There are two main college admissions tests – the
SAT and the
ACT – that enable colleges to compare students from different schools and backgrounds. Most colleges will accept scores from either test, but it is important to double check with the college admissions office to be sure they will accept the test you plan to take. One test is not better than another - take the test that is best for both you and the school to which you are applying. And yes, you may take both tests.
The Scholastic Aptitude Test I (SAT I)
When people are talking about the “SAT” they are generally speaking about the SAT I test or the SAT Reasoning Test. No matter what you choose to call it, this is a 3 hour and 45 minute long test. There is a critical reading, math, and writing component to the test. Scores for each section range on a scale of 200 – 800.
SAT Subject Tests
The SAT Subject Tests are sometimes also referred to as the SAT II Achievement Tests. They are one-hour tests in specific subjects such as English, history, mathematics, or foreign languages. Some of the more competitive schools require two or three tests for first-year placement. Be sure to check to see if these tests are required before you sign up to take them!
The ACT Tests
The ACT tests assess specific academic abilities in English, math, reading, and science reasoning. Scores range from 1 (low) to 36 (high) for each of the four tests and for the composite. The composite is the average of the four test scores, rounded to the nearest whole number.
Submitting Your Test Scores
When you register to take your test they will ask you which schools you would like to have notified of your scores. You automatically have 4 “free” choices of colleges to be notified of your scores. It is to your benefit to take advantage of this because the colleges will consider your highest score (and disregard your lower scores) and it will cost money to send the scores to the schools after you receive your results. Nearly all schools want the ACT/ SAT directly from the testing provider rather than from WKHS.
When should I take the test?
Students usually take it in the spring of their junior year, early in their senior year or both.
When is the next test offered?
The next Ohio testing date for the SAT is October 9th. The registration deadline is September 10th. The next Ohio testing date for the ACT is September 11th, but the registration deadline has already passed. The next ACT for which you can still register is October 23rd and the registration deadline is September 17th.
Do I need to take the writing test?
Yes. For the SAT it is now a standard portion of the test. With the ACT you will need to pick if you will be taking the test with or without the writing portion. At least one of the test score reports to your college should include the writing test.
How do I register, figure out costs, and find more information?
Visit the
SAT and
ACT websites. (I also have a link to the websites on the right side of the page.)
And, last but certainly not least, do I *HAVE* to take the test again when I did OK the first time I took it?
Unfortunately this isn’t an easy answer. No, you don’t *have* to do anything. If you are confident in your score then relax and be done with the testing. If you are confident in your score, but know that you could do better… well, then I’d say relax (there is no testing pressure because you are confident in your score) and take the test again. Some of you are sitting there wishing you hadn’t read that last line… but the reality is that if you take the test and improve your score it can only help you. You can benefit in the eyes of the college if you ended up on the bubble for their admissions decision and you can benefit financially if you are applying for any scholarships that consider your test scores. If you are not confident in your scores or if you know that you can do better – then the answer is simply, yes, take it again and see if you can improve your score.
PrepHQ is a wonderful resource that, under normal circumstances, I strongly encourage all of you to use. Unfortunately, this weekend PrepHQ underwent an "upgrade" that has resulted in it not being accessible. To say that this is frustrating does not even begin to describe how we have been feeling as counselors and I can't even imagine how challenging this is making things for you. Please be patient and hopefully it will be up and running soon. I am very hopeful that the changes they have made to the website will be useful, helpful, and will still include all of the old favorite components. PrepHQ sent us an e-mail stating that they are working around the clock to try to fix the latest problems. Once the website is updated, you will need to know your old username and password as well as our school id (which is worthingtonkilb) to create a new username and password. Parents will now be able to create their own username and password so that students and parents no longer have to share the same username and password. I will post when the website is back up and working... hopefully it will be very soon. In the meantime, know that we are just as unhappy and stressed about it not working as you.
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