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All CMS students will take the following tests (no registration needed):
ACT: Given to all Juniors in Feb/March. This is a college admissible test.
PSAT: Given to 10th and 11th graders in October. 11th grade PSAT scores are considered for National Merit scholarships.
PLAN (Pre-ACT): Given to 10th grade students
Outside of the testing listed above, it is the responsibility of the student to register for additional test dates. I recommend taking each test (ACT & SAT) at least one time, and then re-taking the one you did the best on one more time. Use the links below to see testing dates, register for tests, and send scores to colleges or universities.
PLease visit Dr. Pendergrass's CPEC Testing website here:
PLease visit Dr. Pendergrass's CPEC Testing website here:
test prep
test prep
Both SAT and ACT have free, interactive, full length test prep on their websites. Your PSAT and PLAN results will give you targeted, specific feedback on what you can work on to improve your scores.
Some other free test prep resources are below:
Tutor.com - free when you log in through ONE Access!
Click on this link to ONE Accesshttps://www.cmlibrary.org/oneaccess
Click the High School button.
Scroll down to Tutor.com
Enter username and password
Student Username: CMS Student ID
Password: Birthday (MMDD)
how do i know if i need to send scores?
how do i know if i need to send scores?
Beginning with students entering college in Fall 2026 for all UNC System Schools:
Students with a weighted High School GPA greater than or equal to 2.50 and less than 2.80 are required to submit a standardized test score of a 17 or higher on the ACT or a 930 or higher on the SAT. Students with above a 2.8 can choose to send scores but are not required to.
Some other colleges and universities are test optional. You can choose not to send scores if you don't think they are representative of your ability, but strong scores can set an application apart. Colleges do not see scores unless you send them. Read more below about test-optional admissions:
https://www.northcarolina.edu/standard-test-requirement-waiver/ (UNC System goes test optional through at least Fall 2024)
https://www.cfnc.org/education-professionals/covid-19-resources-information/nc-test-optional-schools/ (Test Optional Colleges in NC - CFNC)
https://fairtest.org/test-optional-list/ Test Free/Test Optional List
https://www.bestcolleges.com/blog/send-scores-test-optional-colleges/
Testing Accommodations for SAT & ACT
Testing Accommodations for SAT & ACT
Official accommodations for the PSAT, SAT, AP Exams, and the ACT are granted ONLY through approval by the testing companies (i.e. the College Board or ACT). Please understand that a student having an IEP or a 504 plan DOES NOT automatically qualify him/her for accommodations. The judgment is made by the individual testing companies.
College Board
College Board
(PSAT, SAT, and Advanced Placement Exams)
(PSAT, SAT, and Advanced Placement Exams)
For a student to obtain accommodations on any College Board assessments, the parent and/or student must go online to the College Board website, download and complete the “Consent Form for Request for Accommodations” and submit the form to Ms. Barrow at CPEC.
Once Ms. Barrow has received the consent form, she will complete the request for accommodations through the College Board for your child and notify you of the decision once it has been received.
Accommodations approved by the College Board will be honored for all College Board assessments for the duration of your child’s high school career as long as the IEP or 504 Plan remains in place with the given accommodations.
Be aware that it can take up to 8 weeks to receive a decision. Plan accordingly. Be sure to check the accommodation application deadline on the College Board website for each specific test.
Suggested Deadlines:
PSAT - August-Sept 2025
AP Exams - January 2026
ACT
ACT
For students planning to take the ACT, a parent/guardian or student must go to the ACT website to download and print the "Consent to Release Information to ACT" form.
Sign the form, write the ACT date that the student will register/has registered for on the form, and return it to Ms. Barrow at CPEC. Ms. Barrow will then complete the ACT Accommodations Request and notify you when a decision is made.
Be aware that it can take up to 7 weeks to receive a decision. Plan accordingly.
Students who receive approval for accommodations on the ACT may use their approval to streamline a request for the same accommodations for a future ACT test administration. Ms. Barrow must be contacted in order to update the student's record in the Test Accessibility and Accommodations (TAA) system so the student will be associated with the new test and test administration. Anytime you take another ACT test date, you need to let Ms. Barrow know.
Any student whose accommodations are NOT approved by for the statewide ACT test date in Spring 2024 will have two options:
1. The student can choose to take the ACT with no accommodations, and will receive a score that CAN be reported to colleges.
2. The student can take the ACT with their State-Allowed accommodations (accommodations that are in the student’s IEP or 504 Plan that were not approved by ACT), and will receive scores that are NOT able to be reported to colleges.
Suggested Deadlines:
State test date: ACT - January 2026
Other ACT dates: at least seven weeks out
Fee waivers
Fee waivers
Some students might be eligible for fee waivers to cover the cost of testing. Please see below for more information.
SAT: Students CAN apply for a fee waiver themselves, through their student CollegeBoard account (more information here)
SAT: Students CAN apply for a fee waiver themselves, through their student CollegeBoard account (more information here)
Students can use fee waivers for up to two SAT test dates
determine that you meet the eligibility requirements outlined by CollegeBoard
Complete the SAT Fee Waiver Form (*you will need to log in to your College Board account to complete the form*)
If you cannot request a waiver yourself, Mrs. DeAntonio can give you a code.
Students can use fee waivers for up to four ACT test dates.
Determine that you meet the eligibility requirements outlined by ACT
See Mrs. DeAntonio to inquire about getting a Fee Waiver form. Proof of eligibility may be required.
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