LANSING—Remember being a high school junior and sitting in a quiet room taking the American College Test (ACT) early in the morning?

Now think about being in the same room today, but taking the Michigan Merit Exam.  Juniors are now required to take the Merit exam instead of the familiar Michigan Education Assessment Program (MEAP) test. 

By taking the Merit exam, a benefit to the students is they will receive a free ACT score for applying to colleges, as well as seeing what areas they excel in.  It costs $29 to take the traditional basic ACT and an additional $14 for the optional writing section.

“We’re going to have a whole lot more kids who will have test scores who realize that they did very well in an area,” said Judy Backes, Macomb Intermediate School District’s accreditation consultant.

Like the MEAP, the exam still focuses on mathematics, science, social studies and English, but the questions are more rigorous.

Students will know after taking the exam whether they are ready for post-secondary education, Department of Education communications director Martin Ackley said.

Another benefit of the Merit exam for colleges and students is cost and time savings. 

If students score well enough on the reading and writing portions, they can waive the placement tests at Lansing Community College (LCC), assessment and advising Director Nancy Dietrich said.

“We can use that score to enter into the system,” Dietrich said.

Waiving tests saves money for LCC which doesn’t need to buy as many tests.

“The minimum cost for a single placement test is a $1.75,” she said.

Starting with the fall 2007 semester, the state requires students to take at least three years of science, four years of English and four years of math, Ackley said.

Taking more core classes will help students prepare for both the Merit exam and post-secondary education, Ackley said.

Oakland University admissions Director Eleanor Reynolds said she hopes applications will increase with more students taking the exam.

Students choose which colleges will receive their ACT, scores and those colleges will contact them by mail with information. 

Having more students taking the exam will mean more student prospects for colleges and universities in the future.

Ackley said “The benefit to parents and students is that it’s free.”

Students can retake the Merit exam a second time for free.  After that, they have to pay the standard regular fee for the traditional ACT.

The Merit exam is held in March.