Unlike national admissions tests, most state tests are required school assessments — so these guides focus on what the test is, how it's used, and how to prepare, and each one links to that state's full education guide. These are a living reference; we update them as states change their assessments.
All states & D.C.
ACAP grades 2–8 + the grade-11 ACT
AK STAR (grades 3–9) in ELA, math & science
AASA + AzSCI + the grade-11 ACT; civics test required
ATLAS (replaced ACT Aspire) + the ACT
CAASPP — Smarter Balanced & CAST; no exit exam
CMAS grades 3–8 + the PSAT/SAT suite; strong opt-out
Smarter Balanced + a free SAT School Day (gr 11)
Smarter Balanced + a free grade-11 SAT
FAST — progress monitoring 3×/year; replaced the FSA
Georgia Milestones — EOG & EOC (counts toward grade)
Smarter Balanced + HSA-Science; no exit exam
ISAT (Smarter Balanced) + a free grade-11 SAT
IAR grades 3–8; ACT in grade 11 (switched from SAT)
ILEARN + the SAT in grade 11 (replaced ISTEP+)
ISASP in ELA, math & science (grades 3–11)
KAP in ELA, math & science; no exit exam
KSA grades 3–8 + the grade-11 ACT
LEAP 2025 + EOC exams required to graduate
Maine Educational Assessment (through-year) + SAT
MCAP — grades 3–8 + Algebra I, English 10 & Government
MCAS — grad requirement removed by 2024 ballot
M-STEP + the grade-11 Michigan Merit Exam (SAT)
MCA in reading, math & science; no exit exam
MAAP + EOC exams tied to graduation
MAP grade-level tests + End-of-Course exams
Smarter Balanced + Montana Science + the grade-11 ACT
NSCAS grades 3–8 + the grade-11 ACT
Smarter Balanced + Nevada Science + the grade-11 ACT
NH SAS + the grade-11 SAT
NJSLA + the NJGPA graduation assessment
NM-MSSA + the grade-11 SAT
Regents & grades 3–8 — grad requirement phasing out
EOG & EOC + the grade-11 ACT
NDSA + the ACT (grade 11, district option)
Ohio's State Tests + EOC graduation points
OSTP grades 3–8 + CCRA (SAT or ACT) in grade 11
OSAS (Smarter Balanced); no graduation-test requirement
PSSA & Keystone Exams via Pathways to Graduation
RICAS + NGSA + the PSAT/SAT
SC READY + EOCEP (counts 20% of course grade)
Smarter Balanced + South Dakota Science
TCAP / TNReady + End-of-Course exams
STAAR — grades 3–8 & five EOCs required to graduate
RISE + Utah Aspire Plus + the grade-11 ACT
VTCAP (Smarter Balanced, grades 3–8 & 9) + VSA science
Standards of Learning (SOL) + verified credits to graduate
Smarter Balanced & WCAS + flexible graduation pathways
DC statewide assessment (DC CAPE) + free PSAT/SAT
WV Summative + a free grade-11 SAT
Forward Exam + PreACT/ACT; civics test to graduate
WY-TOPP (grades 3–10) + the grade-11 ACT