Ged Tests
Q. Are there parents here with high school age children? Could you explain to me the differences between SAT, SATII, ACT, and any other ones that I might not even know about (or point me to somewhere I can find out)? I did not take college entrance tests so I have no idea how to start planning this for my child.
A. The tests are very similar, and there are many books at the bookstore or online (do a search for the tests with your favorite search engine). On a practical note, all the tests cover general knowledge that your kids should have learned in school. If you don't know the stuff by now, there is probably too much to learn in the time remaining. Most colleges I know of give their own entrance exams and determine the students level of achievement. I called a local college nearby not too long ago and they gave me a lot of vital information. They said all "public" colleges and Universities have to accept all students. Makes it pretty easy doesn't it? (Please tell all the home schooler you know about this. I don't think they know how easy it is.) They said they use a COMPASS test, of their own making which they use to place students. It takes two hours. Many incoming students do not meet their "entrance requirements" so they have to be placed in "remedial" classes to acquire the knowledge and skills to fit into their normal college level classes. They said about 40% require such courses to fill in what was not acquired in their high school program. I asked about a technical program, like the one I had taken long ago. They said 80% of incoming students would require remediation to enter such a program. (Most don't try.) I made a call on a high school equivalency test called the GED test and they said this test is set up in such a way that only 66% of high school graduates would pass. 33% would fail. So I take this as the GED test is a higher standard than graduating from High School. The SAT is a national test for college entrance that has been used for about 50 years so people use it as sort of a yard stick, standard or bar. How high was the bar (average of SAT scores in 1960 compared to today?). Up to 1995 the SAT was used by the nation for this purpose. In 1995 the basis of the SAT was changed because the scores were dropping too much. It is a 1600 point test with a 200 minimum. So the average originally was intended to be 1000 plus or minus 600. The scores from 1960 were close to this and by 1995 national scores had dropped 98 points when the test was set back to 1000 again. (Made easier.) The company that writes this test is Educational Testing Service. You might want to try their site. I understand the SAT measures no education above the ninth-grade level. (Prometheus site.) PSAT is a test given to juniors in high school and is used by the National Merit Scholarship Program as the basis for their $2500 scholarships. They give out about 7500 of these a year I believe. It is considered an Honor to get a Comendation, or become a Semi-finalist or Finalist or National Merit Scholar under this program. The prestige is worth more than the $2500 I would say. Try the National Merit Scholarship web site.
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