College and Career Readiness Assessments

The PSAT/NMSQT measures verbal, writing, and mathematics reasoning skills important for academic success in college. It serves three purposes:

• practice for the SAT I assessment,
• the first step in qualifying for scholarships sponsored by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation and other scholarship programs,
• provides opportunities for students to participate in the Student Search Service.

This test is approximately two hours in length and is primarily taken in the junior year; it is sometimes appropriate for the student to take this test during sophomore year for practice. Students should consult counselors for additional information.

SAT is an assessment used to predict students’ performance in college and is required by some schools as part of the application process. This test has two sections, verbal and mathematics. Questions in the verbal section are divided into reading passages, analogies, and sentence completion. Questions in the mathematics section cover standard multiple-choice, quantitative comparisons, and grid-in answers. The Counseling Office can provide additional information, or students can go to www.collegeboard.org for more information. It is recommended that students take this test during the Spring of their Junior year or Fall of Senior year.

The ACT consists of four examinations in English, math, reading, and science–each of which yields separate scores measuring developed abilities in those areas. The ACT assessment also offers an optional writing test. The test is required by some colleges as part of the application process for admission.  Students should verify which colleges require this assessment. The Counseling Office can provide the student with additional information.

ACT WorkKeys is a job skills assessment system that helps employers select, hire, train, develop, and retain a high-performance workforce. This series of tests measures foundational and soft skills and offers specialized assessments to target institutional needs.

As part of ACT’s Work Readiness System, ACT WorkKeys has helped millions of people in high schools, colleges, professional associations, businesses, and government agencies build their skills to increase global competitiveness and develop successful career pathways.

Successful completion of ACT WorkKeys assessments in Applied Mathematics, Locating Information, and Reading for Information can lead to earning ACT’s National Career Readiness Certificate (ACT NCRC), a portable credential earned by more than 2.3 million people across the United States and over 300 business in the St. Louis Region.  

Source: http://www.act.org/products/workforce-act-workkeys/

The ASVAB assessment is the most widely used and the most up-to-date multiple aptitude battery in the United States that provides measures of aptitudes for general academic areas and for career areas that encompass most of the civilian as well as the military world. It is an excellent and useful test for all high school students grades 10 through 12. The ASVAB is free with no military obligation attached. The UCHS Counseling Office has information about this valuable test. 

NOTE: In addition to the tests described above, some colleges require their own on-campus placement tests before college enrollment is completed. UCHS suggests that each college-bound student explore the issue of college-related testing with the UCHS Counseling Department.

St. Louis Community College uses the Accuplacer Placement Test, an untimed, computerized placement test to evaluate academic skills and place students into appropriate courses.   Grade Point Averages (GPA) can be used as another measure of placement.  Placement Test Scores indicate areas in which students are strong and areas in which they may need help. Following testing, results will be reviewed with students to determine appropriate coursework to align with the displayed academic skills and chosen program of study.

The Accuplacer Placement Test is required of all students unless academic credentials are submitted that qualify students to take such courses without testing.  STLCC may waive all or part of the placement test if students provide documentation of one of the following:

• A college transcript or grade report documenting successful completion (with a grade of “C” or higher) of reading, writing or mathematics course prerequisites
• A college degree from an accredited institution
• An ACT score earned within the last three years documenting:

• A reading score of 18 or above to waive the reading test
• An English score of 18 or above to waive the writing test
• A math score of 23 or above to waive the math test

• An SAT score earned within the last three years documenting:

• A critical reading score of 500 or above to waive the reading and writing tests
• A math score of 580 or above to waive the math test

In addition, some selective admission programs may require additional assessment exams or skills tests.

If a student is unable to document that alternative assessment criteria has been met (as noted above),  they will be required to take the appropriate placement test(s) through STLCC before enrollment.  If the student has a disability that requires accommodations for the entry assessment, the Access office at the campus or school of choice can be contacted for an appointment prior to testing.  Documentation will be required.

More information about the Accuplacer placement test is provided in the preparation video and the online guide. Students and parents/caregivers can call or visit the Assessment Center at the campus of choice to set a testing appointment. 

Florissant Valley
Admin Building, First Floor
314-513-4292

Forest Park
E-219
314-644-9233

Meramec
Communications North 122
314-984-7596

Wildwood
Student Services Area
636-422-2000

Per the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, to be eligible for graduation from high school, a student must satisfactorily pass a test or tests on the provisions and principles of the U.S. and Missouri constitutions and citizenship in order to graduate. These tests are taken in 11th grade.  Students who transfer into the district during high school will need to take and pass this exam during Junior year.

As part of the Missouri Assessment Program, UCHS requires End-of-Course (EOC) assessments in the subject areas of Algebra I, Literature and Composition II, Biology and Government. EOC assessments are taken when a student has received instruction on the course-level expectations for an assessment, regardless of grade level.