT's, SAT I's, and SAT II's. The ACT is a test
given that measures your abilities in English, mathematics, science,
and reading. The test is broken up into four parts and you are given
a score ranging between 1 and 36, with 36 being a "perfect"
score. The ACT is being accepted by more and more colleges and appears
to be the standard throughout the Midwest. (Interesting
fact: one of TeenAnalyst.com's founders scored a perfect 36
on his ACT's!)
The SAT's are probably the most well-known and
notorious of the tests. It measures your English, mathematics, and
reading abilities and you receive two scores, a verbal one and a
math one, ranging from 0-800. The two numbers are added together
to give you a total score ranging from 0 to 1600. Unlike the ACT's
where you aren't penalized for a wrong answer, the SAT's
take away a fraction of a point for each question you answer incorrectly.
The SAT II's are a little less known and aren't
used as widely as the ACT's and SAT's. These tests try to
measure your abilities in other areas such as writing, history,
different levels of math, and so on. Some colleges require these
while others don't so you should be sure to check with the colleges
you're applying to in order to determine if they require them.
Tips and Tricks
1.) Register early:
It's important to register early enough so you don't pass
the registration deadline. If you register late, you'll be penalized
by having to pay more.
2.) Choose the right test
center: You'll be given
a list of test centers that you can test at. They usually allow
you to make up to 2 or 3 choices. Here's my suggestion: just
make one choice for the test center that is closest to you. If you
choose just one, you're more likely to test there. I once chose
two test centers, one located about 15 minutes away and another
located 1 1/2 hours away. To make a long story short, I got stuck
with the further one and had to wake up at 5:00 AM and drive for
an hour and a half just to take the test. It sucked.
3.) Wear layers of clothing.
When you go to the test center, wear a few layers of clothing. Even
if it's 80 degrees outside, throw on a sweater. You can always
take it off inside if it's too warm. But if it turned out to
be 60 degrees at the test center and you were wearing a t-shirt,
you wouldn't be prepared. I once took the ACT's at a community
college and I was wearing a t-shirt (after all, it was in the 70's
outside) but the heating was broke in the classroom. Because I was
so cold, I couldn't concentrate very well during the test. Don't
let this happen to you.
4.) Start studying early.
The exam companies will send you a sample test when you register.
Take this test! It's a great way to get a feel for the real
exam and prepare yourself for it. Once you take it, go over the
problems you got wrong and find out why you got them wrong. It'll
help you out a lot when it comes time to take the real one.
5.) Don't skip breakfast.
You'll be given a few
short breaks during the test but it's not enough time to sneak
in a snack. So be sure to eat a good breakfast.
Hopefully now you'll be a little better prepared
for these tests. I suggest you also check out CollegeBoard.com
and ACT.org for more test information
such as fees and dates. Good luck!
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