Homeschoolers and College Entry Exams

The SAT and ACT exams are very important exams for homeschoolers. These exam scores will help determine what college a homeschooler will go to and if they will go to college. Some colleges admit homeschoolers solely on these tests. SAT and ACTscores are also used to back up homeschool transcript grades. This does not make these exams the end-all be-all. If a homeschool is a poor tester, there are other ways to be attractive to colleges.

The SAT was introduced in 1901 as a national college entry exam and measures college readiness in areas of critical reading, math, and writing skills. It focuses on critical thinking and problem solving skills. The SAT been altered over the years, which means that today's parents will not recognize it from the test they took two or three decades ago. Still, with the help of online tutorials, study guides and basic math and language arts instruction, a homeschooling student can excel on the test.

Like SAT exams, SAT II exams are created by the College Board and are meant to test a students knowledge in certain subjects. SAT II's are also known as SAT Subject Tests. There was a time when homeschoolers were required to take a series of SAT II exams to prove they knew enough subject matter to get into college, but many colleges have loosened these rules. A homeschooler hoping to get into an extremely competitive college or a math or science program may want to take SAT II exams give them an academic edge. The SAT II's are available in various subjects including literature, U.S. History, World History, Math, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and foreign languages. The ACT was founded 1959 and became a competitor for the College Board's SAT exam. The ACT tests the student in English, math, reading, science, and writing (optional). The ACT is widely preferred in colleges in the middle states and is gaining popularity over the SAT in the East Coast. Still, ACT scores are now accepted at all four year colleges and used as a determining factor for admission.

Students in traditional public and private schools tend to take the ACT or SAT based on what local colleges prefer. However, because colleges will use a conversion chart to determine your score equivalent, homeschoolers are free to take either exam. This gives a the homeschooler a bit of lee-way in deciding which test to take. A homeschooler with strong reasoning and critical thinking skills should take the SAT. A homeschooler who retains knowledge well should take the ACT.

Homeschoolers Should Prepare before taking the ACT and SAT. There are many options available to help a homeschooler get ready for the test. A smart thing to do is practice ACT and SAT questions every day for 30 minutes. Both the ACT website and the SAT website have study guides online that a student can use. The College Board website will send you a question a day by email. You can also purchase study guides from the bookstore or borrow them from the library. For the SAT, anyone taking the test should purchase The Official SAT Study Guide. Anyone taking the ACT should own Cracking the ACT. Peterson's online also has valuable online test guides and practice tests. In addition to setting time aside each day to study for these exams, homeschoolers should consider taking a test strategy course, such as what is offered by the Princeton Review website.

Deciphering a homeschoolers SAT and ACT scores can be confusing as people tend to communicate the scores both with and without the writing score included. The score may also be broken down by subject. This is because colleges may weigh different parts of the SAT and ACT differently depending on the student and their prospective major. Whether you take the SAT or ACT, the percentile the test score falls into is very important to colleges. While the numbers vary from year to year, a score of 1550 on the SAT would fall in the 50th percentile, and a score of 1800 would get the student into the 80th percentile. For the ACT, a 50th percentile score would be 20th and a 80th percentile score would be 25. A homeschooler with SAT/ACT scores in the 50th percentile will be able to get into a state college or a less competitive college. A homeschooler with ACT or SATscores in the 80th percentile or higher will be able to get into an Ivy League college, or any other college he wanted, and very likey get merit scholarships as well. A high score of 2400 for the SAT or 36 for the ACT would guarantee entry into any college along with scholarships.

The SAT and ACT are administered at public and private high schools across the United States. The tests are also available at some college testing centers. Each test has several test dates throughout the year, allowing students to take the test when ready. To take the SAT or ACT test, the student needs to register online with the testing service. To register for the SAT Exam, visit the College Board registration page where you will choose a test date and location, and pay for the exam. Sign up to take the ACT at ACT.org.

ACT and SAT scores are just one area that colleges look at when considering homeschoolers. When looking at homeschooling ACT/SAT scores, competitive colleges want homeschoolers who fall within the percentile range of traditional students they admit. Colleges also look at the grades on the homeschoolers transcript, but the grades and SAT/ACT scores must align. For instance, if a homeschooler has all A's and their SAT/ACT scores are only in the 50th percentile, it will raise a red flag that the transcript is exaggerated. Even without perfect grades and ACT/ACT scores, homeschoolers may be admitted into a college based on unique educational experiences, maturity, and mastery or advanced knowledge in one or more subject areas.