National Assessment Measures

The ACT is a national college admissions examination that consists of subject area tests in English, Mathematics, Reading and Science. The ACT Plus Writing includes the four subject area tests plus a 30-minute writing test. ACT results are accepted by all four-year colleges and universities in the U.S. For more information, visit the ACT Web site.

Advanced Placement (AP) Exams are standardized exams designed to measure how well students have mastered the content and skills of AP courses. AP examinations are administered each year in May and represent the culmination of a rigorous, college-level (AP) course. AP exams test students' ability to perform at a college level. Students that score well on the test may earn college placement and credit. AP courses utilize college-level curricula developed by the College Board for high schools.

National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) is administered by the commissioner of Education Statistics from the United States Department of Education and is an assessment used to measure what American students know and can do. It is given to students in grades 4, 8, and 12, across states and urban districts, as randomly selected by the United States Department of Education. Not all schools are selected each year and if a school district is selected, not all grades may be tested.

The Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT) is a standardized test co-sponsored by the College Board and National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC). The test also serves as the qualifying exam for National Merit scholarship opportunities. The PSAT/NMSQT measures critical reading skills, math problem-solving skills, and writing skills. The test measures critical reading skills, math problem-solving skills and writing skills. Students receive feedback on their strengths and weaknesses on skills necessary for college study.

The SAT is a product of the College Board that tests the subject matter learned by students in high school and how well they apply that knowledge—the critical thinking skills necessary to succeed in college. The SAT is a globally recognized college admission test taken by most SASD students during their junior or senior year of high school. For more information, visit the College Board's SAT Web page.