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Quiz about US College Entrance Exams Facts and Fiction

U.S. College Entrance Exams - Facts and Fiction Quiz

This quiz should be fairly easy for high school juniors and seniors who are planning to attend college and current college students.

A multiple-choice quiz by Akhnaten. Estimated time: 5 mins.

Author
Akhnaten

Time
5 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
89,173

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
5 / 10

Plays
4105

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. What was the highest possible total score on the SAT I college entrance exam prior to 2005? Hint

100

800

1600

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Question 2 of 10

2. In order to get a perfect score every question on the SAT I must be answered correctly?

True

False

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Question 3 of 10

3. Why was the reporting of some October 2001 PSAT (Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test) scores delayed? Hint

Some answer sheets were quarantined in New Jersey post offices for anthrax testing

The Educational Testing Service had an office in the World Trade Center

Many New York City area students did poorly because of psychological trauma

Widespread cheating was suspected among Latinos in Los Angeles

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Question 4 of 10

4. What is NOT a reason to take the PSAT? Hint

To possibly qualify as a National Merit Semifinalist

To receive literature from colleges and universities

For practice before taking the SAT

To get college credit for work done in high school

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Question 5 of 10

5. Why was a Writing section added to the PSAT? Hint

Because literacy among high school students has declined in the last 20 years

A longer test meant more revenue for the Educational Testing Service

To replace the Verbal section

To give girls a better chance for qualifying as National Merit Semifinalists

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Question 6 of 10

6. There is a national cut-off score on the PSAT to determine which students are named National Merit Semifinalists.

True

False

NEXT>

Question 7 of 10

7. What is the highest possible score on the ACT? Hint

800

100

1600

NEXT>

Question 8 of 10

8. Which section was most recently added to the ACT? Hint

English

Reading

Science Reasoning

Writing

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Question 9 of 10

9. The average score on an SAT II Subject test is 500.

True

False

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Question 10 of 10

10. What change was made to the SAT I in March 2005?

Hint

Top score was changed to 3600

It is no longer a timed test

A Spanish version was made available

A Writing section was added

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. What was the highest possible total score on the SAT I college entrance exam prior to 2005?

Answer: 1600

The SAT I consisted of two portions, verbal and math. The highest possible score on each section was 800.

2. In order to get a perfect score every question on the SAT I must be answered correctly?

Answer: False

The current method of scoring the SAT allows a student to miss a small number of questions and still receive a 'perfect' score.

3. Why was the reporting of some October 2001 PSAT (Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test) scores delayed?

Answer: Some answer sheets were quarantined in New Jersey post offices for anthrax testing

The PSAT is only offered in October of each year unlike the SAT which is administered multiple times.

4. What is NOT a reason to take the PSAT?

Answer: To get college credit for work done in high school

AP exams are offered by the Educational Testing Service in many subject areas and many universities give credit for strong performance on them. The PSAT is a general scholastic aptitude test. PSAT scores are generally not reported to colleges.

5. Why was a Writing section added to the PSAT?

Answer: To give girls a better chance for qualifying as National Merit Semifinalists

Boys have traditionally received a disproportionately high percentage of National Merit Semifinalist designations because they tend to score higher than girls in the Math section of the PSAT. Girls tend to be stronger in writing than boys. A test with a verbal, writing, and math section was deemed to give girls a better chance of becoming National Merit Semifinalists than a test with only a verbal and math section.

6. There is a national cut-off score on the PSAT to determine which students are named National Merit Semifinalists.

Answer: False

Roughly 1/2 of 1% of the juniors in each state are named National Merit Semifinalists based on their scores on the PSAT. The cutoff score is different for each state each year. A score that would qualify a student for National Merit Semifinalist status in one state would not be sufficient in another.

7. What is the highest possible score on the ACT?

Answer: 36

The ACT focuses more on mastery of high school course content than the SAT. The ACT is usually taken by students in the Midwest. The SAT is the test of choice for students in the northeast, east and west coasts.

8. Which section was most recently added to the ACT?

Answer: Writing

The four sections of the ACT are English, Mathematics, Reading, and Science Reasoning.

9. The average score on an SAT II Subject test is 500.

Answer: False

The average score for SAT II subject tests varies from subject to subject. In 2001 the some mean scores for the SAT II subject tests were as follows: Writing 595, Math IIC 663, United State History 583, World History 573, Biology 602, Chemistry 608, Physics 640, Chinese 748, French 604, Latin 595, and Spanish 595. Most students do not take SAT II subject tests and the these tests are normally only required or recommended by highly competitive colleges.

The average score for the standard SAT I test still hovers around 500 for both the Math and Verbal sections.

10. What change was made to the SAT I in March 2005?

Answer: A Writing section was added

The former SAT Verbal Exam became the SAT Critical Reading Exam. This test no longer includes analogies. Instead, short reading sections were added to existing long reading passages. A new section called the SAT Writing Exam was added. This section contains multiple choice grammar questions as well as a written essay.

The SAT Math Exam was expanded to cover three years of high school math. Instead of just covering concepts from Geometry and Algebra I, the new SAT Math Exam contains concepts from Geometry, Algebra I, and Algebra II.

Source: Author Akhnaten

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