Standardized Testing

BFHS administers standardized tests as required by the Wisconsin Student Assessment System. Standardized tests include:

  • ACT (Juniors)

  • PreACT Secure (Freshman and Sophomores)

  • Civics Exam (Graduation requirement)

  • Wisconsin Forward Exam (Sophomores)

  • Access (ELL Students from all grades)

BFHS also administers the following optional standardized tests:

  • ACT District Fall Testing - October 17, 2023

  • PSAT/NSMQT (Sophomores and Juniors) - October 2, 2023

  • AP Test - May 6 - May 17

ACT

  • Statewide assessment required of all juniors

  • Used for the same purposes as any other ACT, namely college or technical college admission and scholarship acquisition

  • Sign-up is automatic and managed by the state and BFHS.

  • Given on March 12th, 2024

  • If a student desires to take additional ACT exams, he or she must sign up on his or her own with ACT

    • For assistance with this, please email Mrs. Sheppard at slsheppard@bigfoot.12.wi.us

  • Optional District testing for ALL students is available in early October of each year and provides students with another opportunity for a reportable score. 

PreACT Secure

  • Early high school [9th & 10th grade] summative test

  • Predicts student performance on the ACT

  • Administered completely online 

  • Sign-up is automatic and managed by the state and BFHS

  • Scheduled testing for students is April 11, 2024.

    • Some students may be tested over multiple days.

Civics Exam

  • All students must pass the Civics exam with a 70 or better. 

  • Required for graduation

  • Students complete this required exam through their required Social Studies coursework.

Wisconsin Forward Exam

  • Statewide assessment required of all sophomores

  • Designed to gauge how well students are doing in relation to the Wisconsin Academic Standards

  • Only tests Social Studies competency

  • Administered completely online [except in rare special circumstances]

  • Given during the course of a normal school day April 2- April 3, 2024

ACCESS

  • Statewide assessment required for all English Learners

  • Designed to assess English proficiency and progress

  • Given during the course of a normal school day, the first week of December

  • Administered completely online [except in rare special circumstances]

Advanced Placement 

  • Designed  to measure how well you've mastered the content and skills of a specific AP course

  • Scores of 3 or higher on an AP course may result in credits at the post-secondary level. 

  • Given during the course of a normal school day, May 6 - May 17, 2024

PSAT/NMSQT

  • Optional national test for sophomores and juniors

  • Designed to determine how college and career-ready students are

  • Given during the course of a normal school day 

  • Students who score in the 98-99% percentile are eligible to compete in the National Merit Scholarship.

For more information on any of these assessments, visit The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction or Stacie Sheppard at slsheppard@bigfoot.k12.wi.us