College Admissions Advice

Standardized tests taken by high school students nationally are heavily weighed as part of a complete application. There is obviously trepidation and stress over the actual test taking process. Before the tests are taken and once they are over, it’s important to keep in mind the affect that these tests have on acceptance to a school. Many people have spoken out against standardized tests, claiming they are a poor representation of a student’s intelligence or academic potential. The fact remains, standardized test are very important to colleges when it comes to admissions.

The students and administrators opposed to standardized tests say the uniform exams paint all students with one, broad brush. They say that students that are weaker test takers or face emotional problems are penalized. The test measures a student’s performance on only one day, and that day can be the thin line between college admission and denial.

The complaints have led to some changes in the SAT. The grading scale has gone from 1600 points to 2400 points. A writing section was added to the traditional English and math sections. Other, more subtle, changes were made to the wording of questions and answers. It is too soon to tell if these changes have made an impact in student performance or the test’s ability to measure student potential.

Some students find they perform better on the ACT, another common standardized test used in college admissions. Some schools accept only one, either the ACT or SAT, but many schools will accept either. Student may take one or both tests. The ACT is scored on a 36-point scale, and additional, optional writing tests are available if a college requires it.

Knowing the importance standardized test have for colleges, it is therefore important to be prepared before taking a test. Some students opt to take test prep courses or even hire private tutors to prepare for this major test. The fee that students pay these professionals to help them with standardized tests are often deemed worthwhile when test scores are received or if a second or third attempt reaps greater scores.

Both of these more common tests have national testing dates that are have registration on certain days. Preparing for these tests well in advance and using sample materials to study can make a huge difference in performance come test day. Stress isn’t an inevitable part of standardized testing. Being prepared and knowing what questions will be asked can greatly reduce anxiety and demystify the whole process for student test takers.

Standardized tests are just one measuring stick used by colleges to gauge student potential. A less-than-expected score isn’t the end of the world. But students wanting to attend most colleges and universities will need to take the test. The better they do the more college admissions doors they open.

Article Source: http://www.search4allinfo.com

When not writing about college scholarships and college life Veronica Krully enjoys spending time with her family and supporting the local university. One thing all college students share in common: Tuition fees and the need for college scholarships

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