by Elizabeth Hartley
Even though there are some colleges that no longer choose to require SAT or ACT scores as part of their admission process (see www.fairtest.org), the vast majority of schools still weigh the scores heavily. Schools will accept either SAT or ACT scores, typically stating that they have no preference on which one a student submits.
It is important that students plan their test taking schedule carefully to make sure they end up with the scores they need before the admissions process begins.
The PSAT is a great practice test for students in their 9th or 10th grade years. It gives them a solid feel for the real SAT and builds test taking skills. However, it is critical that 11th graders take the PSAT in October since it will also qualify them for the National Merit Scholarship Program. Only scores from October of the junior year will be considered for Merit Scholarships. There are many colleges that automatically give generous scholarships to students who were National Merit finalists or semi finalists. Once students get their PSAT scores, which will be a two-digit number, they can simply add a zero to the end of each score to convert it to an SAT-comparable score. For example, a perfect 80 on a section of the PSAT is equivalent to a perfect 800 on a section of the SAT.
This is the typical SAT test that most students take. It involves a Critical Reading, Math and a Writing section. Each section is worth a maximum of 800 points, making the total maximum score 2400. However, most colleges readily acknowledge that they primarily focus on the Critical Reading and Math scores, creating a maximum score of 1600. Therefore, when colleges report their average SAT scores for students they admit, it is on the 1600 scale, not the 2400 scale. Register for the SAT I at www.collegeboard.com. Keep track of your login and password because you will need to reference your scores in the future.
Most students take their first SAT I test in May of their junior year. It is over 3 hours long with breaks every 30 minutes or so. Studies show that students usually improve their scores if they take the test a second time, usually in the fall of their senior year. Regular registration is $45 and late registration is $68. You can make changes to your test date and location up until the day before the test for a change fee of $22.
During test registration, students are allowed to indicate four colleges that should receive the test scores. Those scores will be sent at no charge. If they want to have scores sent later, each one will cost $9.50.
Colleges that are more selective often require 2-3 SAT Subject Tests from students applying for admission. Each subject test is one hour long. A student can take up to three subject tests on the same test date. Students cannot take the SAT I test on the same day as the SAT Subject tests.
I strongly recommend that students take SAT Subject tests shortly after they take their AP tests in May of each year. Since students have to prepare for the mid-May AP tests anyway, it only makes sense to take the shorter SAT Subject test on the same subject in June, while it the material is still fresh. Waiting to take the Subject Test in the fall of the next year will only give the student all summer to forget the material.
SAT Subject tests require a flat $20 registration plus $9 per subject. If a student wants to take a subject test in a foreign language, it will cost an extra $20 because of the listening test that comes with it.
Register at www.actstudent.org. Students can take the ACT with a writing portion or without it. It costs $32 without the writing portion and $47 with it. The ACT will report your scores for free to four colleges that are chosen at the time of registration. Scores sent after the test date will cost $9 each. A perfect score on the ACT is a 36, as opposed to 1600 on the SAT. If a student took both the SAT and ACT but can't tell which score is relatively higher, consult the ACT/SAT conversion chart in the Admission section of the Toolkit on www.CollegeScholarshipPlan.com.
Though there are few students who say they love taking standardized tests, they remain a necessity for most college admission applications. Students should plan their preparation and test schedule carefully to make sure that they have the scores they need for their college admission efforts.
Elizabeth Hartley is a college admissions and scholarship consultant. Visit her website @ www.CollegeScholarshipPlan.com for a comprehensive and current list of valuable internet resources.
As part of the site’s commitment to serving all high school students, a tremendous amount of resources are provided for free. Premium subscription gives deeper insight and more in-depth coaching. Utilize coupon code 606-0000 to receive an additional discount off your already affordable CSP Subscription.
For additional information on: Seminars and Workshops, Group Subscriptions, Fundraising Opportunities, as well as Corporate Benefit and Corporate Discount Programs, contact mmatthews@CollegeScholarshipPlan.com.
for a comprehensive and current list of valuable internet resources.
Even though there are some colleges that no longer choose to require SAT or ACT scores as part of their admission process (see www.fairtest.org), the vast majority of schools still weigh the scores heavily. Schools will accept either SAT or ACT scores, typically stating that they have no preference on which one a student submits.
It is important that students plan their test taking schedule carefully to make sure they end up with the scores they need before the admissions process begins.
PSAT
The PSAT is a great practice test for students in their 9th or 10th grade years. It gives them a solid feel for the real SAT and builds test taking skills. However, it is critical that 11th graders take the PSAT in October since it will also qualify them for the National Merit Scholarship Program. Only scores from October of the junior year will be considered for Merit Scholarships. There are many colleges that automatically give generous scholarships to students who were National Merit finalists or semi finalists. Once students get their PSAT scores, which will be a two-digit number, they can simply add a zero to the end of each score to convert it to an SAT-comparable score. For example, a perfect 80 on a section of the PSAT is equivalent to a perfect 800 on a section of the SAT.
SAT I Test
This is the typical SAT test that most students take. It involves a Critical Reading, Math and a Writing section. Each section is worth a maximum of 800 points, making the total maximum score 2400. However, most colleges readily acknowledge that they primarily focus on the Critical Reading and Math scores, creating a maximum score of 1600. Therefore, when colleges report their average SAT scores for students they admit, it is on the 1600 scale, not the 2400 scale. Register for the SAT I at www.collegeboard.com. Keep track of your login and password because you will need to reference your scores in the future.
Most students take their first SAT I test in May of their junior year. It is over 3 hours long with breaks every 30 minutes or so. Studies show that students usually improve their scores if they take the test a second time, usually in the fall of their senior year. Regular registration is $45 and late registration is $68. You can make changes to your test date and location up until the day before the test for a change fee of $22.
During test registration, students are allowed to indicate four colleges that should receive the test scores. Those scores will be sent at no charge. If they want to have scores sent later, each one will cost $9.50.
SAT II Test (also known as SAT Subject Tests)
Colleges that are more selective often require 2-3 SAT Subject Tests from students applying for admission. Each subject test is one hour long. A student can take up to three subject tests on the same test date. Students cannot take the SAT I test on the same day as the SAT Subject tests.
I strongly recommend that students take SAT Subject tests shortly after they take their AP tests in May of each year. Since students have to prepare for the mid-May AP tests anyway, it only makes sense to take the shorter SAT Subject test on the same subject in June, while it the material is still fresh. Waiting to take the Subject Test in the fall of the next year will only give the student all summer to forget the material.
SAT Subject tests require a flat $20 registration plus $9 per subject. If a student wants to take a subject test in a foreign language, it will cost an extra $20 because of the listening test that comes with it.
ACT TEST
Register at www.actstudent.org. Students can take the ACT with a writing portion or without it. It costs $32 without the writing portion and $47 with it. The ACT will report your scores for free to four colleges that are chosen at the time of registration. Scores sent after the test date will cost $9 each. A perfect score on the ACT is a 36, as opposed to 1600 on the SAT. If a student took both the SAT and ACT but can't tell which score is relatively higher, consult the ACT/SAT conversion chart in the Admission section of the Toolkit on www.CollegeScholarshipPlan.com.
Though there are few students who say they love taking standardized tests, they remain a necessity for most college admission applications. Students should plan their preparation and test schedule carefully to make sure that they have the scores they need for their college admission efforts.
Elizabeth Hartley is a college admissions and scholarship consultant. Visit her website @ www.CollegeScholarshipPlan.com for a comprehensive and current list of valuable internet resources.
As part of the site’s commitment to serving all high school students, a tremendous amount of resources are provided for free. Premium subscription gives deeper insight and more in-depth coaching. Utilize coupon code 606-0000 to receive an additional discount off your already affordable CSP Subscription.
For additional information on: Seminars and Workshops, Group Subscriptions, Fundraising Opportunities, as well as Corporate Benefit and Corporate Discount Programs, contact mmatthews@CollegeScholarshipPlan.com.
for a comprehensive and current list of valuable internet resources.
