College Admissions Tests

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. 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 (SAT) 
The SAT consists of reading, writing and language and math sections with an optional essay section.  The test will last 3 hours and an additional 50 minutes if you elect to complete the essay.  Scores go as high as 800 per section for a total of 1600 for the test.

SAT Subject Tests
The SAT Subject Tests 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 (and if so, in what areas) before you sign up to take them!  You can take three of these tests during one testing date.

The ACT Tests
The ACT tests assess specific academic abilities in English, math, reading, and science reasoning, and writing. 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 about 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.  With admissions deadlines continuing to get earlier and earlier each year, I strongly suggest that juniors plan to take the tests in the winter/ spring of their junior year and just save the early fall test dates as back ups in case you need another chance to improve on your score.

When is the next test offered?
The next testing date for the SAT is October 1st. The LATE registration deadline is September 20th.  There is another SAT scheduled for November 5th.  The registration deadline for that is October 7th.

The next testing date for the ACT is October 22nd. The registration deadline is tomorrow, September 16th.

Do I need to take the writing test?
Check to see what your intended colleges require.  Recently more and more have been deciding that they don't need 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.)

What is the high school code that the testing sites request?
The CEEB/ ACT Code number for Worthington Kilbourne High School is 365507.

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.

Good luck to the WKHS Football team tomorrow against TWHS!  And, don't forget to come out and support the Girls Water Polo team in the Ohio Cup this weekend!