While hundreds of colleges don’t require any admissions tests, many colleges and universities require the SAT or ACT with Writing, and some require or recommend Subject Tests. A growing number of colleges don’t require any admissions tests or are “test optional.”

1. Once you have your college list, carefully check to see what each college’s test requirements are: None, SAT or ACT with Writing, and/or one or more Subject Tests.

   • Many schools, particularly the large public universities, still use the SAT or ACT as a critical first screening device.
2. Some students find that by skill or style, they are better-suited for either the SAT or ACT. Online, with an individual test tutor or with a tutoring company, take free practice SAT and ACT tests to see which is the better test for you.

3. Students who prepare for tests score higher on them than those who don’t prepare, sometimes as much as 50 to 200 points.
4. Make sure to send your test scores (SAT and Subject Test scores from the College Board and ACT scores from the ACT group) to every school to which you apply.
5. While most colleges and universities don’t ask for a transcript of your AP test scores until after you have been accepted, a new practice among a few selective schools asks applicants to have an official transcript of their AP Test scores sent to them by College Board. Check with individual colleges to see what their respective AP test score policy is.

	Freshman Year There isn’t much to do re admissions testing as a freshman, but this is a good time to become acquainted with the different tests and when to prepare for and take them. Should you happen to take an Advanced Placement (AP) course as a freshman don’t worry if you don’t; very few 9th graders do), be sure to take the respective AP Test. If there is a relevant Subject Test for the AP course, take it as well.
	Sophomore Year Sophomores anxious to get started with their admissions testing can sign-up for both the PSAT (the pre-SAT) and/or PLAN (the pre-ACT). If you take one or more AP classes, then at the end of the year take the respective AP Tests and any relevant Subject Tests.
	Junior Year Junior year is when you to decide which admissions test you will take: SAT or ACT. Take a practice test for both the SAT and ACT to see which one better suits you. Once you know which is the best choice, and get prepared for the test. Plan on having the SAT and/or ACT, plus any Subjects Tests completed before the end of your junior year. Don’t forget to take any AP Tests and relevant Subject Tests for AP classes in which you are enrolled.
	Senior Year If you haven’t completed your admissions testing before, sign-up for: The September (ACT only) October (SAT, Subject Tests and ACT) November (SAT and Subject Tests) December tests (SAT, Subject Tests and ACT) Students who plan to apply Early Action I, Restricted Early Action, or Early Decision I must complete all of their testing in October.
	Parents Try to understand the pressure your child feels about the whole admissions testing experience. For many colleges and universities, student test scores are still a big deal. Become educated about the tests and encourage your child to prepare for them. If family finances are available, find and pay for your student’s test preparation. It can make a real difference in his or her scores. One useful thing you can do is offer to drive your student to the testing center on the day of the test so that he/she doesn’t have to deal with the stress of driving to and finding the test location, and finding/paying for a parking place.

If you want more information about any of the above, or

THE TESTS

• What the PSAT and PLAN give you
• Exactly what the SAT and ACT are all about
• A list of the Subject Tests, as well as how to decide which ones to take
• A list of the AP courses and exams and what role they have in college admissions
• What the different AP Scholar Awards are, how students qualify and how colleges look on these awards

COMPARING THE ACT AND SAT

• A complete comparison of the SAT and ACT tests, including content, scoring, test question difficulty, penalties for wrong answers, etc.
• A list of equivalent SAT and ACT scores

TEST PREPARATION

• The pros and cons of six different ways of preparing for tests
• What parents can do to be helpful to their kids re tests and test preparation

TEST SCORES

• How to gain access to the median test scores for all colleges and what those test scores mean for your college admissions

CONTACT INFORMATION
Contact information for College Board and ACT

• How to sign up for PSAT, SAT and Subject and AP tests, including phone numbers and online registration information, as well as exactly what you need to register.
• How to get your scores for the PSAT, SAT, Subject Test, PLAN or ACT after you have taken the tests, including phone numbers to call or how to make online requests
• How to send your scores for SAT, Subject Test and ACTs to colleges and scholarship sources, including phone numbers to call and how to make online requests
• Contact information for students with Disabilities for College Board and ACT

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