EXPLORE®
BESTS students in grades 4-6 take Explore®, which is designed for 8th graders. To participate, students must have at least one score in the 95th percentile or above on a core subject of a grade-level test, such as the Iowa Assessments (read more about this requirement in our FAQ section).
Each of the four sections (English, mathematics, reading, and science reasoning) takes 30 minutes to complete. The total testing time is approximately two hours.
Over 50% of the BESTS participants have scored higher than the average 8th grader. In many cases, Explore® scores have been used to assist educators in modifying a student’s curriculum.
The cost for Explore is $58, which includes a registration fee and a test fee. These fees are not refundable. What if I missed my test date?
Financial aid is available.
2012-2013 Testing Dates
Registration is available now.
| October 20th (Deadline: October 3rd) - Davidson Students Only |
| November 10th (Deadline: October 10th) |
| January 26th (Deadline: December 18th) |
| February 16th (Deadline: January 16th)
|
| June 6th (Deadline: May 20th) |
Details about the test, including testing time, will arrive in the mail 2-3 weeks before your testing date.
Please note that ACT does not allow students to take Explore or ACT more than once per school year.