If you are planning to continue your education, your college admission test is very important. But which one is the right one for you to take? Here is some information on what you need to know about each exam for college admissions!
The SAT Test
The SAT Reasoning Test is a United States standardized college admissions test. The College Board, which is a non profit US company, developed, published and owns the SAT.
The ETS or Educational Testing Service administers the exam. The current SAT takes about four hours to complete and it costs $45.00. Since the SAT was introduced in 1901, its has changed its name and scoring numerous times. It was renamed the SAT Reasoning Test in 2005. Possible scores range from 600 to 2400. These scores are a combination of three different sections worth 800 points each. The three sections are math, writing and reading. The SAT measures your critical thinking skills necessary for success in college. The examination can assess how well you can analyze and solve problems. This exam is usually taken your senior year in high school.
The ACT Test
The ACT is also a United States standardized college admission test. This was produced by a company called ACT Inc. It was given for the first time in the fall of 1959 to compete with the SAT. This multiple choice exam consists of four sections which are; English, Math, Reading, and Science. There is also an optional section on writing. All United States four year colleges or universities accept the ACT.
The ACT measures your readiness and capability to be successful at college level academics. The ACT is used more in the Midwest and Southern States, while the SAT is used more on the coasts. However, more colleges have begun to use the ACT scores because of criticisms and questions about of the effectiveness and fairness of the SAT. The ACT is offered around four or six times each year, always on a Saturday in the months of September, October, December, February, April and June. You can choose either the basic ACT assessment for $31.00 or you can add the optional writing section for $46.00.
Graduate School Admissions
The TOEFL - Test of English as a foreign language
The TOEFL is the most widely accepted English language test in the world. This college testing will measure your ability to communicate in an English college or university. It is accepted by over 6,000 schools in over 130 different countries. It is available at over 4000 testing centers and can be taken online or the traditional paper exam. If you are not happy with your score, you can retake it in seven days. The TOEFL measures how well you can read, listen to, speak and write in English, and how well you can do this in a classroom setting. There are free practice tests offered online as well as other study helps and tips.
The GRE Test
The Graduate Record Examinations test is a standardized exam that is a requirement for most graduate schools in the United States and other English speaking countries. It measures your thinking skills in the areas of math, vocabulary, and analytical writing. This graduate school admission test gauges your undergraduate achievement in academic study. It was developed and is administered by the ETS.
The GRE is a computer based examination that is administered only by qualified testing centers. The level of emphesis that graduate schools place on the GRE varies. It can be an important factor or a mere formality. The GRE consists of three sections and a required experimental section not included in your score. The writing section will always be first, but the verbal, quantitative, and experimental sections can be in any order after that. The entire school admissions test takes about 3 hours to complete.
The LSAT Test
The Law School Admission Test is a standardized examination that is required for admission into any law school that is approved by the American Bar Association. The half day exam is administered four times a year at many college campuses worldwide. This does not require you to memorize a bunch of facts, it measures your critical reading, verbal reasoning, and analytical thinking skills. The registration fee is $118.00. If you register late it is an additional $60.00. The exam is divided into six sections:
Two Logical Reasoning Sections that assess your ability to analyze and evaluate arguments.
Analytical Reasoning Section which assesses skills in basic logic.
Reading Comprehension Section that assesses your ability to identify main ideas and details.
The Experimental Section which looks just like the other sections. You wont know which one is experimental.
The Writing Sample which is not graded, assesses your ability to argue one position over another.
The GMAT Test
The Graduate Management Admission Test is a standardized test to measure your ability to succeed academically in a graduate business school. Business schools use this graduate school admissions test as one of many criteria for admission into thier MBA program. It is given at different locations in the US, Canada and worldwide. In North America and some international locations, the GMAT is only administered on the computer.
The fee to take it is around $250.00. The exam measures your verbal, math and writing skills. You will have 3.5 hours to complete the examination. Scores are valid for five years from the date you take the exam until the date of acceptance.
The MCAT Test
The Medical College Admission Test, is a US and Canadian computer based standardized exam for prospective medical students. In addition to assessing your knowledge of scientific principles and concepts, it assesses your problem solving, critical thinking, written analysis, and writing skills. The exam is offered at least 25 times per year at specific testing centers.
The exam, which can be taken in the morning or afternoon takes about four and a half to five hours to complete. If you are not satisfied with your performance, you may void it, but this must be done before you leave the testing center and before you see the results of your exam. You may take the test three times per year.
As you can see, there are a number of different tests available depending on your field of study. Once you know which college admission test you need to take, spend some time preparing and taking a practice test to make sure you do your best.
Learn more about college preparation and key tips on using the proper college application forms and college application essays.
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