The Honor Code is a set of rules that students commit to follow every year before attending school. It requires that students live by set spiritual standards. With the Honor Code, students from each of the church schools enjoy a high standard of living among peers with shared values.

In addition to the dress and grooming standards of the Honor Code, we encourage you to be an active participant in church services. This means attending church on a regular basis as well as fulfilling your callings, attending mutual and serving those around you.

Click here to see the Honor Code

Attend seminary. It is the most important course you can take in high school. Seminary attendance, beginning in the 9th grade, is strongly encouraged by all of the admissions offices at Church colleges and universities. Seminary will give you gospel knowledge and insights that will be invaluable in college and beyond. Attending seminary will also help to prepare you for the secular and religious study you will encounter in college and at institutes of religion.

High school students should enroll in college preparatory classes as freshman and continue to take them through the senior year. To be most prepared for the ACT and SAT exams and for college-level work, it is recommended that high school class schedules include the following:

• 4+ years of mathematics
• 4+ years of English or literature
• 2-3 years of laboratory science
• 2 years of history or government
• 2+ years of foreign language

AP/IB Classes

We strongly encourage you to enroll in Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) classes where available. Students who take these courses will receive extra consideration in the admissions process when applying to any CES school and will also receive college credit based on AP and IB end-of-year test scores. Research has shown that students who take these college prep courses are better prepared for rigorous college courses.

Remember to do your very best in all your classes at school. Your grades are not only a reflection of your level of knowledge, but they also show prospective colleges the amount of effort you are willing to put into schoolwork.

Benefits of Taking AP/IB Courses

AP and IB courses are gaining popularity across the nation. Here are a few of the major benefits of taking college-prep courses:

• Because AP and IB courses are measured by a standardized instrument, students who take these courses will receive extra consideration in the admissions process.
• The church schools offer varying levels of college credit based on AP and IB end-of-year test scores. Depending on the number and type of courses taken, students can receive university credit even before graduating from high school.
• Students who take AP or IB courses are usually more prepared for the rigors of college because of the study skills and discipline developed while taking such courses.
• Students who take AP and IB courses gain support from motivated peers and mentors.

Choosing the Right College-prep Courses

The decision to take AP or IB courses should be considered carefully by the student, parents, and a school counselor. Students and parents may wish to talk to an AP teacher or an AP coordinator to learn more about the difficulties of a particular course. Be sure to discuss the workload and the preparation required for the course.

The ACT and the SAT are standardized tests that analyze your knowledge over various academic topics. Many higher education institutions use these tests to gauge how well the student may perform once admitted. It is important to find out how each CES school judges your ACT and SAT scores and to plan accordingly.

General Testing Information

Be sure to take the ACT/SAT towards the end of your junior year so that you can take it again in the beginning of your senior year. Because CES Admissions considers only your highest composite scores, you should consider taking the ACT/SAT multiple times. Studies show that students who retake the ACT/SAT have a 55 percent chance of increasing their previous score by 1 to 3 points. Those points may not seem like much, but they could make all the difference when it comes time to apply for admission and scholarships.

It is recommended that the ACT/SAT be taken at least two months before the application deadline for admission. This will allow time for the institutions of your choice to receive the ACT/SAT scores before the deadline.

The ACT

• ACT Homepage
• ACT FAQ's
• ACT Test Dates

The standard ACT is a set of four multiple choice tests which cover English, mathematics, reading, and science. The ACT Plus Writing includes the four multiple-choice tests and a writing test. At this time, CES schools are not considering the writing section for the ACT exam. However, we recommend students take it.

The SAT

• SAT Homepage
• SAT FAQ's
• SAT Test Dates

The SAT Reasoning Test is a measure of the critical thinking skills you'll need for academic success in college. The SAT assesses how well you analyze and solve problems-skills you learned in school that you'll need in college. The SAT is typically taken by high school juniors and seniors.

Each section of the SAT is scored on a scale of 200–800, with two writing sub-scores for multiple-choice and an essay.

At this time, CES schools are not considering the writing section for the SAT exam. However, we recommend students take it.

Spend your time wisely. Find activities outside of school that will help you to grow and build on your interests. Get involved in a variety of services opportunities, athletics, work, clubs, organizations, and leadership. Many college admission offices give special consideration to students who have played a key role in activities outside of class.