As you undoubtedly know, the college admissions process has many different components that students must juggle while simultaneously challenging themselves with rigorous courses and demanding sports and extracurricular schedules. When you factor in college visits, PSATs, SATs, ACTs, application essays, requesting letters of applications, interviews, FAFSA, and, of course, the application form itself, the whole process can quickly become overwhelming if a student waits too long to get started. It’s essential, therefore, to get the standardized tests scheduled early enough to allow your child enough time to complete the rest of the process.
So here’s how you pin down a standardized testing plan for your child.
1. Pick the right test
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Before trying to pin down a testing schedule for your child, first make sure you aren’t inadvertently doubling what your child has to do. All colleges accept both the SAT and the ACT, and it is no longer true that some prefer one test to the other. On the other hand, students often have strong preferences for one test, with 70% of students scoring significantly better on one than the other. There is therefore no reason to take both, and students should prioritize whichever test paints them in the best light.
Pacific Learning Academy currently offers a Combination SAT/ACT Diagnostic Test. In just one test, families can learn which test is best for their child. Click here for more information.
2. Think about math readiness
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The SAT tests up to Algebra 2, whereas the ACT includes a little bit of Trigonometry. When planning test dates, make sure that your child has completed at least most of Algebra 2. It is ok to test during the spring of Algebra 2, but not advisable during first semester.
For the ACT, since there are only 4 Trig questions on the whole math test, it is not necessary to wait until the student has completed Trig or Pre-Calc. Being proficient with “sohcahtoa” will be sufficient on most of the ACT Trig questions.
3. Plan for multiple testing dates, just in case
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Although there is no reason to take both the SAT and the ACT, there are plenty of reasons to take one of the tests twice. Colleges do not look down on a student who tests more than once, and generally, they look at the higher score. Many colleges also “super-score,” meaning that they take the highest subscores from tests taken on different dates. For example, if your Reading score is highest on one test but your Math score is highest on another, they would combine those two highest scores as your “final result.”
When choosing test dates, make sure there is enough time in between for your child to make meaningful progress if the second test ends up being necessary. If your child is taking the May SAT, for example, scores will come back less than 2 weeks before the June test—hardly enough time to make dramatic changes.
4. Plan around your child’s individual schedule
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Most students test once during May or June of junior year, then once again the fall of their senior year, but a different schedule may work better for your child. Consider the following:
- Sports take up a significant amount of after-school time, so if your student needs to prep, try to test in the off-season.
- May is AP season, so the March SAT or April ACT may be a better bet for a student with a full AP load.
- Students shooting for colleges that require SAT Subject Tests should set aside an extra SAT date for those tests. (June is a great option, since course material will be fresh, particularly for those AP classes.)
- If your child will be preparing for the tests over the summer (no tests are actually offered during the summer months), choose a test in the fall when the material is still fresh.
- Students who score very well on the PSAT should take the SAT soon thereafter, before they’ve had the chance to get rusty. (Note: PSAT scores often don’t become available until January, so you’ll probably be making the judgment call based on practice PSAT results.)
5. Don’t wait too long
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It’s always sad to see seniors narrowing down their list of colleges based on how late the application deadlines are. Make sure your student tests at LEAST once with sufficient time to get the scores to colleges. October is the last test to meet Early Decision deadlines. Generally, December is the absolute last test date for seniors, although some colleges will take the January SAT.
Of course, if you plan ahead using steps 1-4, step 5 becomes pretty unnecessary. Remember that the goal is to make the process less daunting. If your child is taking the right test and planning far enough in advance, your child should be able to get the SAT or ACT out of the way so that most of the fall of senior year can be devoted to college essays and the rest of the application process.
(Want help with the rest of the process? Pacific Learning Academy also offers college consulting. Whether it be narrowing down college options, planning for college visits, or simply orchestrating all of the components of the process, Pacific Learning Academy is here to help!)
Pacific Learning Academy is a one-on-one high school offering single courses and dual enrollment, as well as full-time high school. We also offer tutoring in all subjects from 6th to 12th grade, including SAT/ACT diagnostic testing and prep, either in homes or local libraries across the Eastside (Issaquah, Sammamish, etc…). See more at www.PacificLearningAcademy.com.