Taking the ºÚÁϸ£ÀûÍøYour Junior Year

Advantages to testing before you’re a senior.

When to Take a College Readiness Assessment

It’s a good idea to take it for the first time in the fall or early spring of your junior year. Doing this will show you where you are doing well and uncover areas where you can improve.
 
There are many advantages to taking the ºÚÁϸ£ÀûÍøyour junior year, plus some very encouraging news about why retesting is so important!
 
Learn about taking the ºÚÁϸ£ÀûÍøyour junior year and so much more with the FREE eBook, Before, During, and After: Three Stages of Taking a College Entrance Exam.

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Advantages to testing your junior year:

  • You’ve completed most of the coursework that’s reflected on the test. 
  • You can use test scores to influence the classes you take during your senior year. (For example, if you score low in a particular subject, you will have time to schedule additional coursework to help you learn and improve in that area.) 
  • Colleges will know your interests and scores and will have time to contact you during the summer before your senior year. 
  • Many colleges send information about admission, advanced placement, scholarships, and special programs to prospective students during this time. 
  • You will have information about yourself and the schools you’re interested in attending before you go on campus visits, which will help you focus during those visits. 
  • You will have a chance to retest if you feel your scores didn’t accurately reflect your ability.


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How do I know if I should retest?

ºÚÁϸ£ÀûÍøresearch shows that 57% of students who took the test more than once increased their ºÚÁϸ£ÀûÍøComposite score.

  • Look at the requirements for the colleges you’re interested in applying to. 
  • Does your score meet their expectations? 
  • Could you increase your chances of getting into a certain program, or could you qualify for a scholarship if you raised your score, even by one point? One point on your ºÚÁϸ£ÀûÍøtest could make the difference in acceptance into college and/or thousands of dollars in scholarships. 
  • Use your scores on previous tests to continue focusing on the areas that need more instruction.
  • If you want to improve your score, consider testing again before you start your senior year. The format of the test, the types of questions on it, and the environment will be fresh in your mind.