Accommodations
For both the SAT and ACT, typical test day accommodations include extended time, computer use for essays, extra and extended breaks, and reading and seeing accommodations. Read more about testing accommodations here.
Essay
The ACT offers an optional essay that asks the test taker to analyze an issue, by coming up with a viewpoint and supporting it. No colleges in the U.S. require the Writing Section.
Multi-day Testing
Multi-day testing is offered for both the SAT and ACT. If students are approved to take the SAT with double time or more, they take the test over the course of two days in their school. Multiple-day testing for the ACT occurs over the course of 2 to 4 days within a two week period following the National ACT Test Date, depending on a student’s Individualized Education Plan (IEP). The ACT Multiple-Day test is administered during the school day, rather than on a Saturday test date. For students taking the multi-day ACT the TIR is only available for one test administration per year.
Question-and-Answer Service (QAS)
During the registration process for paper-based tests through December 2nd, 2023, The College Board gave students the option to order the Question-and-Answer Service (QAS). Students had until May 31, 2024 to order the QAS from prior paper and pencil SATs. The QAS is not available for the digital adaptive SAT.
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 at no extra cost. However, some schools do not participate in the Score Choice option and require that all SAT test scores be sent for their consideration. Watch the official College Board video below.
Student Answer Service (SAS)
During the registration process for paper-based tests through December 2nd, 2023, The College Board gave students the option to order the Student Answer Service (SAS). Students had until May 31, 2024 to order the SAS from prior paper and pencil SATs. The SAS is not available for the digital adaptive SAT.
Superscore
A number of colleges superscore the SAT and ACT, meaning the colleges look at your best score from each section of the test (drawing from multiple test dates) and combine it to give you the highest score personally possible. The Common App will ask you to list your best scores for each section and the test dates on which you received them. Check with the schools you are thinking of applying to in order to see if they superscore.
Test Information Release (TIR)
Test Information Release for the ACT allows for you to purchase a copy of your answers, the correct answers, the test questions, and a table to convert your raw score to the scaled score. If you wrote the Essay, you will also receive the essay prompt, a scoring rubric, and your scores given to the essay by the two ACT readers. The TIR is only available for three test dates (December, February, and July) and costs $32.00 if ordered before the test and $40 if ordered after. The TIR can be ordered up to six months after the ACT test date.
