The College Board has announced plans to redesign the SAT, a college admissions test, to make it better aligned with the Common Core Standards, which are internationally benchmarked standards of academic achievement. Their call for change may in part be a result of increased competition from the ACT, another college admissions test. In addition, several groups have criticized the SAT and college admissions tests in general and argued that grades in high school are a better predictor of college success. Read more about the SAT of the future.

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The ERBs are modified intelligence tests that are given by the Educational Records Bureau as private school admissions tests for students entering pre-kindergarten through fourth grade. They are mainly given around New York City. The tests have been the subject of recent controversy because some tutoring companies are prepping kids for these tests, leading some private schools to question whether the tests are a good measure of a student's readiness to handle the school's curriculum. Parents, on the other hand, often turn to outside tutors because competition for pre-k or kindergarten spots at New York City private schools can be fierce. To prepare for private school admissions, the schools advise parents to read to their children, speak with their children, and allow their children to feel comfortable in the interview process. Read more about the controversy around the ERBs.

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Ever wonder why private schools refer to themselves as independent schools or how to make sense of various admissions tests, such as the OLSAT, WISC, ERBs, and the COOP? Well, here's a private school glossary to help you keep all the terms straight.

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While many private school students are fortunate to work with college guidance counselors who know them well and who work with a manageable number of students, parents can still help their children navigate the long college admissions process. Starting sophomore year, parents and kids can sit down and map out classwork and extra-curricular activities that build on their interests, and they can start to develop a list of realistic target schools. Most importantly, they can visit the colleges, time and finances permitting, and see if they are really a good fit for the student. Read more about parents' role in the college admissions process.

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