Yes, there are about 800 schools that regard the SATs or ACTs as optional. You will find them listed in alphabetical order or state-by-state at FairTest.org. the Web site for the "The National Center for Fair & Open Testing (FairTest), which works to end the misuses and flaws of standardized testing and to ensure that evaluation of students, teachers and schools is fair, open, valid and educationally beneficial.

Some schools require SAT Subject Matter Tests, formerly known as the SAT II exams.

These tests are in addition to the SAT I Reasoning Test, or the ACT.

Check out your schools of interest to see if they require SAT Subject Matter tests.

Then visit our

There are other tests, given for other reasons. For American high school students, the SATs and the ACT are the tests you take to be considered for admission to almost all colleges and universities.

There are other tests some can take to earn college credit that enables them to graduate sooner.

Foreign and international students take certain tests in addition to the SATs or ACT.

College Entrance Exams

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SATS and ACTS - WHICH EXAM SHOULD I TAKE?

No matter which you choose, first you take the PSATs,(Not required, and really only useful for practice and NMS consideration), then it's time to get down to business.

While colleges accept either the SAT I or the ACT, there are differences between the two tests and sometimes a student will perform better on one than on the other.

The SAT I is a test of logic and strategy, while the ACT is considered a knowledge-based exam.

The SAT I consists of three parts:

• Math

• Critical Reading

• Multiple Choice Writing test, which includes a 25 minute essay.

The math test includes questions on algebra, geometry, Algebra II, functions, and a few trig questions.

The Critical Reading sections consist of sentence completion exercises, short reading paragraphs and long reading passages.

The SAT can be described as a test of logic and reasoning.

The ACT exam consists of four sections:

• Math

• Critical reading

• The Science Reasoning test

• Multiple choice writing test with an optional essay. (HINT: Elect to write the essay.)

The SATs and ACTs are considered to be an indicator of how well applicants will manage academically in the first year of college.

Success on the tests can also help the overall view of college admissions toward your application. In California, scores affect your overall "index" score.

In addition, since some high schools may be better than others, these exams create a standard method of measuring all students.

In California, for instance, for the California State University and the University of California, a candidate may take either or both the SATs and ACTs.

The Cal State system requires that all testing be finished by October 31 of the senior year, and the UC system requires that all testing be completed by December of that same year.

Most public and private schools in the United States accept one or the other of these tests.

ARE THERE SCHOOLS THAT DON'T REQUIRE THESE TESTS?

There are about 800 colleges and universities that do not require one or the other of the tests.

A while back, a small percentage of private schools announced that they would not be requiring the SATs and ACTs. Gradually, and quietly, many of these schools have reinstated their requirements for one or the other of the tests, for a variety of reasons.