ACT / SAT

SAT/ACT College Admission Tests

Standardized testing is an important part of college admissions. Students should take time to plan and prepare for these tests, as well as know what scores are needed before they apply to college. Many students make the mistake of waiting until the fall of their senior year, when college applications are due, to take the ACT and/or SAT for the first time. To ensure success, students should consider following the testing schedule below:

10th Grade - Fall (PSAT)
11th Grade - Fall (PSAT / Spring (SAT & ACT)
12th Grade - Fall (SAT & ACT)

Refer to the schedule for test dates and deadlines. Go to the ACT and SAT website for more information and to set up a student account.

If you have any questions, please see or contact your counselor.

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE SAT vs ACT ?

Need help deciding between the ACT and the New SAT?

The answer to the question cannot be answered with a comparison between the scores on the tests.

A simple comparison of two test scores does not reveal on which test a students can improve more.

The question should not be which test should I take but on which test can I improve the most.

Take this 9 question quiz: Should I Take the ACT, the New SAT or Both?

The general guideline:

Students have harder time raising ACT scores than SAT scores.

The problem is their poor reading speed and lack of understanding science passages.

The two independent companies Collegeboard and ACT, Inc. have somewhat similar but different approach to assessing a student’s skills.

The two tests are more similar to each other than as were before.

Writing questions are very similar, and thus will not be a factor in choosing which test to take.

The vital factors in choosing which test are analyzing science reading passages, understanding reading passages, and solving word problems in math.

Registration Process

To register for the SAT or ACT, please visit the websites below. Please note that deadlines to register are usually one month prior to the testing date.

SAT: www.collegeboard.org

ACT: www.actstudent.org

Santana CEEB Code: 053342

SAT Subject Tests

The SAT® is one of the best opportunities to show colleges across the country who you are and what they know.

SENIORS: Taking the SAT in October ensures that your scores are available in plenty of time to meet college and university early decision and early action application deadlines. Signing up today means you will have one less thing to worry about in the fall.

Sending SAT & ACT Test Scores to Colleges

SAT scores are submitted through the student accounts at www.collegeboard.com. Click on the link “Send my scores” and then search by code. Using code 3594 will come up as CSU Mentor Long Beach. Using this code will send your SAT scores to all 23 CSU campuses. In addition, sending your SAT scores to one UC school will actually be submitting it to the entire UC system so that all 9 UC schools will be able to access it.

ACT scores are submitted through the student accounts at www.act.org. You need to go into your account and “Send scores”. You will want to choose one CSU campus. You can send your ACT scores to all 23 CSU campuses by going into your CSU Mentor account, click on ACT Scores Manager and then click on the CSU school that you submitted. In addition, check the box at the bottom that you grant the authority for them to release your scores to the other CSU campuses. This will allow all 23 CSU campuses to receive your ACT scores. In addition, if you send your ACT scores to one UC school, all UC schools will be able to access the score. You only need to send it once.

PLEASE NOTE THAT STUDENTS WHO PLAN ON ATTENDING A COMMUNITY COLLEGE RIGHT OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL DO NOT NEED TO TAKE THE SAT OR ACT.

Sending your AP Test Scores to Colleges

AP test scores are sent cumulatively to the college(s). You are not able to pick and choose which AP scores are sent to the colleges. In order to request that your scores are sent, you need to contact AP services by phone. You want to have this information available before making the call:

Have your AP student # available.
- This number can be found on your AP student pack
- OR you can call AP services at 888-225-5427 and they will give it to you.
- FYI: You are given a different AP student # each testing year. You will want to use your most recent test date and AP student # and then all scores will be sent for all years of AP testing that were completed.
Have your social security number available if you used it during AP testing.
Have your date of birth (DOB) ready.
Have the testing year ready that corresponds with the AP student # you are using.
Have the four digit college code ready for the school(s) where you wish to send you AP scores.
- You can access the college codes in your student pack or at the College Board website. If you use the College Board website, you will use the search feature for SAT codes but the same codes can be used for AP. Once you get to the link, you will want to use the "search criteria" feature and from the drop down menu, choose "colleges and scholarships." You can search by state and all colleges and their four digit codes will be listed. This link will take you there: http://sat.collegeboard.org/register/sat-code-search
Have your credit or debit card ready. You can use VISA, MasterCard, Discover or American Express.
You will be charged $15 per college (processed in 5 business days) or $25 per college for a rush order (processed in 2 business days).
A copy of your AP score(s) that is sent out to the college(s) will be sent to your home address on file with the College Board.