Tips on Testing

ACT and SAT

Students need to take the ACT and/or the SAT in order to be accepted into college. The SAT and ACT are standardized tests that allow colleges to see where your child stands academically in relation to other students. Both tests can be taken as early as a student's junior year of high school.
The SAT assesses critical thinking and problem solving skills, while the ACT is more content-based. Most colleges now accept both the ACT and SAT. Some students take both tests at least once. For more information on both these tests, visit www.act.org
or www.collegeboard.com.

COMPASS

The COMPASS test assesses academic preparation skills for success in college in three areas: writing, reading comprehension, and mathematics. Students do not PASS or FAIL the COMPASS test; it determines current skill level in area(s) tested. Results can be used for course placement. The COMPASS can be taken by students in grades 9-12. For more information, visit the ACT web site at www.act.org.

TOEFL

The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) measures the ability of non-native English speakers to use and understand North American English as it is used in college and university settings. Scores on the test are required by more than 4,300 institutions. This computerized test is used throughout most regions of the world. In areas where access to computer-based testing is limited, a supplemental paper-and-pencil version of the test is administered. For more information, visit www.ets.org/toefl.
For information on these and other tests, visit http://www.studyusa.com/English/articles/toefl.asp.