Testing

Recommendations for the Class of 2022

• If you feel safe doing so, we recommend that Juniors take the SAT and/or ACT. Taking the test will put the ball in your court. You can then choose how YOU want to proceed.

• Please do not put your health at risk to test. Do not travel hours away to take the test.

• If you have scores, you can decide later if you want to send those tests to each college - or apply test optional. The decision to send scores can be made by college - e.g. send to Rutgers, don't send to NYU. It's not all or nothing

• Based on the information released after Early Action/Early Decision results for the class of 2021, it seems like most schools are receiving 40-50% of their applications without test scores. Data for the accepted classes seem to be trending in a similar direction, even for highly selective schools.

Test Optional and Test Blind

Test Optional - Students can choose to submit SAT/ACT scores, or not. It's up to the student.

Test Blind - Scores are not considered, even if submitted. (currently, the UC system - but there's a lawsuit involved - and a few other places)

Test Flexible - They'll take other tests - but they really want test scores.

As of July 2021, it is looking like most schools will continue their test-optional or blind policies through the Class of 2022. At this point, over 1300 schools have already announced their policies, and more are announced each day. I expect most schools will make decisions by early summer.

A reliable list of test-optional schools: FairTest.org (the most reliable source is always the college itself)

Check the college websites carefully to see their policies, and to make sure that there are no caveats (like scores are required for Nursing, or for Honors consideration, etc.). Sign up on the school's mailing list to be sure you receive the announcement as soon as it's made.

Who is NOT test optional? The entire Florida and Georgia public college and university systems. The military academies. Maybe a few other state systems, where the state government is involved in the decisions (Georgia, Louisiana, and Colorado were slow adopters this year).

If I test, do I have to send my scores? For the most part, no. There is only one school that seems to say you have to send them if you took them (Georgetown). Otherwise, you can decide for each school what you want to do.

Students who have very strong scores should send them, and they will continue to provide another piece of information for the admission office.

If I don't send scores, will my transcript matter more? Yes, as will everything else. The information on your transcript, though (not just your GPA), will be the only information the school has about you. If that's strong - this can be helpful for you. If it's not as strong as you'd like, you might consider whether your test scores would be more helpful.

SAT vs ACT

Not sure which exam to take? See the chart below for a comparison. When in doubt, do a practice test for both. What are you more comfortable with? You'll need to work faster on the ACT, but many students find the questions more straightforward. Other students find themselves too rushed, or don't want to take a Science section.

It's up to you!

SAT - ACT Conversion -- see which scores are equivalent

SAT Registration Information

Register at: http://sat.collegeboard.org

Students who do not have a College Board account should create one using a personal email address. Also, be sure to use your full, legal name!

Register early for best odds at your preferred testing site!

ACT Registration Information

Register at: http://www.actstudent.org

HHS is not an ACT Testing site. The nearest test site is typically Bridgewater-Raritan HS.