>>13509132Long standardized tests covering the core subjects.
They are administered by organizations not connected to the state or primary/secondary schools.
The schools don't shape their curriculums around preparing students for them (the schools are preparing students for the Common Core standardized test which is used to assess the performance of schools and teachers)
They are usually required by universities for admissions (this has been disappearing since minorities do poorly on them).
The ACT gives scores for each subject in a range from 1 to 36 (Math, reading/comprehension, grammar, science, and optional writing). They are scored on a curve.
The SAT gives scores in the range of 1 to 800 for each section (Math, Reading/Writing/Grammar). These are absolute (not graded on a curve) but they publish the distribution of scores for percentile purposes.
These tests are optional and usually taken in the senior year of high school by students trying to go to college/university.
The tests are designed to "sort" students and not assess some minimal proficiency. They are a kind of IQ test.
