Admissions Tests

Admissions tests usually refer to tests designed to find candidates suitable for higher education. Such tests and other forms of entrance examinations can be made mandatory for applicants in a country or region to take or they may be specific to a university or a university program. This entry first discusses the roles and importance of admissions tests, the principles on which they are based, and their history. It then looks at how admissions tests can be characterized and issues in admissions testing.

In an admission decision, there are two fundamental roles that a test can fulfill: to identify candidates who have sufficient knowledge to be able to complete an education (eligibility) and to rank the candidates and to make a selection in cases where there are more eligible candidates than there are available slots (selection). A test can be designed to meet either of these two roles, although most admissions tests are used only for selection purposes. Admissions tests can be further categorized with respect to the construct or constructs they are assumed to measure. Standardized aptitude tests measure aptitude in general cognitive skills and are designed to determine a person’s ability to learn. Entrance examinations are generally achievement oriented and focus on what a candidate has learned.

Having a fair selection model is of greatest importance in a democratic society. Although modern higher education often can be regarded as education for large parts of the population, universities are still institutions educating those who will hold important positions and influence society. An important question is how the number of slots at these universities should be distributed and what constitutes a fair admissions system, as this is not an easy or uncontroversial question to answer.