College Testing Entrance Exams Just One Important Tool

Original Article Posted at: College entrance exams just one important tool to measure student learning on March 21, 2017 Andrew Sauls has a target in mind. On Tuesday, like all Kentucky public school juniors, Sauls took the ACT exam. Unlike all Kentucky juniors, Sauls had already taken the national college entrance exam. The Henderson resident first sat the ACT as a freshmen and scored a 28 out of a 36-point scale. His goal this time was to bump his score to 33, which would make more college scholarships available to him. "For me at least, I'm pretty weak in math and science," said Sauls, who is an honor roll student and member of Henderson County High's academic team. "I'm more arts-focused. If I can get those more technical scores up, I think I should be able to achieve that goal." The busy Sauls hadn't done much studying on his own for the test, confessing he's cracked one ACT guidebook. Most of his training is done in the classroom. "I take AP classes, which in my opinion have prepared me more for the ACT," he said, adding that HCHS students take practice ACT exams in class. Sauls plans to take the ACT twice more as a senior. He's taken the PSAT (a practice SAT) as a freshman and sophomore, but not the SAT. "I want to take the SAT at least twice before I start filling out applications for colleges," he said. The SAT and ACT are a determinant of success in certain college-level courses. Almost all colleges and universities require a score on a college entrance exam for admission. Colleges and universities also offer scholarships based on the exam scores and other criteria. Kentucky is among 14 states that require students to take the ACT exam, according to edweek.org. Washington D.C. and seven states make it mandatory for students to sit the SAT. Idaho and Ohio students must take either the SAT or ACT. North Dakota students must take either ACT or WorkKeys, though the score doesn't affect their grades or graduation. "College admissions is really the big reason," said Kate Minihan, assistant superintendent for strategy and accountability for the Evansville Vanderburgh School Corp. "If you are thinking about doing something post-secondary, schools look at your ACT and SAT scores. That's why some states have made it an accountability exam because it's meaningful for students." Indiana does not require its students to take either the ACT or SAT, though many voluntarily do so. More EVSC students took the ACT last year than the SAT. There were just under 850 students who sat the ACT exam and just under 650 who took the SAT, said Minihan. There's been an uptick in students taking the the ACT over the last several years, she said. "Traditionally, the ACT has been recommended for students who may not be as strong at test taking because it has different content areas," Minihan said. "Some students were encouraged to take the test, particularly before the SAT was redesigned, because on the SAT students got dinged for wrong answers." SAT revised its assessments last year, going back to the 1600 scale instead of 2400. Other important changes were making the essay portion optional and having points being no longer deducted for wrong answers. Whether college and universities favor the SAT or ACT depends on the institution, said Minihan. SAT has been traditionally favored on the East and West coasts, while ACT has been the top choice in the Midwest. However, more Evansville students are also voluntarily taking the SAT, which Minihan attributed to the state funding for all students to take the PSAT and because more institutions are considering the SAT. Henderson freshmen and sophomore students take the EXPLORE, PLAN and ACT practice tests, which are purchased through Cambridge Testing. HCHS then receives a detailed report from Cambridge that analyzes the results and pinpoints areas where students need more instruction. "The rigor, complexity and length of the test also assist students in getting the dynamics of stamina that students need to be successful on the real ACT," said Kimberly White, Henderson's director of accountability and assessment. "Teachers analyze the data for strengths and weaknesses to make instructional improvements and work with specific students in areas of need." HCHS also administers the PSAT to students annually, White said. Original Article Posted at: College entrance exams just one important tool to measure student learning on March 21, 2017