College entrance examination is a test or series of tests that helps determine whether a person meets the admission requirements of a college or university. Students who plan to attend college usually take entrance examinations at least once during their junior or senior year in high school. The tests typically seek to measure a student’s abilities in such areas as reading, writing, mathematics, and science. Most college entrance examinations are standardized—that is, they are used, revised, and used again until they show consistent results.
Many colleges pay close attention to test scores when considering applicants for admission. However, colleges also consider numerous other factors. Such factors often include high school grades, extracurricular activities, letters of recommendation, cultural background, and personal qualities, such as leadership and motivation.
In the United States,
many colleges and universities require applicants to take examinations developed by the College Board or by the ACT—which originally stood for the American College Testing program. The College Board sponsors tests called the SAT’s—which originally stood for Scholastic Aptitude Tests—as well as other programs. The ACT’s programs include a test called the ACT Assessment.
The SAT test includes a math section and an evidence-based reading and writing section. The math section measures students’ ability to understand mathematical concepts and to use them in solving problems. The reading and writing section asks students to answer questions about written passages and informational graphics that accompany them. It also asks students to edit and improve written passages by finding mistakes and fixing them. Scores for each section are reported on a scale ranging from 200 to 800 points. The College Board also provides a percentile rank for each score. It shows how an individual scored compared to other students.
Students can prepare for the SAT test by taking the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT). The PSAT/NMSQT is sponsored by the College Board and the National Merit Scholarship Corporation. Outstanding scores on the PSAT/NMSQT may qualify students for National Merit Scholarships.
The ACT Assessment features multiple-choice tests in four skill areas: (1) English, (2) mathematics, (3) reading, and (4) science. It also has an optional writing test, which was added in 2005. The ACT tests are scored on a scale that ranges from 1 to 36. The ACT also provides a percentile rank for each score. In addition to the tests, the ACT Assessment also collects and reports information—including high school courses and grades, special interests, and career goals—about students planning to attend college.
The Advanced Placement Program (AP) is a College Board testing program that enables some students to earn college credit for knowledge learned in high school. It offers college-level examinations in many subjects. A high score on an AP test may qualify a student to receive partial credit for college work in the subject.
Most colleges in the United States require international applicants to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). The TOEFL measures a person’s ability to use and understand the English language. Colleges in other countries where English is spoken or taught also use TOEFL scores.
Students applying to pursue a graduate degree usually take additional examinations. Such examinations may include Graduate Record Examinations (GRE); the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) for business students; the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) for medical students; or the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) for law students.
In other countries,
testing systems vary. Most colleges throughout the world require applicants to take some kind of entrance examination. Some countries, such as China, have national examinations that students must pass to qualify for admission to a university. In other countries, colleges and universities develop their own admissions policies. In addition, specific programs in many colleges have their own testing requirements.
In Canada, most colleges do not require entrance examinations. In India, entrance examinations may be administered by individual schools or by state. The tests are limited to certain fields of study, such as chemistry, engineering, or medicine. In the United Kingdom, most colleges do not require entrance examinations for undergraduate study. However, they base their admissions decisions partly on the A-level (Advanced-level) examinations in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland and similar examinations in Scotland.
See also Testing ; Universities and colleges .
