Most colleges require standard examinations for acceptance. The College Entrance Examinations measure the abilities needed for success in college. Students should check with their counselor, college catalogs or with prospective colleges to determine which examination(s) must be taken. Some colleges require the SAT or ACT specifically while others will accept either one. For both admission and scholarship eligibility, it is recommended that students take both tests with the possibility of retaking one or both. In addition, achievements tests (called SAT Subject Tests) are also required for some colleges. Such information may be found in the catalogs issued by the colleges, on the college’s web page or in the reference books in the Guidance Department. Entrance examinations help colleges select applicants for admission, place students in available courses, and usually play a role in determining eligibility for scholarships. These tests, however, do not measure creativity, motivation, or individual worth! It is essential to remember that such examinations measure ability and the development of skills acquired over a long period of time based on experiences. CRAMMING WON’T HELP. However, you may prepare by being familiar with the tests. This can be accomplished by reviewing the sample problems and directions as explained in the booklets, Taking The Sat; Reasoning Tests and Preparing For The ACT Assessment which can be found in the Guidance Lobby. The sample tests given in the brochures are excellent practice for taking the actual tests. These should be taken and the results analyzed and studied well in advance of the test date. Also, you can take preparatory courses or borrow/purchase books or software to study on your own to help improve your performance. These help you to understand the types of questions asked, the formats of these tests and give you helpful test taking strategies. You can also take advantage of the CD Rom PSAT/SAT/ACT Test Prep Programs available for use on the library computers. In addition La Salle’s Hart & Fasnacht Library/Media Center has both SAT and ACT test preparation books available for student use and there are several links for college entrance test preparation posted on La Salle’s Guidance Web Page.
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