Where you are and where you apply during your academic year will determine which college admission tests you need. Planning for college admission tests is not stressful, and a little preparation will go a long way to help you achieve your goals.

Different Types of College Admission Tests

The most popular and common college admission tests are the ACT, the SAT and TOEFL

• Colleges and universities use SAT exams to measure mathematical and verbal reasoning capabilities of students, and to analyze the candidate’s eagerness for college. This exam is divided into 3 major sections: Writing, Critical Reading and Math, and students take a maximum of 3 hours 35 minutes to complete this test necessary for college admission. The SAT exam includes different question types such as student-produced responses, multiple choice questions and essays.

• The ACT is a standard college admission test which measures the skill and knowledge of the student through several multiple-choice questions. This college admission test covers the following subjects science reasoning, reading, mathematics, English and optional writing.

• The TOEFL test is prepared for foreign-born speakers who plan to complete their study in graduate or undergraduate programs at universities or colleges in the United States. The TOEFL score, required for admission, varies from one school to another. TOEFL iBT, an internet based exam, tests four knowledge skills necessary for effective communication: writing, reading, listening and speaking.

Some colleges use the test scores to reduce the volume of applications for admission. However, some colleges may give very little importance on these tests. Basically, these college admission tests are taken to judge the overall ability of your writing, reading and math skills.