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What it is?
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Fast Facts |
Keeping Score |
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Sat
Length:
3 hours,|
45 minutes
Cost:$43
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Multiple-choice,
reasoning-based test developed 80 years ago as a universal
standard for evaluating college applicants from around
the country. Administered in 3 main sections (broken into
9 subsections): Critical Reading,Mathmatics and Writing. |
Offered
7 times a year; generally taken in junior spring and
often repeated senior fall.
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200 to 800
for each section, added together for a combined score.
Average 500 per section. |
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ACT
Length:
3 to 3.5 hours
Cost: $30,$47 with
writing
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Multiple-choice,
curriculum-based test created 50 years ago as an alternative
to the SAT by educators who called for an exam that measured
what a student had actually learned in school, not reasoning
capabilities. Subject areas are English, Math, Reading,Science
plus an optional writing test. |
Offered 6
times a year; generally taken in junior spring or summer,
or senior fall. |
From 1 to
36.Average:21.1 |
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PSAT/NMSQT
Length:2 hours,
10 minutes
Cost:$13
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Pre-SAT
exam that measures reading, writing and math problem-solving
skills. Score is often viewed as indicator of how a student
will perform on the SAT (so preparation can be planned
accordingly). Top 50,000 PSAT scorers nationwide qualify
for a $2,500 Nation Merit Scholarship |
Offered
in the fall; generally taken in sophomore or junior year.
(Only eleventh-graders can qualify for National Merit
Scholarships.) |
From
20 to 80 National median: 50. (Add a zero to your teen's
score for each idea of how he'd score on the SAT.) Average:47/Critical
Reading, 49/Math,46/Writing Skills |
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SAT Subject
Tests
Length:1 hour
Cost: $20 for one,
8 for each additonal
same-day test
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Exams
offered in 16 individual subject areas to test mastery.
(known as Achievement Tests pre-1994, SAT IIs from 1994-2005)
Sometimes required by the most selective colleges. |
Offered
6 times a year, though not all subjects available on every
date; best done as soon as possible after relevant coursework
completed. Students can take up to 3 test per date. |
From
200-800. Kids can wait to see their scores before deciding
whether to submit to colleges. Average: varies widely
by subject. |
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AP
Length: 3 hours
Cost:$84
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Subject-specific
mastery exams administered at the conclusion of an Advanced
Placement class taught during the school year. |
Offered
during the first two weeks of May; students can earn college
credit. |
From
1 to 5. Five = College-level grade of A+; 4 = B+; 3 =
C+. About 90% of colleges grant credit for scores of 3
or better on AP, altough the most selective colleges usually
require a 4 or higher. |
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