Standardized Testing

**Many colleges are still NOT requiring ACT/SAT for acceptance, due to limitations from COVID-19. Please check with the colleges you’re applying to directly, or visit FairTest.org for to see if you will need to send any standardized test scores. Read more about Test Optional admissions.**

Colleges may require an official test score report as part of the application’s supporting documents. You will need to request them from ACT and/or College Board (SAT and/or AP). To compare an ACT test score to an SAT test score or vice versa, use the most updated ACT/SAT Concordance Table. And to compare the difference between the SAT & ACT, check out this article.

ACT

All colleges nationally will accept either the ACT or the SAT. The ACT is not a required exam to take and is not a test given to Naperville District 203 students. Those who opt to take the ACT usually do so during the second semester of junior year, although it can also be taken in the fall of senior year. Students can decide which of the national ACT test dates work best for them and register on the ACT website.

SAT

All colleges nationally will accept either the ACT or the SAT. The SAT scoring ranges from 400-1600. All Naperville District 203 juniors are given an SAT in their spring semester as it is a requirement to graduate. Students may also take additional national SAT tests.

Advanced Placement (AP)

These exams are administered in May and are designed to test a student’s knowledge in specific subject areas. Many universities grant college credit to students who score a 4 or 5 out of 5. AP exams are usually taken during the spring that a student has completed an AP course. AP scores are not used in admission decisions. Colleges have limits to the number of credits they may give to a student from AP exams. Also, AP scores are not accepted by all colleges – students should check with their school(s) of choice before taking the exams, or refer to College Board’s AP Credit Policy Search.

PSAT/NMSQT

The PSAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (NMSQT) is a practice test used to assist students in preparing for the SAT. The PSAT is administered to all juniors in October. Although colleges do not see a student’s PSAT/NMSQT score, a student who does well on this exam and who meets other academic performance criteria may qualify for the National Merit Scholarship Program.