Standardized tests and college admission

Up until now, high school juniors have watched their older classmates suffer through SATs and college applications. But with the arrival of PSAT scores, juniors are starting to feel the pressure. While PSAT scores are not used for admission and will never even be seen by colleges, they can trigger anxiety about upcoming SATs.

It is hard for students to understand that 10 years from now SAT scores will have nothing to do with the quality of their lives. There's just too much emphasis on a test that isn't even a very good predictor of success in college. That's why some very good colleges no longer require test scores. Adding a testoptional school to your college list can help reduce test anxiety since you know you've got choices even if you don't do well on the SAT.

But even at schools that do require test scores, grades in college preparatory courses are the most important part of your application. Stellar test scores and a 2.8 grade-point average tell colleges you have potential but haven't applied yourself in high school. Admissions officers want to admit students whose track record indicates they will be successful in college.

At one point it looked like the SAT could be on the way out. The University of California considered eliminating the test score requirement, but the College Board offered to improve the SAT. That's how we got the new SAT in 2005, which added some math questions that require algebra 2 and a new writing section.

Some colleges are still not using the writing score in admissions decisions, and that's why on college websites you often see average SAT scores reported only for critical reading and math. Schools often report ranges instead of averages, and when you see a mid-50 percent range of 1180-1360, that means 50 percent of admitted students (or enrolled freshmen, depending on the college) had scores in that range; 25 percent were below 1180 and 25 percent above 1360.

Students who can't deal with the SAT have another option. The ACT has become popular in recent years and is accepted at all colleges. The test is considered less tricky and more straightforward and is more closely aligned with the high school curriculum. Unlike the SAT, the ACT has a science section.

Taking the ACT has been less stressful because students have control over who sees the results. You request scores from a specific test date be sent to colleges, whereas with the SAT all previous test scores are included in the report.

The College Board recently announced a new score reporting policy that will go into effect in March. Students will be able to designate which set of SAT scores are sent to colleges. The new policy has many students thinking that they can take the test five or six times and only submit one set of scores. While I do think that the new policy can help lower anxiety, I think for most students, taking the SAT or ACT more than three times is not productive. And some colleges will require students to submit all scores, so this strategy could backfire.

In addition to the SAT or ACT, many highly selective colleges require or recommend Subject Tests. Up to three of these one-hour tests can be taken on one date. Since SAT and Subject Tests are given at the same time, students cannot take both on the same day.

It can be overwhelming to think about all of these tests. Making a plan lowers the stress, and that's what I'll discuss in my next column.

Audrey Kahane, MS, MFA, is a private college admissions counselor in West Hills. She can be reached at (818) 704-7545 or audrey@audreykahane.com.