Recommended Timeline
Freshman Year:
- Get excellent grades! Focus on doing your best in school.
Sophomore Year:
- Take the PSAT in October.
Junior Year:
- Take the PSAT in October. Top scores qualify for National Merit Awards.
- Many juniors take the SAT for the first time in December or March, with the option to retake it in May, June, August, and/or the fall of their senior year.
- Students who want to start with the ACT usually take it in December or February, with the option to retake it in April, June, July, and/or the fall of their senior year.
- AP Exams in May.
Senior Year:
- Take SAT in August, October, November, and/or December, if needed.
- Take ACT in July, September, October, and/or December, if needed.
- AP Exams in May.
The PSAT
2 hours 14 minutes
Reading and Writing, Math
Do colleges see PSAT scores?
No.
Who takes it and when?
Juniors take the PSAT in October. Sophomores take the PSAT in October or the PSAT 10 in the spring. Some schools do not administer the PSAT to sophomores.
Why take it?
Students gain valuable testing experience and are exposed to SAT-like questions and test conditions. Juniors with top scores can qualify for National Merit Awards.
How is it scored?
The PSAT has two sections: Reading and Writing and Math. Each section is scored on a scale of 160 – 760 for a combined score scale of 320 – 1520.
The SAT
2 hours 14 minutes
Reading and Writing, Math
Who takes it and when?
Most students take the SAT during junior year, the summer before senior year, or the fall of senior year. Some recruitable athletes take the SAT as sophomores.
How is it scored?
The SAT gives students two scores: Reading and Writing (scored 200 to 800) and Math (scored 200 to 800). Most colleges superscore the SAT by taking the best score for each section across multiple test dates.
How to register:
Register online at www.collegeboard.org:
1. Set up an account with the College Board. You will use this throughout your high school career.
2. Click “register now” and fill in the necessary information.
3. Select the test date and test location.
4. Check out using a credit card or check/money order to pay the test fee AND order the Question & Answer Service (if available) or the Student Answer Service.
What is score choice?
The College Board allows you to choose which SAT scores you send to colleges and gives you the option to not send scores from a specific date. You can pick the test dates you want colleges to see, and the scores will be sent. However, some schools will not let you use Score Choice and require that all SAT test scores be sent for their consideration.
The ACT
2 hours 55 minutes (plus 40 minutes for the optional essay)
English, Math, Reading, Science, Writing (optional)
Who takes it and when?
Most students take the ACT during junior year, the summer before senior year, or the fall of senior year. Some recruitable athletes take the ACT as sophomores.
How is it scored?
The ACT gives students four scores, all scored from 1 to 36: one for each section. Students also receive a composite, which is the average of the four scores (rounded to the nearest whole number). Students receive a separate score on the optional ACT essay (2-12). Most colleges count the best composite. A few colleges superscore the ACT.
How to register:
Register online at www.act.org:
1. Make an ACT Student account. The student will use this throughout his/her high school career.
2. Click on “register to test” and fill in the necessary information.
3. Select “ACT with writing” and order the Test Information Release service (if available).
4. Select your test date and test location.
5. Check out using a credit card or check/money order.
What is Test Information Release (TIR)?
The TIR provides you with a full copy of your test and your answers. It is available for the April, June, and December tests.
Experimental Section:
There is an experimental section for all students taking the ACT with standard time (with or without the essay). This fifth test will not impact the student’s score and will be 20 minutes long.
Do students have to submit the number of times they take the test?
No. The ACT does not require students to submit all scores. It is important for students to check individual college websites regarding score choice.
