What tests do I need to take to get into college?
Visit the website for the Universities/Colleges that you are applying to in order to make sure you meet each school's testing deadlines.
Community Colleges do not require entrance exams. However, you will be required to take math and English placement tests when you apply to determine your math and English levels for course enrollment.
California State Universities (CSUs) and University of California schools (UCs) are all test BLIND. They will not consider your SAT or ACT scores when reviewing your application. If you submit AP scores, they will consider those. If you have an ACT or SAT score, you can submit it once you have been accepted. They will use the score for math or English placement.
Private Colleges and Universities: Georgetown, MIT, the public schools in Florida, Georgia and Tennessee, and the military academies are requiring SAT or ACT test scores. Most schools are still test optional for the SAT OR ACT. See the individual website for each school's admission requirements. Although most colleges do not require the writing portion, it is best to look at what the schools you are applying to require.
If you are enrolled in an Advanced Placement (AP) course, it is strongly recommended that you take the AP test for that course in the spring. Advanced Placement tests are given here at BHS and you will need to sign up during the registration period.
PSAT Information
The PSAT is the practice test for the SAT (Scholastic Achievement Test). It is offered one time a year in the fall. Juniors may sign up during the registration window. Students will receive their test booklets back as well as a score report with information about ways to improve scores.
ACT Information
See the links below for information about the ACT test.
SAT Information
See the links below for information about the SAT tests.
BHS offers the SAT on campus in the Fall every school year. Updated testing information is shared out on Google Classroom and Parent Square ahead of time.
Send SAT and/or SAT Subject Test Scores - to a College/University or to a scholarship provider
There are two major college entrance exams, the SAT and the ACT. Although the criteria differ somewhat, almost all colleges and universities that require applicants to take a test accept either score. Some schools, however, may require or prefer one or the other, so contact the school you want to attend to find out which you should take.
Talk to your admissions officer at a college or university before deciding which test to take and whether to take them both. There really isn't any way to know whether you will do better on one or the other until you take them.
Take a full-practice ACT and a full-practice SAT to see which one you like better. Colleges accept both, so there is no difference as to which one you choose to take. Once you decide which test to take, sign up for an official test in the spring of your junior year.
Yes, both the ACT and the SAT allow students to take the test several times. And sometimes scores do improve enough to make the difference for a particular student. But there is no guarantee that a student's scores will improve. And if you want to improve your scores, you should see about doing some things to prepare first.
One of the best ways to prepare for an entrance exam is the same thing you should do to prepare for college - take the right classes in high school. Generally, research shows that students who take the right courses in high school and do the best work in those classes are the ones who score best on the entrance exams.
Many different kinds of study aids (classes that people pay for, high school courses that people take as electives, software programs, books, and web sites) are promoted as ways to improve entrance exam scores. Whether any or all of these can help improve your chances of making a good score is something you and your family should consider for your particular circumstances.
A copy of your score report will be sent to you and the schools you list on your registration form. That might include your high school, if you list its code number, and several colleges or universities.
Part of the fee for students taking the test is the cost of sending your score report to colleges, universities, and/or scholarship programs that you designate. The colleges you list on your registration form will automatically be sent your scores. Your scores will be shared only with those you want them to be shared with.
You can choose to have your scores sent only to you. However, if you do not take advantage of the score reporting service when you register, there will be an extra fee charged to send your scores to colleges and universities if you request it later.
Both the ACT and the SAT allow test takers to send their scores to several different organizations, including scholarship programs, colleges, and universities. Even if you aren't certain which school you want to attend, you can send your scores to those that you think you are most likely to decide to attend. And, if you decide on one that isn't even on your list of possibilities, you can pay to have another report sent there later.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
Assist.org (online student-transfer information system, for students planning on attending a community college and transferring to a 4 year college/university)
Association of Independent California Colleges and Universities
California State University (CSU) application calstate.edu/apply - apply to any of the 23 campuses
Coalition Application - search and apply to numerous institutions.
Common Application - application to more than 900 colleges and universities.
University of California (UC) - apply to any of the 9 campuses
College Application fee waivers - Refer to individual college campuses regarding college application costs and opportunities for fee waivers.
College Data - a member of the National Association for College Admission Counseling, this site contains tools to explore and search, to determine competitiveness for admission along with costs, the Expected Family Contribution and financial aid, and graduation data.