What is the examination process for community colleges?

I'm considering attending a community college after high school, but I'm not sure how their examination process works. Do community colleges require entrance exams or standardized tests like the SAT? How does this work in general?

Most community colleges in the United States operate on an open-enrollment basis. This means that anyone with a high school diploma or GED can attend, without having to go through a rigorous admissions process. As part of the enrollment process, however, many community colleges require students to take placement tests in English and math to determine their preparedness for college-level courses.

These placement tests are usually not standardized like the SAT or ACT. Instead, they are often made by companies like College Board (the ACCUPLACER test) or McGraw-Hill (the ALEKS test). They're used to gauge your existing knowledge in certain areas and don't influence your admission into the college—rather they're used to place you in suitable courses.

For instance, if you do exceptionally well on the math portion of the placement test, you might be able to enroll in a higher-level math course right away. Likewise, if you do poorly on the English portion of the placement test, you might be placed in a remedial English course to help you prepare for college-level reading and writing.

Remember, each community college might have their own specific process. It's always a good idea to check with the admissions office of the specific community college you are interested in to get the most accurate information. They can provide you with more details about their specific placement tests, and whether they accept SAT or ACT scores in lieu of these assessments.