College Entrance Exams
Most colleges and universities require either one of two college entrance exams: the SAT Reasoning Test or the ACT Plus Writing. The University of California and other selective universities also require the SAT Subject Tests. Specifically, the University of California requires two SAT Subject Tests from two different subject areas: English, History and Social Studies, Mathematics (Level 2 only), Science, and Languages. USC does not require the SAT Subject Tests and submitting the results from these exams is optional, but they can be very helpful in evaluating scholarship applicants. The SAT Subject Tests are recommended to be taken as soon as possible after completing the course in the subject area; the foreign language tests are recommended to be taken after two years of study.
These exams are offered multiple times throughout the year. The SAT Reasoning Test and the SAT Subject Tests cannot be taken on the same day. As a senior, the last testing date that most colleges and universities will accept is December. So check with the high school college counseling office for more information on testing dates.
SAT and ACT preparation workshops are offered by individual school sites. Check with the high school college counseling office to obtain the dates of these workshops. These workshops are also provided by USC MESA on a need basis.
To prepare for the SAT Reasoning Test, students are encouraged to take the PSAT in October. Current juniors are strongly encouraged to take the PSAT since this test qualifies them for the National Merit Scholarships.
The SAT Reasoning Test is a three-hour and forty-five-minute test that measures critical reading, writing, and mathematical reasoning skills students have developed over time and skills students need to be successful academically.
The SAT Reasoning Test consists of the following:
Writing Section
Multiple choice questions measure how well students use standard written English. This section also includes a student-written essay that measures skills in developing a point of view on an issue. Students must first think critically about the issue presented in the essay assignment, forming their own individual perspective on the topic. Then students must develop that point of view, using reasoning and evidence based on their own experiences, readings, or observations to support their ideas.
Critical Reading Section
This section includes reading comprehension, sentence completions, and paragraph-length critical reading. Reading questions measure the ability to read and think critically about several different passages ranging in length from 100 to 850 words. Passages are taken from a variety of fields, including humanities, social studies, natural sciences, and literary fiction. They vary in style and can include narrative, argumentative, and expository elements.
Mathematics Section
This section is composed of multiple-choice questions and student-produced responses. It includes math topics such as exponential growth, absolute value, and functional notation, and places emphasis on such other topics as linear functions, manipulations with exponents, and properties of tangent lines.
The ACT Plus Writing is a three-hour and twenty-five-minute test and is a set of four multiple-choice tests which cover English, mathematics, reading, and science, and a writing test.
The ACT consists of the following tests:
English
This section measures standard written English and rhetorical skills. It covers six elements of effective writing: punctuation, grammar and usage, sentence structure, strategy, organization, and style.
Mathematics
This section measures the math skills students have typically acquired in courses taken by the end of the 11th grade. It covers six content areas: pre-algebra, elementary algebra, intermediate algebra, coordinate geometry, plane geometry, and trigonometry.
Reading
This section measures reading comprehension and is based on four types of reading selections: social studies, natural sciences, prose fiction, and humanities.
Science
This section measures the interpretation, analysis, evaluation, reasoning, and problem-solving skills required in the natural sciences. The content includes biology, chemistry, physics, and the Earth/space sciences (for example, geology, astronomy, and meteorology). Advanced knowledge in these subjects is not required, but background knowledge acquired in general, introductory science courses is needed to answer some of the questions. The test emphasizes scientific reasoning skills over recall of scientific content, skill in mathematics, or reading ability.
Writing
This section measures writing skills emphasized in high school English classes and in entry-level college composition courses. It consists of one writing prompt that will define an issue and describe two points of view on that issue. Students are asked to respond to a question about their position on the issue described in the writing prompt.
Can Students Use a Calculator?
Yes. Students can use a four-function, scientific, or graphing calculator for the mathematics section. The College Board recommends that students use a calculator at least at the scientific level for the SAT, although it's still possible to solve every math question without a calculator. For the ACT, the use of a calculator is only allowed on the Mathematics section, and is not permitted on any of the other sections. All math problems can be solved without a calculator.
