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General College Testing Information

What is the PSAT/NMSQT?

• The Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test measures the critical reading, math problem-solving and writing skills that you’ve been developing throughout your life. It does not measure things like creativity and motivation, and it doesn’t recognize those special talents that may be important to colleges.
• The PSAT/NMSQT gives you firsthand practice for the SAT Reasoning Test. It also gives you a chance to qualify for National Merit Scholarship Corporation scholarship programs.

What is the SAT Reasoning Test?

• The SAT Reasoning Test or the Scholastic Assessment Test is a three-hour exam which measures your verbal and reasoning abilities. It is the most widely taken standardized college entrance test and an important element of the college admissions process for many colleges and universities.
• The CSU Mentor test code is 3594. Use this code to send your scores to ALL CSU Campuses that you have applied to.
• www.collegeboard.com

What is the ACT?

• The ACT or the American College Testing Assessment is a three-hour test which measures academic achievement in English, mathematics, reading and science reasoning abilities. It is one of the most widely taken standardized college entrance test in the United States today.
• www.actstudent.org

What is the difference between the ACT (American College Test) and the SAT Reasoning Test?

• The ACT has a science reasoning test; the SAT Reasoning Test does not
• The ACT math includes some trigonometry; the SAT Reasoning Test does not
• The SAT Reasoning Test has a guessing penalty; the ACT does not
• The ACT test stresses English grammar; the SAT Reasoning Test does not

Before you take either test, find out which test the college(s) you're applying to will accept. If the colleges accept either exam, think about which test would best suit your strengths.