College entrance exams. What are they?

You may be hearing about the SAT, ACT and CLT and thinking “OMG! What are those?” Let us explain. They’re three different college entrance exams, and if your student is preparing to go to college soon, you’re probably going to be hearing a lot about them.

What is a college entrance exam?

A college entrance exam tests your student on their academic skills such as reading, writing and math. They take a few hours to complete, and your student will finish them in one sitting (with a break or two, of course).

Is a college entrance exam required for college admission?

You would think by the name “college entrance exam” the answer would be “yes” — but it’s actually “not necessarily.” Some colleges do require test scores for college admission, but more and more colleges are opting not to require test scores to be admitted. This is mainly because there is some question about equity for all students in the exams. Your student should check requirements for each of the colleges they are interested in.

If a college entrance exam isn’t required for admission, then there’s no point in taking one, right?

Not so fast. There are still benefits to taking a college entrance exam, even if one is not needed for college admission. An exam might be used to fulfill minimum requirements for a certain course. Scores may also be used to help determine the amount your student receives from some forms of financial aid such as scholarships. And even if your student's desired school doesn’t require scores, your student might want to submit them anyway if they get a really good score, as it can only help their chances of being admitted.

What if my student is going to community college?

Community colleges typically don’t require an entrance exam, but check with the school just to be sure.

When does my student take a college entrance exam?

Most college entrance exams take place during junior year or early in your student’s senior year of high school. Your student can check with their guidance counselor for dates and locations of exams or find them on the test websites (see below).

How should my student prepare for a college entrance exam?

If your student plans on taking a college entrance exam, they should start preparing several months before the test date, and they should study just about every day. One of the best options is to buy a test prep book for the exam your student is going to take. You can find them on Amazon, and they will give your student a really good idea about what to expect on the exam as well as help them practice for it. Your student should also take the test early enough that they have time to retake it if they don’t do as well as they’d like on the first go round.

Where can I find more resources?

Check the SAT, ACT or CLT website, depending on which test your student is taking.