11th Grade Testing Options

The ACT (pronounced as three separate letters) is a national college admissions examination that consists of subject area tests in English, Mathematics, Reading, and Science, with an optional Writing Test. ACT results are accepted by all 4-year colleges and universities in the U.S.

The SAT Reasoning Test (formerly Scholastic Aptitude Test and Scholastic Assessment Test, pronounced as three separate letters) is a standardized test for college admissions in the United States. The SAT is owned, published, and developed by the College Board, a not-for-profit organization in the United States.

Historically, the SAT has been more popular among colleges on the coasts and the ACT more popular in the Midwest and South.

On ACT test day, remember to bring your ACT Admission ticket, your Photo ID, #2 pencils (not mechanical), and an ACT-approved calculator.

The OnToCollege program is available to students for free! This program provides ACT preparation materials and videos to assist in your studying. See the link titled OnToCollege letter for details.

• ACT
• ACT Academy (Free ACT Test Prep)
• ACT Recommendations for Parents
• SAT

Students in 10th-12th grade who are interested in going into the military and/or who would like to get more feedback about their career interests and strengths can sign up to take the ASVAB test.

Understanding the ASVAB

High school students can earn college credit by taking a computer-based test of their knowledge. The College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) is a College Board program that allows students to accelerate their education by skipping introductory college-level courses in subjects they have already mastered through general academic instruction, significant independent study, extracurricular work or volunteerism.

Minnesota Department of Education - CLEP

MCA Informational Letter

The Graduation-Required Assessments for Diploma (GRAD) are the state tests that fulfill Minnesota's high school graduation requirement for students who first entered grade 8 in 2005-06 or later. These tests measure student performance on essential skills in Writing, Reading, and Mathematics for success in the 21st century. If a student does not satisfy the graduation requirement for an assessment during the first administration, there will be retest opportunities available.

The Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT) is a program co-sponsored by the College Board and National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC). It's a standardized test that provides firsthand practice for the SAT®. It also gives you a chance to enter NMSC scholarship programs and gain access to college and career planning tools.

The PSAT/NMSQT measures:

• Critical reading skills
• Math problem-solving skills
• Writing skills

You have developed these skills over many years, both in and out of school. This test doesn't require you to recall specific facts from your classes.

College Board | PSAT & NMSQT Information