Important Test Dates

PSAT/NMSQT   The Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. It's a standardized test that provides firsthand practice for the SAT I: Reasoning Test and SAT II: Writing Test. It also gives you a chance to qualify for National Merit Scholarship Corporation's (NMSC) scholarship programs.
(source www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/psat/about.html)

SAT Prep On-line (free information site)

SAT    Originally, SAT was an acronym for the Scholastic Aptitude Test. In 1993, the test was renamed the SAT I: Reasoning Test. At the same time, the former Achievement Tests were renamed the SAT II: Subject Tests. SAT has become a simple way of referring to the SAT I: Reasoning Test. The SAT measures verbal and math reasoning skills.  The SAT is a three-hour test. The SAT II: Writing Test takes one hour and also requires an essay. The SAT is used for college admission.
(source www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/sat/about/aboutFAQ.html#quest01)

ACT     The ACT Assessment is designed to assess high school students' general educational development and their ability to complete college-level work. The tests cover four skill areas: English, mathematics, reading, and science.
( source www.act.org/aap/ )

CLEP   The College-Level Examination Program  or CLEP provides students of any age with the opportunity to demonstrate college-level achievement through a program of exams in undergraduate college courses. There are 2,900 colleges that grant credit and/or advanced standing for CLEP exams.
(source www.collegeboard.com/studen/testing/clep/about.html)

TEKS and TAKS    Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills or TEKS are the knowledge and skills students should gain in school each year. Students will have TEKS to learn from kindergarten all the way through high school. If students learn the TEKS each year, they will have the skills they need and will know many things that will help them succeed when they graduate high school. Students who learn the TEKS are more likely to succeed in college and life.
Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills or TAKS are tests to see if students have learned what they should. The TAKS test covers the knowledge and skills of the TEKS. If students study, work hard, and read at home every day, they should do well on the TAKS tests. The TAKS tests are the best way the school can find out if students are learning everything they need to know to keep up and not get behind. (source www.collegefortexans.com/preparing/tekstaks)

Students can practice taking the TAKS test by accessing Released TAKS test copies.

TRACK    TAKS (Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills) Readiness and Core Knowledge. This is a free online student and teacher test readiness program designed to help students and their teachers prepare for the 11th grade TAKS test.

THEA Texas Higher Education Assessment (THEA Test, formerly called TASP Test) The THEA Test is designed to provide information about the reading, mathematics, and writing skills of students entering public colleges, universities, and educator preparation programs in public and private institutions. The new name for the TASP Test is the THEA Test. The content of the THEA Test is the same as the former TASP Test. The THEA Test has been approved by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, under Senate Bill 286, Texas Education Code, Section 51.3062: Texas Success Initiative, for use by Texas institutions of higher education as an assessment instrument for entering students. The THEA Test provides the diagnostic data required by this legislation. (source THEA website: http://www.thea.nesinc.com/)