(BLACK PR WIRE/FAMU-TALLAHASSEE) – When one applies to college, it’s not only GPAs and school involvement that are considered. Two important tests play valuable roles in the future of one’s college career; the Student Assessment Test (SAT) and the American College Test (ACT).

These scores assist colleges in the evaluation of prospective students. It is vital that high school students do well on these tests. As reported by The Princeton Review Guide to the Best 345 Colleges, 2002 edition, average SAT math scores varied between 780 and 480; SAT verbal, between 750 and 500; and ACT, between 33 and 19.

Most schools have a minimum score requirement of 440 for both SAT math and verbal scores, and have a requirement of 18 or better for ACT. The scores of these test can be the deciding factor on whether a student is accepted into a college, said Harriet Williams, guidance counselor at James S. Rickards High School in Tallahassee, FL.

Williams said to help students prepare for entry tests, she encourages them to take the PSAT, which is the practice test for the SAT. “PSATs are offered to students for free as early as 8th grade until 10th grade,” said Williams. Kaplan and Princeton Review provide these practice tests.

“The more times a student takes the ACT or SAT, the better their chances are,” said Williams. Visit www.collegeboard.com/testing/ for more information on test preparation. Preparation books and online guides for the SAT and ACT are available at www.princetonreview.com.