By PATRICIA CARRINGTON
patricia@du2.byu.edu
To get into college, applicants were required to take the ACT or SAT; most thought they would never see another standardized test again. But another standardized test may be looming over the heads of those students planing on going to graduate school.
However, many graduate school-bound students will soon be experiencing a new type of standardized test. It is called a Computer Adaptive Test.
A CAT is different from the traditional paper and pencil test because it has the ability of testing the level of each individual student, said Andrea Wilson, spokeswoman for KAPLAN at the corporate offices in New York.
When taking the CAT, the student is given one question at a time and is required to answer that question before going on to the next question.
If the student gets the question right, the CAT gives a slightly harder question. If the student gets the question wrong, the CAT gives a slightly easier question.
The purpose of this type of testing is to provide a more accurate description of a student's ability, Wilson said. When taking the CAT, the number of questions a student gets right is not as important as the level at which the student starts missing about half of the questions.
The GMAT was completely computerized Oct. 1, and now there will be no more paper and pencil tests offered for the GMAT. The GRE is also converting to the computer adaptive form of testing and will be converted by this April.
There are not any plans for the MCAT or the LSAT to convert to CAT testing in the near future, although test results are being monitored carefully.
Wilson said the CAT has many advantages along with a few disadvantages. Students have the opportunity of taking the computerized tests at their leisure, rather than at few select times when the paper and pencil tests are offered.
The CAT also gives students their score immediately instead of having to wait four to six weeks. Students also have the option of canceling their scores before they see them on the CAT if they think they performed poorly.
Wilson said one disadvantage to taking the CAT is that students cannot skip questions or go back to previous questions left blank. The computerized version also forces students to scroll while reading passages during the test.
There are several options open to students to help prepare them for the tests. BYU offers test preparation courses for the MCAT, GRE, GMAT and LSAT. These classes are given at different times throughout the year depending on the graduate program for which students are applying.
The programs offered at BYU are fairly affordable, and the price of the class varies. The prices run from $145 for the GRE to $425 for the LSAT.
With the test preparation classes, students are given group instruction on each of the different subjects on the test. They take a pretest at the beginning of the class and a pos test at the end of the course. The amount of instructional hours the class offers also depends on which test the student is signed up to take.
BYU graduate Anne Richan is preparing for the GRE and said she has learned test-taking strategies from the course.
'Not only has this class helped review material, but it gives important test-taking strategies specific for the GRE,' Richan said.
'These classes help students because they teach students strategies for the actual test, and when they study, they are able to apply the strategies they learn in class,' said Alex Thein, 21, a senior from Birmingham, Ala., majoring in school health education.
Another option open to students who don't mind spending a little more money -- usually $600 more -- is enrolling in a program offered by KAPLAN. The difference between this program and the one offered at BYU is the amount of individualized personal coaching.
KAPLAN is the largest test preparation company in the country, preparing students to take a variety of more than 20 standardized tests, Wilson said.
KAPLAN specializes in tailoring their programs to fit each individual student.
'Our plan gives students a personalized study plan to direct their focus on improving their score,' Wilson said.
KAPLAN's courses also differ from the courses offered at BYU because they have a resource library on site where students can practice taking computerized versions of the test. This may be beneficial for students planing on taking the CAT because most students are unfamiliar with the test's format.
Richan said she still prefers taking the test with pencil and paper over the computer version of the test.
'I would much rather take the test on paper because I feel more confident being able to skip questions and go back and check my answers. I am used to taking these kinds of tests on paper; I think it will be less confusing,' Richan said.
For students that choose not to enroll in one of the test preparation course, they certainly are not going to flunk the test. There are several other options open to students, such as online help. Students can also study on their own with material sold at almost every book store, including the BYU Bookstore.