College Entrance Exams (SATs, ACTs)
While the courses you take and your grades are usually the most important criteria for college admission, the test results of the ACT (administered by the ACT, Inc.) or the SAT (administered by the College Entrance Examination Board) are also considered. Every college will tell you which test it prefers. Many colleges accept either one. Both are offered on certain Saturdays throughout the year. This schedule allows students to repeat either or both tests in their junior or senior year, if necessary. ETHS is a testing center for both the ACT and SAT.
ETHS Testing Program
ETHS uses a test series designed by the American College Testing Program to measure individual and grade-level student academic progress from 8th through 11th grade. In December of 8th grade, students in District 65 and local private schools take the EXPLORE Test, which includes a Career Interest Inventory. On Assessment Day in the fall, sophomores take the PLAN test, a preparation test for the ACT college entrance exam that also includes a Career Interest Inventory; and juniors take a practice ACT test. They also take an ACT as part of the Prairie State Achievement Exam in April. This ACT score may be used for college applications and is also used to measure student progress since taking the PLAN test. An additional test that juniors may take is the PSAT administered on a Saturday in October. This test acquaints them with the demands of college entrance exams, particularly the SAT, and determines eligibility for the National Merit/Achievement/Hispanic Scholarship programs.
Illinois requires that juniors take this exam in order to receive a diploma. On the fourth Wednesday and Thursday of April, juniors take this comprehensive state test, which includes the ACT (on the first day) and state-designed science and writing exams and Work Keys tests of workplace knowledge and skills (on the second day). ACT scores from the PSAE may be used as part of the application process to colleges. Seniors may retake the PSAE using a state voucher for the ACT on the October national test date (a Saturday) and take the state and Work Keys portions the following Tuesday. By state law, PSAE scores go on each student’s transcript.
K-12 Standards Common Assessments
Every department requires students to complete common assessments, which are designed by ETHS to address one or more standard that is central to each subject area. The assessments are complex tasks that are part of the curriculum such as writing a research paper, designing a scientific experiment, or creating a personal-fitness portfolio. All students in a particular course take the same assessment. The results are used to provide feedback to the student about whether or not their work is below standards, meets standards, or exceeds standards. The results are also used by teachers to modify curriculum and instruction to help students improve their work in the future.
Reading Competency
Students not meeting the reading competency requirement as incoming freshmen must take literacy coursework. Reading students who reach the required level by the end of freshman year do not have to take additional courses. Freshmen not meeting the level by the end of freshman year will take additional literacy coursework.
Advanced Placement (AP) Exams
Students interested in doing advanced work have an opportunity to take college-level courses. Taking the AP course exam in good faith is a requirement for the completion and award of AP credit for every AP course. There is a fee for each exam taken that must be paid before testing begins in early May. Students with high scores may receive college credit or qualify to place out of first-year college courses. Students not enrolled in AP courses may take one or more AP exams, but they have to declare their intent to take exams in early February by notifying the appropriate department chair.
If students are found to have cheated on a standardized test, the test will be invalidated and parents and testing companies/state agencies will be notified. Students will not receive AP credit if they cheat on an AP exam.