For the high school seniors graduating in 2022, fall is the season of a hectic and stressful college application process. Along with writing their application essays, seniors have to also study for a standardized exam, whether it be the American College Testing (ACT), Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT), or Classic Learning Test (CLT). What are these exams, and what is their purpose?
The ACT has four sections: English, Math, Reading, and Science that last 45 minutes, 60 minutes, 35 minutes, 35 minutes, and 40 minutes, respectively. Including breaks and the essay, the ACT takes just over 4 hours.
The total number of questions answered correctly on each section is the raw score, and is then converted into a scaled score between 1 to 36 for the subject area (see below image). The ACT scaling system ensures that, regardless of the version of the test, a students’ score would accurately represent their skill. The conversion of raw to scaled scores then leads to the final composite score, in which the four area scores are averaged and rounded up to the nearest whole number.
The total number of questions answered correctly on each section is the raw score, and is then converted into a scaled score between 1 to 36 for the subject area (see image). The ACT scaling system ensures that, regardless of the version of the test, a students’ score would accurately represent their skill. The conversion of raw to scaled scores then leads to the final composite score, in which the four area scores are averaged and rounded up to the nearest whole number.
Unlike the ACT, the SAT is based on a 1600 point scale that totals the Math and Evidence-based Reading and Writing scores between 200-800. The full exam takes around 4 hours, with the Reading, Writing and language, Math, and optional essay portion lasting 65 minutes, 35 minutes, 80 minutes, and 50 minutes, respectively. The essay is graded on Reading, Analysis, and Writing, in which each measure is scored between 2 to 8.
However, the essay portion of the SAT is optional, and is shown separately on the report.
In addition to the composite and subject area scores, both the SAT and ACT provide subscores in English and Math. Though there is no direct relationship between subscores and the final scaled score, the subscores give students more information about their strengths and weaknesses.
The CLT has three mandatory sections, Verbal Reasoning, Grammar/Writing, and Quantitative Reasoning, and an optional essay. The test allocates 40 minutes to complete the Verbal Reasoning section; 35 minutes for the Grammar/Writing section; 45 minutes for the Quantitative Reasoning; and 30 minutes for the optional essay. The total test time is 2.5 hours including the break. The test is scored based on the total number of correct answers out of a possible 120 (the total number of questions is 120). Compared to the widely accepted SAT and ACT, however, the CLT not commonly accepted as it is a newer and less established test
These exams clearly take a lot of work, and you might be wondering what exactly you can get out of this experience. Unlike the essays, extracurriculars, and recommendation letters in your application, a standardized test score is a quantitative way for colleges to compare you to other applicants. It can be hard to judge the merits of being a club leader vs. being the 1st chair violinist, so the goal of a test score is to add an objective selection criteria. Test scores can also be very important for scholarships. For example, the National Merit Scholarship Corporation will award thousands of dollars to finalists who score high enough on a National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT) exam taken in their junior year.
Although exams have traditionally played an important role in the application process, colleges have changed their attitude about them over recent accusations that they can have racial or economic biases. Nowadays, there are three general approaches. The traditional approach was to require a standardized exam as part of the application. Due to the coronavirus pandemic and recent social movements, however, many schools have become test-optional. This means that you do not need a test to apply, but submitting a good test score can improve your application chances. Finally, a small percentage of schools (most notably the UC system) are currently test-blind, which means they will not consider test scores for anyone’s application. It’s important to know your target school’s policy in considering tests to figure out how highly you should prioritize standardized testing.
The college admissions process is one of the most pivotal moments in a student’s life because it determines where one will spend the first four years of early adulthood. It is also a huge financial decision that can impact future career prospects. Despite some shifts away from standardized tests, entrance exams are still a big part of this process, and can be extremely difficult and stressful. However, it’s important to understand that your score does not define you. There are plenty of other ways to shine as an applicant, and many colleges are starting to place less emphasis on your scores. If you do choose to prepare for one of these exams, try not to stress! There’s a lot more to life and the admissions process than one number for one test.
Michelle Liou
