The SAT/ACT Tests Matter–Don’t Leave it to the Last Minute

The SAT/ACT tests are considered the top indicators of college success, and colleges and universities do not take SAT/ACT scores lightly. Beginning private test prep for the spring tests now ensures that your child will be able to perform their best on test day. As the following article states, colleges rank students based on their standardized test scores, and without the effort going in to SAT/ACT test preparation, your child will be at a disadvantage.

Part 2: Answers to Readers’ Questions About the SAT and ACT

A recent study in Psychological Science showed that the SAT and high school grade point average have essentially the same predictive value of first-year college G.P.A. Research consistently shows that the SAT, when combined with high school G.P.A., is the best predictor of first-year college success for all students.

According to a recent report from the National Association for College Admission Counseling, admission test scores ranked as the third-most important factor in the admission decision, behind only grades in college prep courses and strength of curriculum. Nearly all four-year undergraduate colleges and universities continue to require entrance exam scores, and many test-optional colleges limit those policies to applicants who meet other requirements.

We understand that sometimes there is confusion about what standardized tests are designed to do. The ACT is a curriculum-based achievement exam, which means it’s designed to measure what a student has learned in science, math, reading and English classes throughout his or her time in school. We continually update our exam to make sure it reflects what is taught in America’s schools and deemed important for success in college courses.

Our research findings, as well as those of others, consistently show that ACT scores are an excellent predictor of how well a student will perform in the first year of college, as are high school grades. The most effective way to determine if students are ready for college, however, is by looking at their ACT scores and high school grades combined.