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We have listed the most common tests below with a brief description. Click on the test name for more information. If you have questions, contact Amy Betz, Middle Creek's Testing Coordinator at abetz@wcpss.net.
About ACT Some students decide to take the ACT college entrance exam in addition to or instead of the SAT Reasoning Test. The ACT describes itself as an achievement test, measuring what a student has learned, and describes the SAT as more of an aptitude test, testing reasoning and verbal abilities. The ACT is more common in the west of the United States than on the east coast. Still, in North Carolina all colleges and universities accept ACT scores except for Wake Forest University. The ACT has four multiple-choice tests for English, math, reading comprehension, and science for $29.50. The optional Writing Test measures skill in planning and writing a short essay and costs $14.00. Students should consult colleges and universities to which they are applying to determine if the optional Writing Test is needed. Practice test booklets will be available in Student Services at Middle Creek High School in the fall. Sample questions, tips and writing samples are available online. Paper applications will be available in Student Services but registration is easy online at www.act.org. To have your scores sent to Middle Creek High School use the CEEB number 340086. Scores can be sent to four colleges without an additional fee. 2007-2008 ACT Schedule
The Advanced Placement Program® is a cooperative educational endeavor between secondary schools and colleges and universities. Since its inception in 1955, the Program has provided motivated high school students with the opportunity to take college-level courses in a high school setting. Students who participate in the Program not only gain college-level skills, but in many cases they also earn college credit while they are still in high school. AP courses are taught by dedicated and enthusiastic high school teachers who follow course guidelines developed and published by the College Board. (From the College Board website.) AP courses are college-level classes and are designed to challenge high school students. The courses are very rigorous. Students are encouraged to take the AP exams. However, when a motivated student steadily increases the challenge of his workload every year upon entering high school, he can be prepared for college level work. Competitive and highly competitive colleges and universities expect the students they consider for admission to have taken full advantage of the most challenging course offerings at their high schools. The student applying to college should take on as much challenge as he or she can successfully handle. Teachers are happy to consult and make recommendations. Counselors can help students look at their total course load. Advanced placement courses can be a great money saver in a time of increasingly expensive college tuition. Many colleges and universities will offer some college credit for a score of 3, 4, or 5, the highest. For example, a college student might pay $400 to take Science 101 at NC Public University. That same university might offer credit for Science 101, a three-credit course required for graduation, if the student scores a 3 or above on the appropriate AP exam. Every college and university has its own scale for awarding credit so students should carefully investigate colleges and universities of interest.
Related Sites: High School Comprehensive Test
North Carolina Test of Computer Skills
North Carolina Writing Assessment for Grade 10
All juniors will take the PSAT on Wednesday, October 17, 2007, at Middle Creek High School at no charge to the student. (A limited number of tenth graders will be able to take the test for a nominal fee. Listen for the announcements in the fall.) The PSAT is excellent practice for the SAT Reasoning Test and is also the qualifying test for the National Merit Scholarship Program. In general, college bound students, those in the College/University Prep Course of Study, take the SAT Reasoning Test at least once in the spring of the junior year and again in October of the senior year. Some students choose to take the SAT twice in the spring of the junior year. Generally, it is nonproductive to take the SAT over and over without doing a review or course between tests. The three-hour 45-minute test consists of three sections testing critical reading, math, and writing. Students should be in or should have completed Algebra II before taking the SAT. Students in the College Tech Prep or the Career Course of Study who are planning to attend a community college do not need to take the SAT. Community colleges have placement tests for students applying to their college transfer or technical programs. The student registers for and pays for the SAT. The basic cost is $41.50. Today most students register for the SAT online by setting up an account with College Board. Go to collegeboard.com to set up the account. (Paper registration forms and practice booklets will be available in Student Services on a limited basis.) The school CEEB number for having your score sent to Middle Creek High School is 340086. The student is also responsible for sending scores directly to up to four colleges and universities of interest. Most colleges prefer to receive official SAT scores directly from College Board. Students who set up an account with College Board can do the online practice test at the expense of Wake County Public School System. (See the Guidance web page at middlecreekhs.wcpss.net for a direct link to College Board.) When choosing a test site, remember to look not only under Raleigh but also under Cary and Garner for their testing dates. Please be sure to read the instructions carefully and take proper identification and supplies to the test. Finally, in the past, many colleges and universities have considered the highest math and the highest verbal score a student earns. This past year most colleges and universities had not made a firm decision on how to use the writing score. Students should contact individual colleges and universities of interest to ask about weight of the SAT score in admissions decisions. Also, some colleges ask seniors who have been admitted to submit SAT Subject Test scores for placement. Up to three subject tests can be taken on a test date. Seniors who finish a course first semester may want to take the subject test in January. Those taking a course second semester may wish to test in June. Please note that subject tests are not given on the March 10, 2007, test date. 2006-2007 SAT SCHEDULE
*Postmark or Online Deadline (Registration
online can be difficult at the last minute because of the number of persons
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