Academics
Valley Lutheran students participate in a number of state and national testing experiences throughout their four years. The information below provides a brief overview of these tests. For more specific information or for answers to any testing questions please contact our Guidance Counselor, Mrs. Lindsay Mueller at lmueller@192.168.80.187 or 790-1676.
SAT and ACT Testing
The State of Michigan provides one free SAT to every student during their Junior year. Therefore, most colleges in Michigan use SAT scores for admissions and scholarship purposes. Students may elect to take either the SAT or the ACT to use for college admissions and scholarship purposes. These exams look and feel a bit different, so it is up to the individual student to decide if they want to take both. Schools that prefer one number over the other will simply use a concordance to convert testing scores to the desired exam score format.
Students are encouraged to take the SAT or ACT multiple times, either during the spring of their junior year or fall of their senior year. Colleges typically take the best score, regardless of when the exam was taken. The resources below will walk you through the registration process.
SAT Registration Quick Guide (provided by CollegeBoard)
ACT Registration Resources (provided by ACT)
SAT and ACT Practice
SAT Practice Resources (provided by CollegeBoard and Khan Academy))
How To Link Your SAT To Khan Academy (YouTube video)
ACT Practice Resources (provided by ACT)
Advanced Placement (AP) Testing
Advanced Placement (AP) courses are structured and taught in ways very similar to their comparable college courses and therefore require students who are dedicated, organized, and self-motivated. AP courses emphasize successful application of skills rather than memorized content. The workload outside of class for an Advanced Placement course is expected to be more than our other courses. Students must have a signed AP Contract on file in order to register for the course.
Students in Advanced Placement courses should register for the course with the intention of completing the entire course and taking the Advanced Placement Exam in May. Students may not register to take the AP Exam for AP Calculus, AP English, AP Spanish, AP U.S. History, or AP Biology unless they are currently enrolled in the course. Students may register to take other AP Exams (i.e. Government, Psychology, Economics, Music Theory, etc.) with permission of the instructor who teaches the corresponding course at Valley Lutheran.
Understanding AP Scores (provided by CollegeBoard)
MME Testing for Juniors
Valley Lutheran High School participates in the state-wide Michigan Merit Examination in April. This comprehensive exam is given in three parts:
- SAT with Essay (mathematics and English exams, score can be sent to colleges for admissions as well)
- ACT WorkKeys (career-readiness inventory)
- M-STEP (science and social studies exams)
Understanding SAT Score Reports (provided by CollegeBoard)
PSAT Testing for Freshman and Sophomores
Students in grades 9 and 10 are given the PSAT 8/9 or PSAT10, respectively, in April. These scores provide a great deal of information on strengths and areas needing attention for each student, as well as information on potential career areas of success and ways to continue sharpening your skills for the SAT exam taken for college admissions. Once scores are released, families are encouraged to take a look at their student’s score report with their student. Families may also choose to meet with Mrs. Mueller by appointment to go over their scores.
Understanding PSAT 8/9 Score Reports (provided by CollegeBoard)
Understanding PSAT 10 Score Reports (provided by CollegeBoard)
PSAT/NMSQT
Students are encouraged to take the PSAT/NMSQT exam during the fall of their junior year. This exam is given during the school day, and is elective for students. It is the only way to qualify for a National Merit Scholarship. The exam also provides valuable feedback for students in preparation for taking the SAT exam for college admissions. Registration for this exam takes place at the start of each school year.
Understanding PSAT/NMSQT Score Reports (provided by CollegeBoard)