College Board facts for kids
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One of College Board's office buildings in Reston, VA
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| Founded | December 22, 1899 (as College Entrance Examination Board) |
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| Type | Nonprofit educational |
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CEO
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David Coleman |
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President
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Jeremy Singer |
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Revenue (2019)
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 US$1.11 billion |
| Expenses (2019) | ▲ US$1.05 billion |
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Formerly called
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College Entrance Examination Board |
The College Board is a non-profit organization in the United States. It was started in December 1899 to help more students go to college. Even though it's not a college itself, it works with over 6,000 schools, colleges, and other educational groups.
The College Board creates and manages important tests and learning programs. These are used by schools and colleges to help students get ready for higher education. They also help with the college application process. The main office of the College Board is in New York City. David Coleman has been the CEO since 2012. Jeremy Singer is the current president.
Besides the tests they charge for, the College Board also offers many free tools and services. These help students, parents, and colleges with planning for college, applying, getting financial help, and staying in school.
Contents
How the College Board Started
The College Board was first called the College Entrance Examination Board (CEEB). It began at Columbia University on December 22, 1899. Representatives from 12 universities and three high schools came together to create it. Some of these included Columbia University, University of Pennsylvania, New York University, and Princeton University.
Their main goal was to set clear standards for what high school students should learn. They also wanted to create fair exams to help students get into college. The first exam fee was $5, which would be about $155 today.
What is a CEEB Code?
The College Board keeps a special list of numbers called CEEB codes. These codes identify countries, college subjects, colleges, scholarship programs, test centers, and high schools. In the United States, many other organizations use these codes. For example, a student might give their school a college's CEEB code. This helps make sure their school records are sent to the correct college.
Tests and Programs for Students
About the SAT Test
The SAT is a well-known test for students applying to colleges in the United States. It was first given in 1926. The College Board decides how the SAT is made and used. Another group, Educational Testing Service (ETS), creates, gives, and scores the test.
The SAT covers reading, writing, and math. Scores range from 400 to 1600 points. Most students take the SAT during their junior or senior year of high school. The SAT is a major test that competes with the ACT.
The basic SAT test costs about $60. There can be extra fees for late registration or changing your test date. However, students from lower-income families can often get fee waivers or discounts.
In 2014, the College Board announced a new version of the SAT. It went back to the 1600-point scale, and the essay part became optional. They also teamed up with Khan Academy to offer free study materials. These materials include practice problems and videos to help students prepare.
The College Board stopped offering SAT Subject Tests in 2021. These tests measured how well students knew specific subjects like math or science. They also made the essay section of the SAT optional after June 2021.
In March 2020, some SAT test dates were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The College Board announced in 2022 that the SAT will become a digital test. This new digital SAT will be shorter, taking about 2 hours instead of 3. It will also include topics that are more relevant to college courses. Students will be allowed to use calculators for the entire math section. This digital change aims to make the test easier to take and more fair for all students.
PSAT/NMSQT Test
The PSAT/NMSQT is a practice test for the SAT. It costs about $18, but the price can change. This test is also used to qualify students for scholarship programs from the National Merit Scholarship Corporation. There are other versions of the PSAT, like the PSAT 10 and PSAT 8/9. However, these do not qualify students for the National Merit Scholarship.
Advanced Placement (AP) Program
The College Board's Advanced Placement Program (AP) lets high school students take college-level classes. These classes help students broaden their knowledge and get ready for college. Doing well in AP classes and on AP exams can also show colleges that you are a strong student.
Many colleges give students college credit for high scores on AP exams. Each AP exam costs about $97. However, it's up to each college to decide if they will give credit. About 2,900 colleges offer credit or advanced standing for AP scores. Some people think AP courses focus too much on covering many topics instead of going deep into them.
College Level Examination Program (CLEP)
The College Level Examination Program (CLEP) allows students of any age to show what they know. They can take exams to prove they have college-level knowledge in different subjects. Many colleges, about 2,900, give credit for passing CLEP exams.
Accuplacer Test
The College Board's Accuplacer test is a computer-based test. It checks a student's skills in reading, writing, and math. This test helps high schools and colleges figure out which classes a student should take. It's often used by community colleges. The Accuplacer test can be scored right away online. Usually, there are no fees to take the test the first time.
SpringBoard Program
SpringBoard is a program created by the College Board to help students get ready for AP courses. It also prepares them for college-level classes. The program helps students build important skills and knowledge for AP tests and college success.
SpringBoard is for students in grades 6 through 12. Teachers get training and tools to help students learn. The program also offers online resources to make learning more interactive.
Truinfadores Campaign
In 2020, the College Board and NBCUniversal Telemundo Enterprises started a program called Truinfadores. This campaign helps Spanish-speaking families understand the college planning process. It also offers scholarships through the College Board Opportunity Scholarship program. These scholarships can give students up to $40,000 for college tuition. They are open to any student, especially those from families earning less than $60,000 per year.
BigFuture Program
BigFuture is a free online tool from the College Board. It helps students plan for college, find ways to pay for it, and explore different careers. BigFuture also has a National Recognition Program. This program honors students from groups that are often underrepresented, such as African American, Hispanic, and Indigenous students. It also recognizes students from rural areas.
CSS Profile for Financial Aid
The College Board also offers the CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE. This is an application service that many colleges use to figure out how much financial aid a student needs. Students pay a fee to apply and an extra fee for each college they send the profile to.
See also
In Spanish: College Board para niños
- ACT, a test by ACT, Inc., the main competitor to the College Board's SAT
- College admissions in the United States
- IB Diploma Programme, a pre-university educational program administered by the International Baccalaureate, the main competitor to the College Board's Advanced Placement (AP) Program
- Writing assessment
