Twelve students took the first ever state-funded Accuplacer test in the Science Building computer lab, Thursday, May 3.

   “It's an online testing format that, similar to the ISAT [Idaho Standard Achievement test], gives immediate feedback,” said Rachel Evans, Academic Coordinator. “Counselors [and] teachers recommended some students take [the Accuplacer] as opposed to the handwritten SAT.”

   Legislators accepted this test format along with the ACT, Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) and Compass as part of a new graduation requirement for students of the class of 2013.  However, students received state-funded opportunities to take the Accuplacer or SAT. 

   “The components of the SAT and the Accuplacer line up very clearly with the components of the ISAT tests, with the exception of the Science ISAT,” said Evans. With sophomores required to take ISATs and juniors the college readiness assessments, administrators and teachers wanted to best prepare both groups of students.

   Evans stated that the students who took both the ISAT and SAT or Accuplacer offered educators a unique chance to compare their data and class preparation for future students. This year’s juniors offer a wealth of information as they completed both the ISATs and SAT or Accuplacer – the first time for full class.