What is the name of the test commonly taken by high school students for college admission in the US?

For many high school students in the United States, a crucial step toward college admission involves taking a standardized test designed to assess their readiness for higher education. This examination is widely recognized as the SAT, a name that once stood for "Scholastic Aptitude Test" and later "Scholastic Assessment Test," but is now simply referred to by its initials. Owned, developed, and published by the College Board, the SAT aims to measure skills in reading, writing, and mathematics that are considered essential for academic success in college.

The SAT has a long and evolving history, with its first administration occurring on June 23, 1926, to approximately 8,000 students. Initially conceived as a supplement to existing College Board essay exams, its ease of administration eventually led to its widespread adoption. The test's origins can be traced back to an adaptation of the Army Alpha IQ test, used during World War I, and was developed by Carl Brigham. Over the decades, the SAT has undergone numerous changes in its structure, content, and scoring, reflecting shifts in educational philosophy and assessment goals.

Currently, the SAT is typically taken by high school juniors and seniors and is scored on a scale of 400 to 1600, with two main sections: Evidence-Based Reading and Writing, and Math. Each section is scored from 200 to 800 points. The test is now administered digitally and is adaptive, meaning the difficulty of the second module in each section adjusts based on a student's performance in the first. While the SAT is a prominent college entrance exam, it often works in conjunction with high school GPA and other application components to provide colleges with a comprehensive view of an applicant's potential. It is one of two major standardized tests for college admissions in the US, the other being the ACT, and most colleges accept scores from either test.