College Testing

Q&A on College Testing (updated February 2025)

Posted on November 29, 2022 by Suey Nordberg

Students and parents often have questions about college testing – when and how often to take the SAT or ACT, how these tests weigh in admissions decisions, how much time to commit to preparing, and how much money to spend.  Read below for answers to these and other questions!

Q – How often should I take the SAT?
A – It depends on your goals.  Do you plan to try for a highly selective college (e.g., UVA)?  If so, then taking the test more than once (if needed) to achieve a high score is something you’ll most likely plan to do.  Another reason to take the test more than once is to raise your score to qualify for more scholarship money (merit aid).

Q – Do I have to take the SAT at all?
A – CCA students on the advanced diploma plan are required to take the SAT at least once before graduating. The test is optional for students on a standard track, but may still be beneficial.

Q – If I’m only planning to take the test one time, when is the best time to take it?
A – Spring of your junior year is the target time for most students, and especially for those only planning to take the test once. This test window best aligns with student learning objectives as represented on the SAT.

Q – If I plan to take the SAT multiple times, when is the best time to begin?
A – At CCA, students prepare for the SAT beginning in 9th grade when they take the first in the SAT Suite of Assessments, the PSAT 8/9.  Then, moving on to the PSAT/NMSQT test in 10th and 11th grades, students gain experience from this annual testing.  Students who test as sophomores (May or June sophomore year) will gain new insights into their scoring potential, allowing them time to study and re-test and/or prep for the National Merit Qualifying test in the Fall of their junior year. Repeat testing often results in increased scores.

Q – What are the best resources for preparing for the SAT?
A – The digital SAT, launched in Spring 2024, has robust practice resources for students including full length tests. Khan Academy also has test prep resources, although students can no longer directly link their scores from the College Board to Khan Academy.

Q – How else can I study?
A – Don’t forget to utilize your PSAT results.  You can view your trends (did you miss several questions in a row, or did you miss a bunch of easy questions?).  You can click on each question to see the exact question, what you answered and what the correct answer is.  You can ask for help from your teachers if you don’t understand why you’re missing a certain kind of question.  The PSAT is a goldmine resource and definitely worth reviewing. Other apps, like Preptly, can help some students as well.

Q – How do students get really high scores?
A – Some students have a natural aptitude for standardized tests, but they’re the exception rather than the rule.  The tests are designed to produce average scores, otherwise, high achievers would never stand out.  High scores are achieved by students who are pursuing their regular studies well.  The tests are aligned to what most students are learning in their everyday classes.  High scores are achieved by students who read a lot.  And lastly, high scores are achieved by students who practice the types of questions they miss until they can produce correct answers over and over

Q – Do colleges frown on students taking the test too many times?
A – No, colleges do not actually even KNOW how many times you took the test unless you designate those test scores to be sent to them.  Colleges also understand that students want to achieve the best possible score for admission to elite colleges, and they are not penalized for taking the test again.   They want students to keep test scores in perspective, though.  It’s just one factor in the admissions process.

Q – What is superscoring, and do all colleges superscore?
A – Most colleges consider the best score from each section of the SAT as a combined score, or superscore, even if the student’s best scores were from tests taken on different dates.  Some elite colleges still look for the best score on a given test day, but almost all accept superscores.

Q – What about the ACT?  How do I know which test to take?
A – At CCA, we prepare students from grades 9-12 through the College Board Suite of Assessments, so the SAT makes sense.  However, students have the option to try the ACT if they are not happy with their SAT scores, especially if they’ve taken the SAT more than once and are not making progress.  The ACT questions are considered more straightforward, or less analytical, than the SAT questions, and some students have better success with this testing method. 

Q – How else is the ACT different from the SAT?
A – The ACT has 4 sections plus an essay – English, Reading, Math, Science, while the SAT has ERW (English/Reading/Writing) and Math.  The ACT adds trig to the math section.  Since the ACT has higher math and adds a science section,  it requires different preparation than the SAT.

Q – Do both the SAT and ACT tests superscore?
A – Both the SAT and ACT allow superscoring. The ACT also allows students to re-test single sections to raise their scores.

Q – How do I know if the college I want to go to accepts the ACT?
A – All colleges accept both SAT and ACT scores.

Q – Do more students take one or the other, SAT or ACT?
A – The tests are taken equally at 50% each; some states favor one or the other, and many students do end up trying both tests.

Q – How high a score do I need to get?
A – Ah, now that’s the question students care about the most.  And it depends.  Students can look at a college’s profile and see a college’s posted middle 50% scale.  For UVA, that is 660-730 for ERW and 670-770 for Math (out of 800 per section).  These are very high scores.  For Liberty University, the average 50% is 530-640 ERW and 510-600 for Math. 

Q – How can I decide whether to submit my test scores as part of my college application? What does test optional really mean?
A – If your SAT scores strengthen your application and accurately reflect your abilities, you may choose to include them. However, colleges today emphasize a holistic review process, considering the whole person rather than a single test score from one day. Admissions counselors place greater importance on a student’s growth over their four years of high school, along with the insights shared in their personal statement. If your SAT score does not represent you well or falls outside the middle 50% range of your target college, you can opt to apply without it.

Q – What percentage of students apply with SAT or ACT scores, though? Doesn’t it look bad if I don’t include them?
A – Colleges are looking for a reason to admit you, not for a reason to deny you admission. Check out this link with data on the percentage of students who submitted scores to top colleges. You may be surprised to see how many students did NOT submit scores!

Q – What about scholarships? Do I need a really high score?
A – Many colleges and universities have standard Merit Scholarship Award levels based on a combination of your GPA and test scores.  If you know the school you want to attend, and the test scores needed for specific scholarships are not listed, your admissions counselor will be able to tell you.  This will help you in formulating a test score goal to work for.

Check out these links for a quick guide to average SAT scores at Virginia colleges and Christian colleges throughout the nation:

Christian College reference guide
East Coast College reference guide

Q – Do I need to take the essay portion of the test?
A – Since the Spring of 2022, the essay portion is no longer offered on the SAT. There is a writing portion available on the ACT test.

Q – How much do the tests cost?
A – As of November 2024, The SAT costs $68; the ACT costs $63 for the basic test and $88 with the essay.

Q – Where are the tests held?
A – The tests are hosted by large area high schools.  Only a few schools host for each given test date, and students from other schools go to those sites.  Since many students take these tests, it’s a good idea to arrive early.

Q – How do I sign up for the tests, and what do I need?
A – Logon on  to the College Board website at www.collegeboard.org.  You will need your logon credentials (or sign up if you’ve never accessed your PSAT scores online).  You’ll need a photo ID and a credit card.  To register for the ACT, logon to www.act.org. Students also need to bring their own computer on test day!

Q – Do I need to know which college I plan to apply to before I take the SAT or ACT so I can send them my scores?
A – No.  But if you do know, you can send your scores right away at no cost.  Sending your scores later can get expensive.  Nowadays, many colleges allow students to self-report their scores, though, and then, if you are accepted, and if you commit to that college, you can have your official scores sent at that point.

Q – What do you recommend for CCA students?
A – CCA students should meet with their counselor and talk over their college plans beginning in 10th grade, then make a decision, along with their parents, about when to start testing, how often to test, and which test is giving them the best chance for admission, as well as merit aid, to the college of their choice. Each student is unique, and at CCA, we personalize the college path.

Q – Interested in more information?
A – Check out this article from PrepScholar’s Blog.