Final answer:
The college entrance exam that covers areas of English, math, reading, and science is the ACT, or American College Testing. It is used by colleges to evaluate applicants and has been scrutinized for predictive validity and potential bias, leading to changing admissions strategies by some institutions.
Step-by-step explanation:
The college entrance exam that covers four areas of English, math, reading, and science, and is based on courses you have studied in high school is B) ACT (American College Testing). The ACT is a standardized test that serves as a common data point to help colleges evaluate applicants. The SAT (Scholastic Assessment Test) also plays a similar role but has a different format and scoring system. Unlike the SAT, the ACT includes a science section to assess students' interpretation, analysis, evaluation, reasoning, and problem-solving skills in the natural sciences.
Colleges use these scores as benchmarks in the admissions process, although the emphasis on them can fluctuate. In recent years, the reliability and predictive validity of the SAT and ACT for determining college success have come under scrutiny. Some studies suggest that they do have predictive validity, while others argue that this may be overstated and the tests could be biased against students from marginalized backgrounds. As a result, some colleges and universities are moving to a test-optional policy or de-emphasizing standardized test scores in admissions decisions.