COLLEGE ENTRANCE EXAMS

HOW TO REGISTER FOR SAT

Most college bound students take the SAT Reasoning Test (if required) when applying to 4-year colleges. Your school counselor can help to determine which tests are appropriate for you. When registering, students will be prompted to upload a photo.  Registration and more specific information can be found on-line on www.collegeboard.com.  

Arlington High School’s College Board Code: CEEB # 220033

Arlington High School’s Test Center Number: #22-128 

DATES AND FEES

Arlington High School offers the October, March, and May weekend administrations.  Other local schools offer August, November, December, and June.  Please check www.collegeboard.com for this information.  When testing, students must bring the registration ticket, ID, pencils, and calculator.  

***All SAT's at AHS are digital exams.  Please see Collegeboard's policy regarding devices.***

Here are the device requirements for the new Digital SAT exam at AHS. Info for AHS students ONLY and all devices must have this Bluebook app installed before test day.

THE SAT TEST

The SAT Test includes reading, writing/language, and math.  The optional essay is NO LONGER OFFERED.

The SAT Subject Tests and SAT with Essay are NO LONGER OFFERED.

ACT

The American College Testing Service administers the ACT, an alternative to the SAT. All colleges nationwide do accept either the ACT or the SAT. Some colleges accept the ACT in lieu of both the SAT Reasoning Test and SAT Subject tests. Students should check the requirements of the colleges to which they will apply in order to determine if the colleges have a preference for either test.

The ACT is composed English, mathematics, reading and natural science, with the option of writing.  Arlington High School does not offer the ACT exam but many local schools do.  Students can register on www.act.org.

SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES

Students, who require accommodations (ex: extended time), should speak with their school counselor and/or their liaison to receive the necessary information for test registration accommodations. This request must be made far ahead of time, as the process involves a formal application, as well as enough time to obtain College Board and/or ACT approval for accommodations. This application requires both student and parent signatures. Students who are on an IEP or a 504 Plan (along with their parents) should talk to their counselor about this process. 

If applicable, students may be eligible to receive fee waivers for two SAT exams.  There is a fee reduction for ACT exams.  Students should speak with their school counselor.

TEST OF ENGLISH AS A FOREIGN LANGUAGE (TOEFL)

The TOEFL is a college entrance test for students whose first language is not English. It is not offered through the College Board and has a different registration process. This exam is accepted by all colleges and is used along with the ACT and SAT Reasoning Test to evaluate a student’s ability to recognize language that is appropriate standard written English. Students can register on the Internet at www.toefl.org.

ADVANCED PLACEMENT (AP) TESTS

Advanced Placement tests allow students to demonstrate college-level proficiency in demanding high school work. The tests are given in the month of May, during the school day. Students will be informed of the cost and the registration procedures.

College policies vary in how AP scores are used. In some cases, high scores on AP exams may permit students to be exempt from certain courses, may provide credit for some coursework, or provide access into honors or other specialized programs. Students should contact their selected colleges to determine their AP policy.

HOW DO STUDENTS SEND SCORES TO COLLEGES?

It is the responsibility of the students to forward official copies of their SAT scores from the College Board to their prospective colleges. At the time of registration for the SAT, students are given the opportunity to designate four colleges as recipients of their College Board test scores and it's free of charge.  If scores are not sent with registrations, there is an additional fee per college to send a score report.  Students may request test scores to be sent anytime before the college deadline.   Score Choice gives students the option to choose which sets of scores (by test date for the SAT and by individual subject on the Subject Tests) to send to their colleges.  Super Score is when the colleges consider the student's highest scores from different test dates.  Not all colleges honor Score Choice but most consider Super Score.  More and more colleges are going Test Optional.  If this is the case, it is up to the student whether or not to send their scores.

SAT/ACT PREPARATION

It is important that students prepare well for standardized tests. The following options are provided to help students feel comfortable and to aid students in their preparation for the exam:

· Take PSAT’s at the beginning of junior year. Scores, test booklets, answers, and explanations of the questions are delivered to students in the winter after the exam.

· Purchase SAT Prep books. 

· Khan Academy provides free SAT prep. The College Board website (www.collegeboard.com) provides suggestions on test-taking tips, strategies and study skills. In addition, students can request that an official ‘question of the day’ be sent to their e-mail address.

· Prep courses are offered in group and individual sessions. Arlington Community Education offers a variety of in-house options for students. 

 · Private tutors allow the instructor and student to work on specific areas of need.

**Arlington High School Counseling Department does not endorse a specific prep course. We recommend that each student and family research the options that meet their academic and financial needs.**

Here are a few helpful websites for test preparation.  Click here for a list of prep options that the AHS school counseling department compiled.