1. Students will take a variety of standardized tests to gain admissions to colleges. While there is limited evidence that these tests make a difference, competitive colleges use them to help sort students. We need to help students do their best.
2.We need to help students develop their testing schedules: SAT. ACT. SAT Subject Tests, AP tests.
3. SAT and ACT Readiness:
10th and 11th grade-Students can take the PSAT (readiness for PSAT) and PLAN (readiness for ACT). The 11th grade PSAT counts for National Merit Consideration.
11th-12th grade- Students can take the SAT and/or ACT. They are offered seven times per year. Students can take them as many times as they want though most students usually take them 2 to 3 times. Fee waivers are available for low-income students to take the tests twice.
4. SAT Subject Tests Readiness:
Students can take these one-hour multiple choice tests six times per year. It is best to take the tests after students complete the class, so 9th and 10th graders should look at tests offered. More and more schools allow the ACT to cover 2 subject tests. Plus, fewer colleges than ever require them, but they are great for kids who know content areas really well. So make sure you know the exact requirements of each college.
Some colleges want two of these tests. Some recommend the tests. They can only help you if you do well on them.
Here’s site that tracks requirements. https://www.compassprep.com/subject-test-requirements-and-recommendations/
5. AP Tests Readiness
Students can take these tests in May. They rarely ever re-take them. The scores come out in July.
6. For all College Board and ACT accounts. Please have your students record their usernames and passwords on computers, cell phones, and emails. Mac users use Stickies or Notes
7. Sendings Scores. Students must send scores out to colleges. High schools do not send them for you. Fee waivers will help you with at least 4 colleges per test date. Some colleges are now allowing students to self-report the scores, so don’t spend the money if you don’t need to.
8. Test Prep Matters. Continue or start a test prep class. Princeton Review, http://www.princetonreview.com, offers good beginning classes. There are free test prep programs online such as http://www.number2.com/ and Khan Academy. https://www.khanacademy.org/
9. Test optional colleges. Many colleges do not require tests. Here is a link to Fair Test that keeps the most up-to-date list of these colleges. Check to see if test-optional colleges require anything in place of the tests. www.fairtest.org