ASPIRE:
The ASPIRE test is given to 9th and 10th grade students in the fall and in the spring. ACT Aspire helps close the gap between the skills students learn in school and the skills they need to succeed in their academic career and beyond.
Wisconsin Forward Exam:
During the 2015-16 school year, Wisconsin rolled out a new student assessment called the Wisconsin Forward Exam. The exam is designed to gauge how well students are doing in relation to the Wisconsin Academic Standards. These standards outline what students should know and be able to do in order to be college and career ready. The Forward Exam is administered online in the spring of each school year at:
- Grades 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 & 8 = English Language Arts (ELA) and Mathematics
- Grades 4 & 8 = Science
- Grades 4, 8 & 10 = Social Studies
Advanced Placement (AP) Exam:
All students who are willing and academically prepared to accept the challenge of a rigorous academic curriculum should be considered for admission to Advanced Placement (AP) courses.
Each AP course concludes with an AP Exam in May. These assessments are designed by the same expert committee that designed the course. The exams are scored on a scale of 1 to 5 by college and university professors and experienced AP teachers. Many U.S. colleges offer credit for AP Exam scores of 3 or higher. AP Exams are administered at authorized schools and test centers. Most high schools that offer AP courses choose to administer AP Exams to their own students as well as external AP students.
ACT Test:
Students attending a college or university are required to take a college entrance exam. The ACT Test is required at all Wisconsin technical colleges and universities. The writing portion of the ACT is optional. For more information about the writing requirements, students should consult their school counselor. Test dates, location, and registration information can be found by clicking the ACT website. The State of Wisconsin requires all 11th grade students to take the ACT Test in late February/early March at no cost to the student - free practice tests are available online. Portage High School's ACT registration code is 501-835.
PSAT:
The Preliminary SAT / National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT) is a program co-sponsored by the College Board and National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC). It's a standardized test that provides firsthand practice for the SAT. It also gives you a chance to enter NMSC scholarship programs and gain access to college and career planning tools. The PSAT measures: critical reading skills (two 25-min sections); math problem-solving skills (two 25-minute sections); and writing skills (one 30-minute section). You have developed these skills over many years, both in and out of school. This test doesn't require you to recall specific facts from your classes. The most common reasons for taking the PSAT are to: receive feedback on your strengths and weaknesses on skills necessary for college study; see how your performance on an admissions test might compare with that of others applying to college; enter the competition for scholarship; help prepare for the SAT (you can become familiar with the kinds of questions and the exact directions you will see on the SAT; and receive information from colleges when you check "yes" to Student Search Service.
SAT:
The SAT is a globally-recognized college admission test that lets you show colleges what you know and how well you can apply that knowledge. It tests your knowledge of reading, writing and math - subjects that are taught every day in high school classrooms. Most students take the SAT during their junior or senior year of high school, and almost all colleges and universities use the SAT to make admission decisions. The SAT Subject Tests offer you an additional opportunity to show colleges what you know and what you know you can do. Many colleges use the SAT Subject Tests for admission, for course placement, and to advise students about course selection. Some colleges specify the SAT Subject Tests that they require for admission or placement; others allow applicants to choose which tests to take.
ASVAB:
The Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) is a multiple-choice test administered by the United States Military Entrance Processing Command used to determine qualification for enlistment in the United States Armed Forces. It is often offered to high school students when they are in the 10th, 11th and 12th grade, though anyone eligible for enlistment may take it. PHS usually hosts a test day in October or November of each school year.
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