Junior Year Testing
ACCUPLACER, ACT AND SAT INFORMATION
Accuplacer
- The Accuplacer is an online assessment that helps colleges assess student readiness. Students are given three tests in the areas of Writing, Reading, and Math.
- Students who plan to take Hawkeye Concurrent classes during their junior or senior year, such as Comp I and/or Statistics need an Accuplacer or ACT cut score to be eligible to take those classes. Students are able to retake the Accuplacer tests.
- Please see the information below on resources to prepare for the Accuplacer.
- If students have taken the ACT and scored 19 or above on Math, English, and Reading, they will not have to take the Accuplacer.
- Hawkeye will share information about changes this winter.
ALEKS INFO
ALEKS Math Placement Assessment
ALEKS is a research-based, online learning program that offers course products for Math, Chemistry, Statistics, and more. Rooted in 20 years of research and analytics, ALEKS is a proven, online learning platform that helps educators and parents understand each student's knowledge and learning progress in depth, and provides the individual support required for every student to achieve mastery.
Most incoming college students will recieve a link to take the ALEKS prior to enrollment in courses.
ACT
- The ACT is a standardized test to assess college readiness and high school achievement. Most colleges use it as an entrance exam to make admissions decisions.
- The ACT is divided into 4 multiple-choice tests: English, Math, Reading, and Science Reasoning. There is also an optional Writing test. Students might want to check with the colleges they are exploring and see if the Writing section is recommended or required. Check with your counselor if you have questions. The cost to take the ACT is $63. The optional ACT with Writing costs $88.
- Students will need to complete the ACT registration by the due date indicated and this takes about 40 minutes. Students will be asked to provide the names of at least four colleges to send their scores. Please send your scores to the colleges. If you have to send them to the colleges later, it will cost an extra fee. Students will also be asked to upload a picture. If you need help, please go to the counseling office during Power Hour.
- ACT offers several testing dates per year. Students can take the ACT during any of the dates, but the content covers 3 years of high school math and science so, the best time for juniors to take the test might be February, April, June or July test dates. Students can also take the ACT in the fall of their Senior yeat. For more test dates, registration, test preparation, and other information visit www.actstudent.org. Students can register and access ACT prep resources at any time.
- Most CFHS students take the ACT at UNI. However, other sites available include Hawkeye Community College and other schools in the area.
- Students needing fee waivers or special accommodations need to visit their school counselor as soon as possible.
- See the ACT flyer below for more registration information.
- Please see the information below for resources to prepare for the ACT. There are many different options available.
What about the SAT?
- Although most students at Cedar Falls High School take the ACT, the SAT is also available for students to take for college admission. More information can be found at College Board. Information on the difference between SAT vs. ACT can be found at The Princeton Review.
- Preparation for the SAT can be found at : https://www.khanacademy.org/test-prep/sat/full-length-sat-1#online-sat-tests
HOW TO PREPARE FOR ACT AND ACCUPLACER
Accuplacer Preparation
- ACCUPLACER Web-Based Study App - features Next-Generation ACCUPLACER practice tests and study helps.
- Sample Questions - free PDF Downloads:
ZAPS ACT Test-Prep Seminar
- Register using the information in the attached flyer below. www.doorwaytocollege.com
- Registration Fee: $99.00
- CFHS is offering the ZAPS ACT Prep class: Friday, March 24 from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m..
- Students will be excused from class on these days
- This seminar provides information on common question types, strategies for test-taking, timed practice, coping for test anxiety, and extra materials for at-home practice.
- Fee waivers are available. Please see your school counselor.