Take advantage of ACT prep programs.
Previously known as the American College Testing assessment, the ACT is used as a college admission standard by colleges and universities across the country. The ACT is designed to demonstrate mastery of knowledge from high school and the ability to undertake college course material. Varying opinions and research exists about the ACT as a predictor for college success.
Content
The ACT is designed to measure learning and comprehension of core classes offered in high school. English, math, reading and science are the four main sections included in the ACT. An optional writing test is also offered. Enrolling in high-level courses throughout high school is an effective overall strategy for test preparation.
Scoring
Students receive sub-scores for each section and a composite score that reflects an average of all areas. Most colleges use the composite score as the main requirement for admission. Students with scores of at least 18 on English, 22 on Math, 21 on Reading and 24 on Science are more likely to earn a grade point average of 2.0 or above in the first two years of college, according to the ACT website. However, a 2011 study conducted by the National Bureau of Economic Research found that while the English and math components of the test indicate potential for college success, the science and reading section scores do not.
Potential Bias
In an article published by the American Physical Society, it was reported that females demonstrate higher academic profiles and yet are two times as likely as males to have lower scores on standardized tests. The format of tests like the ACT gives an advantage to students who are more comfortable with questions in an analytic or multiple-choice format. Uncertain about test questions, men are more comfortable choosing an answer and that can lead to more favorable scores. Bronwyn Coltrane of the Center for Applied Linguistics emphasizes that phrasing may be difficult to understand or uncommon for students whose first language is not English. Additionally, tools that can help students prepare specifically for the test are not uniformly available and therefore, the earned score for some students may not solely reflect knowledge gained from high school classes.
Test Optional Schools
Several colleges across the country have adopted a test optional policy. These institutions believe that admission eligibility should be based upon several indicators, including high school grade point average, reference letters, academic rigor, leadership roles and community service. Test optional schools de-emphasize scores on tests such as the ACT, considering the talents and abilities of each student instead. For example, Gustavus Adolphus College emphasizes that the goal of adopting a test optional admission policy is to accurately consider the potential of each student as a whole.
Tags: high school, across country, college success, composite score, each student, emphasizes that