Super Scoring
Testing
Few tests have more impact than the PSAT, SAT, or ACT. Understanding how each test works, what each test covers, and the options for success is truly important.
Additionally, we'll give a little insight into APs, IBs, and SAT Subject Tests too.
For information about Testing Scores and the application, check out this page.
Additionally, we'll give a little insight into APs, IBs, and SAT Subject Tests too.
For information about Testing Scores and the application, check out this page.
SAT vs. ACT
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Starting with March 2016, the SAT is undergoing a huge change. Read about those changes here:
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PSAT
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Contrary to popular belief, the PSAT is not a practice SAT. It's a preliminary SAT that actually has some fairly substantial ramifications. If you're one of the top 1% of test takers in your state, you might qualify to become a National Merit Semifinalist with the potential of scholarships.
While many schools offer the PSAT in 9th and 10th grades, only the 11th grade test counts. You get one shot at it in the fall of junior year. |
Test-Optional UniversitiesNot all students test well or want to prep and study for either the ACT or the SAT. Some colleges, recognizing that testing isn't for everyone, allow you to apply without test scores or won't accept them at all.
Choose carefully. If you decide not to take the ACT or SAT, you can only apply to test-optional schools. |
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AP Tests
APs, or Advanced Placement tests, are College Board-offered tests for students who take the most rigorous high school courses. In fact, these courses are so rigorous that they are considered college level courses and can count for college credit.
Advantages
Generally, we recommend taking an AP only if you love the course and believe you can get an A in it. Getting a B in an AP course, despite the potential GPA bump, is not as impressive as getting an A in a regular or honors course. Additionally, APs take a ton of time. For that reason, ForWord recommends against taking AP US History or AP World, unless you really love the topic.
Advantages
- GPA Bump: Most high schools offer a GPA bump for taking an AP class. This means if you earn an A in an AP class, you'll get a 5.0 for the class rather than a 4.0, which you'd get for a regular course.
- Challenge yourself: You get the chance to stretch your mind and learn with like-minded peers.
- Be prepared for college: AP students learn to navigate the academic expectations they’ll encounter in college courses.
- Receive college credit: An AP score of a 3, 4 or 5 might receive college degree credit, allowing you to take a lighter load, double major, or graduate early.
- Build your resume: Taking AP tests can earn you awards through the College Board.
- Help your chances at College Admissions: Colleges rank “Grades in college prep courses” and “Strength of curriculum” as the two top factors in admission decision. Also, 85% of selective colleges and universities report that a student’s AP experience favorably impacts admission decision.
- Win scholarships: AP courses and exam scores help students qualify for scholarships. According to The College Board, 31 percent of colleges and universities look at AP experience when making scholarship decisions.
Generally, we recommend taking an AP only if you love the course and believe you can get an A in it. Getting a B in an AP course, despite the potential GPA bump, is not as impressive as getting an A in a regular or honors course. Additionally, APs take a ton of time. For that reason, ForWord recommends against taking AP US History or AP World, unless you really love the topic.
IB Program
* From UCLA's College and Career Counseling Program
The IB program is an alternative to the Advanced Placement, and sometimes offered in conjunction with the AP. The IB is a rigorous program that originated in Europe in 1968 and is based in format on the national curriculum of France. It maintains high academic standards and assessments offered in the areas of English, French, and Spanish and the two year program is designed to provide college level courses that promote international understanding. Diploma candidates must select one subject from each of the six groups. Some of these areas include Individuals and Societies, business and management, economics, geography, history, Islamic history, information technology in a global society, philosophy, psychology and social and cultural anthropology. Individual schools decide which social sciences to offer and the students elect which course they prefer to study. IB courses are currently offered in over 1300 schools, 400 of which are in the U.S. and include the participation in 141 countries.
Program Philosophy
The IB is committed to depth of learning with an international perspective. Their objectives are:
Active involvement of at least 150 hours in community service, including some type of artistic and physical activity.
Testing
A student must attend IB classes to take the tests. IB assessments are scored on a 1 to 7 scale. 20 to 50% of the grade is based on classroom work done during the course and graded by the teacher using specific published criteria. The remaining 50-80% is based on external assessment in essay format developed by an international board of chief examiners with input from IB teachers worldwide. Trained high school and university instructors whose work is moderated by the international examining board in Wales grade the external exams. The exams are administered in November in the Southern Hemisphere and in May in the Northern Hemisphere. Results are published in July in the U.S.
Teachers do receive detailed feedback on the performance of their students. Since most students are tested for the entire IB Diploma representing two years of work in six subjects plus the knowledge test and the research paper, the total cost is about $560 per student in the U.S. Students may receive certificates for individual courses that do not result in a Diploma.
The IB program is an alternative to the Advanced Placement, and sometimes offered in conjunction with the AP. The IB is a rigorous program that originated in Europe in 1968 and is based in format on the national curriculum of France. It maintains high academic standards and assessments offered in the areas of English, French, and Spanish and the two year program is designed to provide college level courses that promote international understanding. Diploma candidates must select one subject from each of the six groups. Some of these areas include Individuals and Societies, business and management, economics, geography, history, Islamic history, information technology in a global society, philosophy, psychology and social and cultural anthropology. Individual schools decide which social sciences to offer and the students elect which course they prefer to study. IB courses are currently offered in over 1300 schools, 400 of which are in the U.S. and include the participation in 141 countries.
Program Philosophy
The IB is committed to depth of learning with an international perspective. Their objectives are:
- Development of life-long learners: Diploma candidates must prepare a 4000-word research project on a subject matter of interest from one of six subject areas.
- Promotion of international understanding and responsible world citizenship:
Active involvement of at least 150 hours in community service, including some type of artistic and physical activity.
- Critical thinking and problem solving: Inquiry into the nature of knowledge through an externally assessed course that contrasts ways of knowing in all six subject areas.
- Schools undergo a rigorous process for authorization to offer IB courses are reviewed every five years.
Testing
A student must attend IB classes to take the tests. IB assessments are scored on a 1 to 7 scale. 20 to 50% of the grade is based on classroom work done during the course and graded by the teacher using specific published criteria. The remaining 50-80% is based on external assessment in essay format developed by an international board of chief examiners with input from IB teachers worldwide. Trained high school and university instructors whose work is moderated by the international examining board in Wales grade the external exams. The exams are administered in November in the Southern Hemisphere and in May in the Northern Hemisphere. Results are published in July in the U.S.
Teachers do receive detailed feedback on the performance of their students. Since most students are tested for the entire IB Diploma representing two years of work in six subjects plus the knowledge test and the research paper, the total cost is about $560 per student in the U.S. Students may receive certificates for individual courses that do not result in a Diploma.