Going into the college admissions process can feel daunting — especially when it comes to college entrance exams. You’ve probably heard of the examples available: the Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT), American College Test (ACT), and Classical Learning Test (CLT). The scores you get on these exams will become key parts of the admissions process, with each school having different processes around how the scores are valued.
That’s why it’s important to understand these exams — what they are, test score information, and how schools consider them during the admission process.
In this guide, we’ll shine the light on these exams to show you what to expect when taking them. You’ll learn about the exam formats, content, and test score information — as well as a few tips for preparing for the tests and strategies on test day.
The primary college entrance exams
There are three primary college entrance exams in the United States: SAT, ACT, and CLT. Let’s look at each one and go over what makes them unique.
The SAT
The SAT is a U.S. college admissions exam that tests high school students for their readiness for college-level work. It’s a standard to help educators compare students from different schools.
The test lasts three hours and consists of reading, writing, and language. There are 154 questions — most of which are multiple-choice, with a few writing sections.
The reading section requires students to analyze passages from several pieces of text and answer questions. Writing and language ask testers to look at passages to find and fix mistakes. The math section tests a student’s ability to solve math problems using algebra, geometry, and trigonometry.
The SAT score uses an 800-point scale. The math section gets 800 points, while reading and writing get another 800. Both sections are combined and score the student for a high score of 1600 points.
If you’re thinking of taking the SAT, you can get a feel for what it’s like by taking the PSAT in high school during your junior year or senior year.
The ACT
The ACT test is a standardized test for testing college readiness in the United States. It tests students in four main areas: English, math, reading, and science.
The test will take students 185 minutes to complete and consists of 215 multiple-choice questions across the four main subject areas.
The English section will take students 45 minutes to complete. It contains 75 questions checking the taker’s comprehension of English. The ACT exam's math section will take 60 minutes to complete, contains 60 questions, and will test students on algebra, geometry, and trigonometry.
The reading and science sections contain 40 questions and last 40 minutes each. The reading section will have students read four passages and answer 10 questions about each one. The science section will require students to examine scientific data to analyze, draw conclusions, and make predictions.
Each section will give you an ACT score of 1 to 36. Your composite score is the average of all the sections.
The CLT
The CLT is an alternative entrance exam that offers a different path than the SAT and ACT. Its creators designed the exam to align more closely with classical education models that focus on critical thinking — but at the same time, offering a multiple-choice format for easy administration.
The CLT uses three main sections to test students: verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, and grammar/writing. The CLT exam will take students a total of two hours to complete. All sections contain a total of 40 questions.
The grammar/writing section tests students on their grammar, punctuation, and writing skills. The quantitative reasoning section will test someone’s problem-solving, algebra, and geometry knowledge. Finally, the verbal reasoning section will test students on their reading comprehension, analysis, and vocabulary skills.
There is also an optional essay available for testers. It takes 30 minutes and won't count toward the two-hour limit for the other exam sections.
Exam scores on the CLT are simple to calculate. Each question gives testers one point—meaning your total score is out of 120.
It’s important to remember that a limited number of schools consider the CLT exam, so make sure your school options accept this test.
College entrance exam preparation tips
Doing well on your entrance exams means learning and studying the right topics. Let’s look at a few preparation tips that will help you nail your exam.
- Start early. Don’t wait until the last minute to start your test preparation. The more time you have to learn what each test covers and spend time studying, the better off you’ll be on test day. Think about getting started at least three months before the test date.
- Find test prep materials. You don’t have to go into admission exams by guessing what will be on them. There are many high-quality test materials available that will help prepare you for the types of questions to expect. Find a quality study guide to familiarize yourself with the questions asked on the exam.
- Practice in testing conditions. Things are different taking a test in a different environment — you aren’t in your own space where you can sit back and relax. Look for opportunities to take a practice test in conditions that simulate an actual test center. Time yourself in a real classroom or look for testing apps that help simulate the process.
- Review your mistakes. It’s important to reflect on your mistakes in tests. Practice exams will show you where you went off course, so carefully examine where that happened. Understanding your thought process when answering questions incorrectly will help you realign your thinking and answer correctly next time.
College entrance exam test taking strategies
Things can get hectic during test time. You’re struggling to answer questions and unsure if you’ll have enough time. Use these tips to manage your time and get the best score possible.
- Manage your time. It’s not uncommon to get stuck on one question for some time during the test. Before spending too much time on one question, skip it and move on to the next. Focus on the questions you can answer first, then move back to the ones you struggled with.
- Use the process of elimination. You don’t get penalized for answering by guessing on a multiple choice — you’re either right or not. Use the process of elimination to remove the answers you know aren’t correct. Even if you can’t narrow it to the correct answer, you can still improve the odds of selecting the right one.
- Check your work. You may find that you have some extra time during the test by finishing early. Don’t just hand in your test when you finish. Go back over your work to look things over again to try and find any errors you made.
The role of college entrance exams in college admissions
It’s hard to evaluate a student’s potential without measuring their abilities. You can learn a lot about someone by looking at their grades and what they do in their free time. But when it comes to education, you still need a way to measure what someone knows.
College admission tests are what give colleges this information. Your score will help schools measure your potential to do well in class. The higher your score, the better your chance of getting into the college you want.
Other factors considered during college admissions
Your admissions test will play a vital role in determining if you get into college, but it isn’t the only factor. There are many other things colleges will look at when making admission decisions.
- Coursework in school
- Grades over time
- Advanced placement classes
- Personal statements
- Extracurricular activities
- Recommendations
Additionally, not all colleges require tests anymore. There is discussion around how well testing represents someone’s ability, so check to see which colleges have adopted this policy.
Find the best school for you with help from College Rover
College entrance exams continue to play a vital role in college admissions for many schools. They give educational institutions a way to gauge how well a student will perform in college. Make sure to take the time to learn your testing options and pick the admissions exam that will help you get into your top school choice.
Navigating the world of college entrance exams and college applications can be complex. But don't worry, you're not alone. College Rover is here to guide you every step of the way. Start your search for colleges today by using our tool to filter and compare colleges to find the perfect school for your higher education goals.
