College
The Common Application (Common App) is a nonprofit organization that provides a centralized application used by nearly 900 colleges and universities. It connects students and their supporters to a wide range of public and private institutions across all 50 U.S. states and 20 countries.
The Coalition Application (Coalition App) is another centralized college application platform that partners with colleges and universities committed to increasing access, affordability, and student success. It allows students to apply to multiple participating institutions using one application.
The SAT and ACT Testing
There are several standardized tests used for college admissions. “Standardized” means the test measures the same skills and knowledge in the same way for all students. Colleges use the results to assess how prepared students are for college-level work. While many private universities and colleges may still require these tests, the University of California (UC) and California State University (CSU) systems no longer consider the SAT or ACT for admission.
Many four-year colleges and universities may consider SAT or ACT scores as part of the admissions process, though an increasing number of schools are now test-optional.
The SAT is structured into two main sections: Evidence-Based Reading & Writing and Math. There is an optional Essay, though it is no longer widely administered. Ripon High School offers the SAT School Day for juniors in the spring and seniors in the fall.
The ACT consists of four required sections: English, Math, Reading, and Science, with an optional Writing (Essay) section.
When to Take College Exams
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Most students take the SAT or ACT once or twice in the spring of junior year.
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A third test, if needed, is usually taken in the fall of senior year.
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Taking a test more than twice rarely leads to higher scores.
PSAT (Practice SAT)
Each year, over three million high school students take the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT). Like the SAT, the PSAT measures skills in reading, writing, and mathematics.
Many students take the PSAT to identify their strengths and areas for improvement in preparation for the SAT. In addition, high scores may qualify students for the National Merit Scholarship Program, a prestigious academic recognition.
Khan Academy provides free, personalized SAT and PSAT test prep through practice exercises, instructional videos, and a learning dashboard that lets students study at their own pace, both in and outside of the classroom.
Ripon High School offers the PSAT, a practice SAT, each year in the fall for 11th graders and in the spring for 10th graders.