Testing is taxing for every student, regardless of his or her scholastic achievements. Other tests are more taxing, specifically the tests that give certifications that attest to a person’s skill in a certain field.
Huntington Learning Center, as well as other educational institution, might agree that the following tests produce results that can give students the edge over the competition.
SAT
The Scholastic Assessment Test tests the scholastic ability of a student. Every year, the mathematical and verbal skills of students, in addition to their prowess over other subjects, are tested. SAT is divided into the reasoning and subject tests, which are further divided into different categories. Some students take the SAT more than once to improve their scores.
SAT has been part of the admission standards for over 2,000 colleges and universities for decades. SAT scores can also determine what jobs students can get after school. With its weight in a person’s educational and professional life, it’s no wonder that a multi-million business has cropped up around helping students get the perfect SAT scores.
IELTS and TOEFL
The International English Language Testing System (IELTS) and Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL®) are internationally recognized English certifications.
IELTS tests the English listening, reading, writing, and speaking ability of a person. Adding to these components is a real-life conversation that assesses the person’s capability to use their English skills in real time. The test covers different variations of the language, including American, Australian, and British English.
Tens of thousands of universities across the globe accept TOEFL scores as proof that an international student can speak English well enough for academic instruction. There are dozens of tutoring franchises that offer IELTS and TOEFL tutoring services across the world.
International Baccalaureate
International Baccalaureate® (IB) degrees are testaments to a student’s capabilities after studying Diploma Program (DP) courses. European countries such as France grant IB degrees to their high school age students. International schools offer IB courses as well.
The stated goal of IB degrees is to asses the advanced academic skills of students. Students who wish to graduate with this degree must show mastery over skills, including information analysis and presentation. Students must also be able to craft well-constructed arguments, show an ability to evaluate them properly, and solve problems with the resources made available to them. Graduates must also be able to understand, retain, and apply concepts and methods.
Diploma programs use external and internal assessment methods to determine the preparedness of a student. External assessment includes exams and essays. Internal assessment involves practical work for certain courses, such as fieldwork, investigations, and artistic performances.
GED
Taken by people of all ages, the General Educational Development (GED) test can give Americans who did not graduate from high school an equivalent degree. The degree can help them get better jobs or get into college. GED is also accepted by universities outside the U.S.
GED questions are based on high school subjects. Language, arts, math, science, and social studies are the four core areas of a GED test. Question formats can vary from fill-in-the-blanks and multiple choice to other types.
Students are under a lot of pressure to achieve good to perfect scores in any one of these exams. However, students must still be taught that their life doesn’t end with low SAT scores. Some traditional and online colleges take in students with lower but passing SAT scores. Some jobs that don’t require a college degree still pay more than a living wage. Driving students to excellence should not end up making them unhappy in the end.
