There are many tests you may take during high school, but two particular ones you may not be too familiar with. They are known as the PLAN and ASVAB tests, which are taken during your sophomore and junior year, respectively. These two tests are both useful tools to help you get on track towards graduation and beyond. You may be wondering what the PLAN and ASVAB can do for you as a student and parent, and the answer lies ahead.

The PLAN test is taken when you’re a sophomore. Not only do all sophomores in the district take it, it is taken nationwide. PLAN is a “pre-ACT” test which helps students prepare for the ACT by having it in the same format. The PLAN is timed and prepares students for how that technique is used in the ACT test. The four components of the test include: English, Mathematics, Reading, and Science. Results from the PLAN test can tell you many things. It allows students to compare themselves to other students nationally by being able to see where their scores match up with others. The outcome of the test also gives students the outlook to see if they are college ready, or on track for college after graduation. Furthermore, it is a way to measure students’ current academic development. In addition to being able to see where you are at academically, it will also tell you what profession best suits you based upon your interests. This test is a way to estimate your ACT scores if you were to take it, so when taking the PLAN test, take it as seriously as you would the ACT so that the results are more accurate.

When the PLAN test scores are in, parents are notified by the school website and also by an automated message. Counselors are able to meet with parents individually to talk about the scores if needed. Also, parents are encouraged to contact the counselor if they want to explore possibilities to help improve their student's chances of scoring well on the ACT. After the test scores are given back, the students’ advisory classes have a meeting in the auditorium to explain what the scores mean and how to decipher it. The PLAN test is a part of the advisory curriculum which means that to pass the class you have to either take the PLAN test or the makeup assignment. That does not apply to students who did not attend Park Center their sophomore year. The PLAN test predicts what type of ACT score is needed for a particular subject in college, which can also be very useful.

The other test is the ASVAB test which is taken during your junior year. The ASVAB(Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery) is a skill test that measures your strengths, weaknesses, and future career options. It is used to provide you with information on what career would best suit you in the future, including the military. There are eight categories that you are tested on: General Science, Arithmetic Reasoning, Word Knowledge, Paragraph Comprehension, Mathematics Knowledge, Electronics Information, Auto and Shop Information, and Mechanical Comprehension. The scores you get on the ASVAB will not affect your school grades. The test is solely used to help you explore different careers based on your results. Before you take the ASVAB, the student taking it will be asked to sign a statement authorizing the Department of Defense to score their test and to return the results to the school. Each school determines if the scores will be released to the Military Services. The ASVAB scores can be used for military enlistment for up to two years after you take the test and can qualify you for certain jobs and training in the Armed Forces. The test is not intended to be used as a recruiting tool but a way to help students research many career options.

Both the PLAN and ASVAB test can help you examine your future in education and job fields. Essentially, they are tests that can be used as a general tool to see where you are at right now and how much further you have to go. If you have any questions about either of the tests, feel free to contact the counselors.

-Maria Pham, PCSH Webteam