Michigan Merit Exam

In November, 2006, the Michigan Department of Education announced it will administer the Michigan Merit Exam (MME) to juniors in spring 2007. This exam replaces the Michigan Educational Assessment Program test (MEAP) which was used previously for eleventh grade. 

The MME will provide an ACT report that students can use to apply to colleges and universities for post-secondary education. Students will also be able to use all of the MME scores to qualify for a Michigan Promise Scholarship to help pay costs at approved state universities, colleges, community colleges, and technical or trade schools.

All the tests are timed, and testing is divided into three parts.  The MME dates and components are:

      Tuesday, March 13, 2007

        ACT Plus Writing

      Wednesday, March 14, 2007

        WorkKeys (Applied Mathematics and Reading for Information) and

        Michigan Mathematics

      Thursday, March 15, 2007

        Michigan Science and

        Michigan Social Studies

Makeups are scheduled exactly two weeks later on March 27, 28, and 29.  Testing cannot take place at any other time or date or in any other sequence.

Federal law requires that all high school content standards be assessed.  Therefore, students need to realize the importance of doing their best on all parts of the MME. Not only are the scores used for college admission and scholarship purposes. In addition students taking the MME are not allowed to retake only the parts of the test that do not qualify them for the Michigan Promise Scholarship.  They must retake the entire MME.

Testing Day Notes:

• Students will not have to apply to take the ACT test that is part of the MME this spring.

• The pre-test information will be filled out in advance of the test day on all three MME answer folders. This MUST be completed before students take the test.  Arrangements will be made for students to do this here at school.

• Testing will begin first thing in the morning, and students cannot be admitted if they arrive late.

• Students must present acceptable photo identification as defined by ACT.  A driver’s license is acceptable.  If a student does not have one, he or she should see a counselor for assistance.

• During testing the use of cell phones and any electronic device is not allowed at any time including during the break.

• No food or drink is allowed in the testing room.  Students with medical needs for these items should see their counselor for direction.

• Students should bring to the test room only #2 pencils with erasers and an ACT approved calculator. A list of approved calculators will be provided to students prior to testing. For the latest information see the ACT website:  http://www.actstudent.org/faq/answers/calculator.html.

• No books, homework, or other items are allowed.

Additional Info:

Students who do not take all of the parts of the MME will not be eligible for the Michigan Promise Scholarship.

Any junior who took the MEAP test last year for dual enrollment MUST take all parts of the MME this spring. Also, any junior who has already taken the ACT, MUST take it again as part of the MME.

Students who take the MME and do not have scores that qualify for the Michigan Promise Scholarship may have one ACT retest paid for by the state.   If this opportunity becomes available, students would register through ACT for the Fall, 2007, Retake using a voucher that would permit them to retest at no cost.   They will take the ACT part of the MME at a national test center on October 27, 2007 and the remainder of the MME test at MHS on October 30 and 31, 2007. Students will be informed  as more details are finalized by the state.

Students may pay for and take the ACT for college admission purposes at any time on a national test date. However, only the ACT scores that are taken as part of the MME will count for the Michigan Promise Scholarship.

Michigan Promise Scholarship Eligibility

On December 21, 2006 the governor signed into law the Michigan Promise Scholarship.

Eligibility Criteria

*Must be a Michigan resident.

*Take the State Assessment Test:   MME for the Class of 2008 and beyond

*Enroll at an approved postsecondary institution in Michigan or a military service academy within two years of becoming a high school graduate (two-year period would be extended for service in the armed forces or Peace Corps). 

*Complete the postsecondary education requirements within four years of initial enrollment at the postsecondary institution.

*Achieve a grade point average of 2.5 (except for vocational education programs that do not record grades).

*Be a high school graduate or have passed the GED or any other graduate equivalency exam approved by the State Board of Education.

*Certify his or her eligibility for a scholarship.

*Meets all other eligibility criteria.

Scholarship Amounts

*Students who receive qualifying scores on the MME may receive up to $1000 per academic year for each of the first two years of college and up to $2000 after successful completion of two years of postsecondary education with at least a 2.5 GPA (associate’s degree, two-year certificate, vocational education program or 50% of the academic requirements for a bachelor’s degree).

*Students who do not receive qualifying scores on the MME (Class of 2008 and beyond) may receive up to $4000 after the successful completion of two years of postsecondary  education with at least a 2.5 GPA (associate’s degree, two-year certificate, vocational education program or 50 % of the academic requirements for a bachelor’s degree).

*Students completing a vocational training program requiring less than two years to complete may be eligible for a prorated scholarship amount.

                                        Source – Michigan Department of Education

For more information on the Michigan Promise Scholarship, contact the Office of Scholarships and Grants toll-free at1-888-447-2687 or check the web site at http://www.michigan.gov/mistudentaid  and click on Michigan Promise Scholarship.