School officials think students would perform better if a standardized test could also help them get into college.

Hickman High senior Whitney Matthews took the ACT twice, and she thinks it would motivate her classmates "because they know it's for college; it means more to them personally."

Some school officials worry because the ACT does not follow Missouri public schools' curriculum.

But, if the state approves the change, juniors also would take another writing test and the science section of the MAP test.

Illinois, Colorado and Michigan already require a college entrance exam for high school students.