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Rising seniors who are interested in applying to UCs, CSUs, or any two year colleges will NOT be required to take the SAT or ACT! However, they may still want to take the exam if they are interested in applying to certain private schools or schools outside of California.
Here are some things to consider:
The UC and CSU systems are both Test Blind for the class of 2022, meaning they will NOT look at your test scores.
When it comes to private colleges and any colleges outside California, you will need to check the individual schools' websites for their policies on standardized testing. It is possible that some will require students to submit test scores, however most schools will be either Test Blind or Test Optional.
If you are applying to a school that is Test Optional, you may want to take the SAT or ACT and see how you do. If you take the SAT and do well, submitting a score to a college that is Test Optional could definitely help your chances of getting in!
ALL STUDENTS AT BALBOA are eligible to take the SAT & ACT for FREE! Please click here to request a fee waiver code!
Students have until December of their senior year to take the exam, and it may be helpful to take the exam more than once to try and improve their score. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there may not be any tests that students can sign up for. More tests should become available in the coming months, so I recommend checking back every few weeks.
The SAT and ACT are only offered in-person. Please talk to your family and those you live with and prioritize your health and safety.
Again, the only reason to take the SAT or ACT would be if you are thinking about applying to a private school or school outside of California that is either test optional or requires test scores. It is totally up to you and your family's level of comfort and what types of schools you are interested in!
To register for the SAT or ACT:
If you would like to register for the SAT or ACT, the first step is to create an account on collegeboard.org. Please don't forget to click here to request a fee waiver code so that you can take the exam for free!
SAT/ACT policies by type of school:
CSU: All CSU schools will be Test Blind for current seniors (Class of 2022).
UC: All UC schools will be Test Blind for current seniors (Class of 2022).
Private Schools: Check individual school websites.
Out-of-state schools: Check individual school websites.
Important Terms:
Test Blind: The school will NOT look at your SAT/ACT score when deciding whether or not to accept you. (In some cases, they may still allow you to use your SAT score to place out of certain English or math classes, but this would only happen after you are admitted and have enrolled).
Test Optional: The school is giving students the option of sharing their SAT/ACT score, but it is NOT required. If a student is interested in applying to a school that is Test Optional, I recommend that they take the exam (for free)! and wait to see how well they do. If they are happy with their score they can share it with the college, and if not, they do not have to inform the college.
Standardized Test Scores Required: Students must take either the SAT or ACT and submit their test scores to the college in order to be considered for admission. This may happen at private schools or schools outside of the state of California, although it is unlikely due to the pandemic.
Typically, if a college is looking for standardized test scores, they will either:
Require that students take the SAT
Require that students take either the SAT or ACT
Allow them to submit scores from both exams
Colleges typically do not require students to take the ACT.
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