College Admissions Tests

We need to talk more about college admissions tests.

It isn't always the most exciting topic, but college admissions tests are a part of every high school student's life.  So, what am I talking about when I say college admissions tests?  The ACT and the SAT.  Each of these college admissions tests are standardized tests that college admissions offices use to evaluate applicants.  The tests are offered by two separate companies.  They have very different scoring, but the concept behind them is the same.  You will take a big standardized test and you will get a score that colleges can use to compare your academic skills against other applicants.  You can repeat the tests as many times as you want (although the costs for non-stop testing will certainly add up).  One test is not better than the other and many students will even take both tests (or at least the practice for both tests) to see which one they prefer.

The ACT Test
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.

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 Practice Tests
A couple of nights ago I blogged about registering for the PSAT because I was disappointed in the number of students who have signed up to take the test - especially because it is being offered free of charge.  I need to stress this again.  If you are a WKHS sophomore or junior - you should be taking the PSAT!  Some of you completed the inital registration, but have not confirmed through your wscloud email account.  Please check your wscloud email and if you have an email from Ms. Dominach about the PSAT, she needs a response back confirming that you are taking the test!  Tomorrow is supposed to be the deadline to register for the PSAT, but it looks like we are going to give you a few extra days because of the large number of students who haven't finished their confirmations.  So, if you haven't signed up you can either stop into the Counseling Center to register with Ms. Dominach OR you can go to the link and register today!

We will have a practice test for the ACT in November, but there will be a small charge for students to take that test.

There are lots of reasons why I like students to take the practice tests.  
  1, This is one of the only chances you practice lengthy standardized admissions tests where you have to intently focus and move quickly through the material.  Building that stamina with the practice tests can only help you.  
  2, If you take the practice tests for the ACT and for the SAT then you will have an idea of which test you tend to score better on and then can focus primarily on preparing for that test which saves you money in the long run.  
  3, As I mentioned earlier in the week, the PSAT can also qualify juniors for scholarships and free money is a great thing!

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.

If you already completed the ACT or SAT and can't remember if you sent your scores to all of the colleges where you plan on applying, please stop reading and go log in to the ACT and SAT websites to review the locations where you selected to send your scores to make sure that every college you are considering has received a copy of your scores.  And, if you haven't, then while you are on the ACT and SAT websites, you can pay to have your scores sent to all of your additional colleges.

When should I take the test?
Students usually take start taking the actual ACT and/or SAT during their junior year.  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 then use the summer and 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 5th. The registration deadline is TODAY.  There is another SAT scheduled for November 2nd.  The registration deadline for that is October 3rd.

The next testing date that still has registration open for the ACT is October 26th. The registration deadline is September 20th.

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.