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College Placement Tests | SAT, ACT, PSAT, CLEP Tests and AP Exams
College Placement Tests
The SAT Tests
For additional information on and registering for any of these tests below, visit www.collegeboard.org.
SAT Reasoning Tests (formerly SAT I).
The SAT Reasoning Test is a three-hour exam that measures a student’s ability rather than knowledge. It contains three sections: writing, critical reading, and math. Most of the questions are multiple-choice.
SAT Subject Tests (formerly SAT II).
The SAT Subject Tests measure knowledge in specific subjects within five general categories: English, mathematics, history, science, and languages. The specific subjects range from English literature to biology to Modern Hebrew. SAT Subject Tests are primarily multiple-choice, and each lasts one hour.
Both the SAT Reasoning and SAT Subject Tests are offered several times a year at locations across the country.
The ACT Tests
To get detailed information about the ACT Tests, registering for these tests, how to prepare for the tests, what to take with you on test day, and understanding your scores, visit www.act.org.
Other Common Tests
For information and registration for any of the tests described below, visit www.collegeboard.org.
Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test
Commonly known as the PSAT, this test is usually taken in the student’s junior year. It’s a good way to practice for the SAT tests, and it serves as a qualifying exam for the National Merit Scholarship Corporation’s scholarship programs. The PSAT measures skills in verbal reasoning, critical reading, mathematics, problem solving, and writing.
Advanced Placement (AP) Program exams
This two- to three-hour test is usually taken after the student completes an AP course in the relevant subject. (Your high school counselor or teachers will be able to help you sign up for AP classes.) A good grade on an AP exam can qualify the student for college credit and/or “advanced placement” in that subject in college. For example, if a student scores well on the AP English Literature exam, he or she might not have to take the college’s required freshman-level English course. Most AP tests are at least partly made up of essay questions; some include multiple-choice questions. The tests are offered each spring; each test is offered once, with a makeup day a few weeks later.
College-Level Examination Program (CLEP)
The CLEP test offers students the opportunity to gain college credit by taking an exam. Usually, a student takes the tests at the college where he or she is already enrolled. Not all colleges offer credit bases on CLEP tests, and different colleges offer different amounts of credit for the same test, so make sure to do your research before committing to an exam. Your best source of information is your college.
College Placement Tests
The SAT Tests
For additional information on and registering for any of these tests below, visit www.collegeboard.org.
SAT Reasoning Tests (formerly SAT I).
The SAT Reasoning Test is a three-hour exam that measures a student’s ability rather than knowledge. It contains three sections: writing, critical reading, and math. Most of the questions are multiple-choice.
SAT Subject Tests (formerly SAT II).
The SAT Subject Tests measure knowledge in specific subjects within five general categories: English, mathematics, history, science, and languages. The specific subjects range from English literature to biology to Modern Hebrew. SAT Subject Tests are primarily multiple-choice, and each lasts one hour.
Both the SAT Reasoning and SAT Subject Tests are offered several times a year at locations across the country.
The ACT Tests
To get detailed information about the ACT Tests, registering for these tests, how to prepare for the tests, what to take with you on test day, and understanding your scores, visit www.act.org.
Other Common Tests
For information and registration for any of the tests described below, visit www.collegeboard.org.
Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test
Commonly known as the PSAT, this test is usually taken in the student’s junior year. It’s a good way to practice for the SAT tests, and it serves as a qualifying exam for the National Merit Scholarship Corporation’s scholarship programs. The PSAT measures skills in verbal reasoning, critical reading, mathematics, problem solving, and writing.
Advanced Placement (AP) Program exams
This two- to three-hour test is usually taken after the student completes an AP course in the relevant subject. (Your high school counselor or teachers will be able to help you sign up for AP classes.) A good grade on an AP exam can qualify the student for college credit and/or “advanced placement” in that subject in college. For example, if a student scores well on the AP English Literature exam, he or she might not have to take the college’s required freshman-level English course. Most AP tests are at least partly made up of essay questions; some include multiple-choice questions. The tests are offered each spring; each test is offered once, with a makeup day a few weeks later.
College-Level Examination Program (CLEP)
The CLEP test offers students the opportunity to gain college credit by taking an exam. Usually, a student takes the tests at the college where he or she is already enrolled. Not all colleges offer credit bases on CLEP tests, and different colleges offer different amounts of credit for the same test, so make sure to do your research before committing to an exam. Your best source of information is your college.