College Admission Tests
Find out which test you should take and how to prepare for it.
Most four-year colleges and universities rely on standardized tests to determine how ready you are for college-level work. A good test score can help you get into your school of choice, earn scholarships, and receive advanced placement or college credit.
There are college admission tests for undergraduate students and graduate students. Visit TestDatesCentral.com for details about test dates for major standardized tests which are only given on certain dates throughout the year. Below is information to help you determine which tests you need to take. Go to Search for Colleges for admission requirements of specific schools.
Juniors
| What test should you take? | What does it test? | Why should you take this test? | How do you get more information? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Preliminary SAT (PSAT) |
Critical reading, math reasoning abilities, and writing skills (Serves as National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test for juniors) | Helps prepare for college entrance exams by giving you feedback on your strengths and weaknesses on skills necessary for college study | Check with school counselor Undergraduate College Admission Tests collegeboard.com |
| ACT | English, reading, math, and science reasoning skills; optional writing test | Most common entrance exam for four-year colleges in Midwest and Central United States | Undergraduate College Admission Tests actstudent.org |
| SAT | Critical reading, math reasoning abilities, and writing skills | Most common entrance exam for four-year colleges on East and West coasts | Undergraduate College Admission Tests collegeboard.com |
Seniors
| What test should you take? | What does it test? | Why should you take this test? | How do you get more information? |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACT | English, reading, math, and science reasoning skills; optional writing test | Most common entrance exam for four-year colleges in Midwest and Central United States. | Undergraduate College Admission Tests actstudent.org |
| SAT | Critical reading, math reasoning abilities, and writing skills | Most common entrance exam for four-year colleges on East and West coasts | Undergraduate College Admission Tests collegeboard.com |
Graduate School Applicants
| What test should you take? | What does it test? | Why should you take this test? | How do you get more information? |
|---|---|---|---|
| GMAT GRE LSAT MCAT |
Qualifications of applicants for advanced study in specific fields such as business and management, law, or medicine | Required for admission to most graduate schools | Graduate College Admissions Tests |
Students Whose Native Language is Not English
| What test should you take? | What does it test? | Why should you take this test? | How do you get more information? |
|---|---|---|---|
| TOEFL Test of English as a Foreign Language |
Ability of non-native English speakers to read, write, speak, and understand North American English | Required by some four-year colleges if English is not applicant's native language | Undergraduate College Admissions Tests toefl.org |
Students With a Documented Disability
Students with documented disabilities may be eligible to receive accommodations (such as Braille tests, large print, and extended time) when taking admissions tests. To learn more about the accommodations available for each test mentioned above, visit: ACT (undergraduate), PSAT or SAT (undergraduate), GRE (graduate), LSAT (law), MCAT (medical), GMAT (business/management), or TOEFL (non-native English speakers).