It’s February, and all year long high school counselors have done a phenomenal job supporting their seniors with completing and submitting applications to their top colleges and universities, domestic and abroad. It is also an excellent time for students to check with those institutions to ensure all parts of their applications have been received.
Twelfth graders who have selected higher education institutions with rolling admissions still have time to complete the application process and sit for some of the last ACT test administrations of the academic year. If your seniors have selected test-optional schools or community colleges, they can still benefit from taking a college entrance exam.
An exam like the ACT can provide baseline data on students' understanding of core content. It offers helpful data that identifies academic strengths and areas for growth, allowing for scaffolding, interventions and assisting in successful college course selection, which leads to matriculation and graduation. Test scores are also a great predictor of first-year college GPA, something high school GPA and class rank cannot predict.
Should any seniors have uncertainty about post-secondary plans and want to weigh options, ACT offers an excellent opportunity for students to highlight their employment abilities through The WorkKeys. This assessment measures foundational skills in applied reading, writing, mathematics, and essential skills. These key areas of assessment are necessary for workplace success and help to measure the skills that can impact job performance. Students must receive a score of “3” or above on the following three assessments, Applied Math, Graphic Literacy, and Workplace Documents, to receive the National Career Readiness Certificate (NCRC), demonstrating career and college readiness. The NCRC is an exceptional addition to a resume or to discuss in an interview.
While the ACT offers National test administrations on April 5, 2025, June 14, 2025, and July 12, 2025, WorkKeys assessments are administered throughout the year based on location.
High School Counselors continue to be champions for student success in high school and beyond. Should you have any questions, we invite you to reach out to our team in support of these efforts to set up your students’ post-secondary success!
