College Admission Testing
Testing Update
Questions abound... Do I need to take the SAT? Would it be to my advantage to take the SAT? Can I avoid the SAT?
Since the pandemic, many colleges and universities around the country have permanently adjusted their testing policies.
The University of California system is now test blind. Be sure to check the admissions webpage for the UC campuses in which you are interested in attending to know which specific factors the campus will be considering when making admission decisions to your selected campus(es) and major (linked HERE).
The California State University system has discontinued the use of standardized testing for freshmen admission. Be sure to check the admissions webpage for the CSU campuses in which you are interested in attending to know which specific factors the campus will be using to determine eligibility for admission to your selected campus(es) and major (linked HERE).
*Test blind means test scores will NOT be considered when determining admission. Test optional schools will consider test scores if they are submitted, but the focus is on other factors they believe are stronger predictors of a student's potential to succeed in college.
If there is an opportunity to test, the decision to do so or not depends on several factors. For students applying to more competitive/selective schools, a strong test score can be a plus. For students who are disadvantaged by testing or who do not test well, they may have more flexibility and options than ever before.
For more information and guidance, please read these three blog posts:
Here are some additional considerations:
If ANY of the colleges you're planning to apply to require the SAT/ACT, then you will need to take it.
If any of the colleges you're planning to apply to are test optional, you may choose to test if your score is on the higher end of the mid-50 percent accepted student score range (or higher) OR if you would like to be considered for scholarships/merit-based aid from the institution.
If the colleges you're planning to apply to will NOT be using the SAT/ACT (i.e. CSU's and Sierra College), then you may opt not to test.
Note: The College Board has suspended its Subject Test program as well as the SAT essay.
SAT/ACT - Information, Registration and Preparation
This SAT Prep Guide offers an overview of the test and details about updates and changes to the test. Here’s a PSAT Toolkit to help you build a testing plan. If the SAT/ACT are required or considered, check testing deadlines as they may vary by school. Check the college website for the last test date they will accept.
***If you qualify for free/reduced lunch OR if you are experiencing financial hardship that makes paying for the SAT/ACT challenging, please see your school counselor regarding a fee waiver.***
Trying to decide which exam is better for you? Use the Khan Academy/PSAT to get an idea of how the SAT works and use ACT sample questions and a full-length ACT practice test to discover which format might be a better match. ACT Academy has free practice tests as well. This chart and this resource could also be helpful. And check out this link to learn more about the new College Board assessments (PSAT and SAT).
When considering when and how many times to test, consider Score Choice and Superscoring of the SAT and ACT.
To get an idea of average scores, here is a list of SAT and ACT score ranges for 360 colleges and universities.
3 SAT® Tips for Students
Khan Academy in partnership with the College Board identified three best practices for preparation:
Take a full-length practice test — it’s the best way to simulate the real test experience
Follow personalized skill recommendations — this keeps students focused on the areas where they can accelerate their growth
Level up skills — this helps students learn to monitor their progress and makes sure they’re consistently advancing
Research also shows that students who spend at least six hours on Official SAT Practice and follow at least one of these best practices score nearly 40 points higher on the SAT than students who did not use Official SAT Practice. So be sure to encourage your students to take advantage of this free resource and these tips!
This chart does NOT include the with essay (SAT)/ plus writing (ACT) portion.
Subject Tests
The College Board has eliminated the SAT Subjects Tests as of January 2021. Read this blog post for more information and answers to common questions: SAT Ends SAT Subject Tests Program
Test Optional
Check out this list of TEST OPTIONAL colleges. If choosing test optional, be sure the colleges scholarship consideration is test optional as well. If not, you may need to submit scores to be considered for merit scholarships.
AP Credit Policies of Colleges
If you’ve taken AP courses and exams, colleges may give you college credit or advanced standing (i.e. skipping a level of Spanish). To find out more information about your colleges and their AP policy (including required scores), check out the AP Credit Policy website.