One of the most common questions families ask is, "Which standardized test should my student take?" The answer depends on your student's goals. While a number of exams are required, each serves a different purpose. Some exams are designed to help students prepare for college admissions, others determine scholarship eligibility, and still others simply assess college readiness.
At Founders Classical Academy Flower Mound, we intentionally guide students through these exams so they are prepared without unnecessary testing. Below you will find information explaining what each exam is, who should take it, when it is typically taken, and how each fits into the big picture of graduating high school.
Testing Timeline
Ninth Grade:
Students focus on developing strong academic habits through the classical curriculum. Formal college admissions testing is generally unnecessary. Students complete the Biology and English I EOC exams in 9th grade, as well as the TSI Reading and Writing exam to determine eligibility for Dual Credit course work in Composition and English II.
Tenth Grade:
Students strongly encouraged to take the PSAT in the fall of sophomore year. If a student is enrolled in AP Latin, the AP Latin exam will be taken in May. All FCAFM students take the CLT 10 during their sophomore year.
Eleventh Grade:
This is the primary testing year.
Students are required to take the following exams:
PSAT/NMSQT (fall)
CLT
SAT or ACT (spring)
Students may take both the SAT and ACT to see which best reflects their abilities.
Twelfth Grade:
Students may retake the CLT, ACT or SAT. Retesting is often worthwhile if a student wishes to improve scholarship eligibility, increase a score/super score, or meet requirements for a particular university. Many Founders students who retake the CLT are specifically trying to improve one domain score for scholarship consideration.
Comparing Tests
ACT:
Purpose: College admission
Typical Grade: 11–12
Accepted By: Nearly all colleges and universities
SAT:
Purpose: College admission
Typical Grade: 11–12
Accepted By: Nearly all colleges and universities
CLT:
Purpose: College admission and scholarships
Typical Grade: 10–12
Accepted By: All Texas public universities, many private colleges nationwide
PSAT/NMSQT:
Purpose: Practice and National Merit Scholarship
Typical Grade: 11
Accepted By: College Board
TSI Assessment:
Purpose: Texas college readiness and placement
Typical Grade: 11-12
Accepted By: Texas public colleges and universities
Test Scores
SAT Scoring:
The SAT score scale goes up to 1600 by combining two equal sections, Math and Reading & Writing, which are each scored from 200 to 800.
SAT Composite Score Averages:
National Composite Score Averages: 1029
State of Texas: 970
LISD: 1141
Founders Classical Academy of Flower Mound: 1246-1413
Flower Mound High School: 1166
Marcus High School: 1143
Coram Deo Academy: 1227
Argyle High School: 1188
ACT Scoring:
The ACT is scored out of 36 because each section and the final composite score are measured on a scale from 1 to 36. This system uses scaled scores derived from your raw number of correct answers to keep results consistent across different test dates.
How ACT Scores Work:
Raw Scores: You get 1 point for each question you answer right, with no penalty for wrong answers.
Scaled Scores: Your raw score for each subject is converted into a scaled score from 1 to 36.
Composite Score: This final overall score is the average of your individual section scores, rounded to the nearest whole number.
ACT Composite Score Averages:
National Composite Score Average: 19.4
State of Texas: 19.3
LISD: 23.2
Founders Classical Academy Flower Mound: 29.8
Flower Mound High School: 25.4
Marcus High School: 22.2
Coram Deo Academy: 27.7
Argyle High School: 24.6
PSAT:
Annually, roughly 10% of each FCAFM class features National Merit Scholars
Flower Mound High School: 0.76%
Marcus High School: 0.21%
Argyle High School: <1%
Testing Resources
FCA FM offers an SAT prep elective each semester.
Families may elect independent test prep for PSAT, SAT, ACT or AP exams through various test prep programs, such as:
Classical Learning Test (CLT)
The Classic Learning Test (CLT) is a college entrance examination designed around a classical liberal arts philosophy. Rather than emphasizing only contemporary informational passages, the CLT incorporates selections from great works of literature, philosophy, history, science, theology, and political thought. Because Founders students spend years reading primary sources and Great Books, many find the CLT especially compatible with their educational background.
Beginning in 2026, the State of Texas approved the CLT as a college admissions exam accepted by every Texas public university, placing it alongside the SAT and ACT for admissions purposes.
The CLT measures:
Verbal Reasoning
Grammar and Writing
Quantitative Reasoning (Mathematics)
Rather than rewarding memorization, the exam emphasizes reasoning, analysis, interpretation, and careful reading.
The CLT is offered multiple times throughout the year at approved testing sites and through online proctoring for eligible administrations. Registration is completed through the Classic Learning Test organization. All 10 th and 11 th grade students are required to complete the CLT exam during the school year; optional for 12 th .
CLT10 will be offered on Thursday, November 7, 2026 during the school day.
CLT will be offered on Tuesday, December 8, 2026 during the school day.
Our curriculum intentionally develops many of the skills the CLT rewards. Students regularly read primary texts, analyze complex arguments, study formal grammar, write analytically, and solve challenging mathematical problems. As a result, many of our students find the exam feels familiar rather than intimidating. For many students at Founders, the CLT becomes their strongest college admissions test—in fact, FCAFM is ranked within the top fifteen schools in the country for student performance on the CLT.
Texas Success Initiative (TSI) Assessment
Unlike the SAT, ACT, or CLT, the TSI is not primarily a college admissions exam. Instead, it determines whether a student is ready for college-level coursework at Texas public colleges and universities. Many students who plan to enroll in dual credit courses or attend a Texas public college will encounter the TSI.
English Language Arts and Reading, Writing, and Mathematics.
The assessment identifies whether a student is college-ready or whether additional developmental coursework may be recommended. Unlike the SAT or ACT, students generally are not competing against one another. The goal is simply to demonstrate readiness. The test is untimed, free and available to be taken at FCAFM. Students who meet qualifying benchmark scores on the SAT, ACT, or CLT may be exempt from taking all or part of the TSI under current Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board rules, with the exception of taking the exam to meet eligibility requirements for Dual Credit enrollment.
PSAT / NMSQT
The Preliminary SAT is offered by College Board and serves two important purposes. First, it provides excellent practice for the SAT. Second, when taken in the fall of junior year it serves as the qualifying examination for the National Merit Scholarship Program.
Students with exceptionally high scores may receive an award and recognition from the National Merit Scholarship Program. These distinctions can lead to significant scholarship opportunities at many universities.
The PSAT is typically administered once each October through high schools. FCAFM strongly encourages all 10 th graders to take the PSAT in fall of their sophomore year, and all 11 th graders are required to take the PSAT in fall of their junior year. PSAT rules stipulate that students can take the PSAT up to three times total, and no more than one time per academic year. High school seniors are ineligible to take the exam.
FCAFM will offer the PSAT on Saturday, October 17, 2026 at AM.
The PSAT is administered by high schools, and registration is handled by each school.
For Founders Classical Academy Flower Mound students, the process is simple:
Watch for communication from the school in late August regarding PSAT testing.
Confirm your intent to test by the school’s registration deadline.
Pay any required testing fee in Skyward.
Students will receive testing instructions from the school one to two weeks before the exam.
While PSAT registration is handled through the school, students should still create a free College Board account before testing. This will allow students to not only access their PSAT scores once available, but it will allow students to link their digital test to their account, and access exam practice resources.
Students who have created an account should receive an email from College Board roughly 4-5 weeks after the exam prompting them to log into their College Board account to view their scores. Exam scores are released on Wednesdays. If you have trouble accessing or interpreting your scores, please contact Mrs. Anver.
Because the PSAT is administered through high schools rather than individual testing centers, your options are unfortunately limited. You may be able to take the PSAT at another participating high school, but spaces are limited and need to be arranged well in advance. Students testing at another school are considered “away students” and must contact the host school’s testing coordinator directly.
The SAT
The SAT is one of the two traditional national college admissions examinations used throughout the United States. Developed by the College Board, it remains one of the most widely recognized admissions tests. Today the SAT is administered digitally.
The SAT evaluates:
Reading and Writing:
reading comprehension
rhetorical analysis
grammar
revision skills
Mathematics:
algebra
advanced mathematics
problem solving
data analysis
geometry
trigonometry
The SAT places considerable emphasis on evidence-based reasoning and interpreting data presented in graphs and tables.
National administrations occur several times each year, typically on Saturdays. Many Texas schools also participate in an in-school SAT administration during the spring of junior year. FCAFM will offer the SAT on-campus:
Saturday October 17, 2026
Thursday March 4, 2027
Unlike the PSAT, the SAT is offered nationally multiple times throughout the year at testing centers across the country. Missing the Founders testing date does not prevent you from taking the SAT. You may simply register for any available national SAT administration that fits your schedule.
To register for a national SAT administration:
Create or log into your College Board account at collegeboard.org
Select an upcoming SAT test date.
Choose a convenient testing center.
Complete your registration and submit payment (or a fee waiver, if eligible).
Because testing centers may fill several weeks before a test date, and registration windows close two weeks before an exam date, we encourage students to register early. Most students have several opportunities to take or retake the SAT during their junior and senior years. Colleges generally consider your highest score, and many institutions "superscore" the SAT by combining your highest section scores from multiple test dates. If your schedule prevents you from testing at Founders, or if you want to take the exam again, there is no disadvantage to taking the SAT at another approved testing center. The exam, scoring, and college reporting are identical regardless of where you test.
If your student has a 504 Plan, Individualized Education Program (IEP), or other school support plan, those same accommodations will not automatically apply to college entrance exams. Receiving accommodations at school does not guarantee that the same accommodations will be approved for the SAT, ACT, CLT, PSAT, or TSI Assessment; each testing organization has its own accommodation approval process and eligibility requirements.
If your student currently receives accommodations at Founders Classical Academy Flower Mound, we encourage you to begin discussing standardized testing accommodations in August of their sophomore year. Applying early allows sufficient time for documentation, review, and approval before registration deadlines and helps avoid unnecessary stress during the testing season. If you have questions about accommodations for college exam testing, please contact Mrs. Anver. For STAAR or EOC testing, please contact Mrs. MacDougall.
The ACT
The ACT (American College Test) is one of the two major college admissions examinations used throughout the United States. Along with the SAT, it is accepted by virtually every four-year college and university. Most colleges do not prefer one exam over the other, and admissions officers evaluate ACT and SAT scores equally. While many students choose to take only one admissions exam, others take both during the spring of their junior year to determine which best reflects their academic strengths.
The ACT measures a student's readiness for college-level coursework in four academic areas:
English grammar and mechanics
Mathematics
Reading
Science
An optional Writing section is also available, although very few colleges currently require it.
Unlike a traditional science exam, the ACT Science section does not assess biology, chemistry, or physics content. Instead, students analyze experiments, interpret graphs and tables, evaluate competing scientific explanations, and draw conclusions from data. Strong reasoning and critical reading skills are often more valuable than extensive science knowledge.
Although both exams are accepted by nearly every college, they have distinct styles. The ACT generally asks more questions in a shorter amount of time, making pacing an important factor. Students who work quickly and confidently under time constraints often prefer the ACT. The SAT tends to provide more time per question and places a greater emphasis on evidence-based reading, mathematical reasoning, and interpreting written passages. Many students find that ACT questioning and answer choices are more straight-forward, whereas question types and answer choices on the SAT can require multiple steps. Neither exam is inherently easier. Many students naturally perform better on one than the other simply because the format complements their testing style.
The ACT is offered nationally several times each year, typically on Saturdays. Registration, testing dates, and available testing locations are managed directly through ACT. Because seating at nearby testing centers may fill quickly, students are encouraged to register well in advance of their preferred testing date.
FCAFM will offer the ACT as a private testing location to FCAFM students on the following dates:
Saturday September 19, 2026 (open to 11th and 12th)
Saturday, April 10, 2027 (open to 10th, 11th, and 12th)
Students can register here.
Registration includes:
Creating an ACT account.
Selecting a test date.
Choosing a testing center.
Uploading a photo.
Paying the registration fee (or requesting a fee waiver, if eligible).
Unlike the PSAT, registration is completed individually by the student rather than through the high school.
Most multiple-choice scores become available online approximately two to eight weeks after testing. If a student elects to take the optional Writing section, those scores are typically released a little later. Students access all score reports through their ACT account and may choose which colleges receive official score reports.
SAT v. ACT
For most Founders students, the answer depends on individual strengths rather than college preference. Students who enjoy reading complex passages, reasoning carefully through problems, and working at a measured pace often prefer the SAT. Students who think quickly, are comfortable with faster-paced testing, and excel at interpreting scientific data frequently perform well on the ACT. In short, students have roughly 1 and a half minutes per SAT question, but 45 seconds per ACT question. SAT questions tend to feature more multi-step logic and problem-solving skills, while ACT questions feature more direct reading analysis and data interpretation.
Many Founders juniors choose to take both exams once before deciding which they wish to retake. Because colleges generally consider a student's highest score (and many superscore both the SAT and ACT) taking both exams can help students determine which best showcases their academic abilities.
Additional Texas Assessments: STAAR and End-of-Course (EOC) Exams
Because Founders Classical Academy is a Texas public charter school, students also participate in the Texas Assessment of Academic Readiness (STAAR) program. These assessments differ significantly from the college entrance exams discussed above. Rather than being used for college admissions, STAAR exams measure mastery of the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) and are part of the state’s accountability system.
Although STAAR and EOC exams are not college admissions tests, they remain an important part of a Texas student’s academic record and graduation requirements. They help ensure students have mastered foundational knowledge in core academic subjects before graduating from high school. As is standard across all Texas public schools, EOC scoring (Approaches, Meets, Masters) does appear on your high school transcript.
STAAR assessments are administered each spring during the regular school day at students’ campuses. Testing dates are established annually by the Texas Education Agency. End-of-Course (EOC) Exams.
Beginning in high school, certain STAAR assessments become End-of-Course (EOC) exams. These assessments are tied to specific high school courses rather than grade levels.
Texas currently requires students to take five EOC assessments:
English I
English II
Algebra I
Biology
U.S. History
Students test when they complete each course, regardless of the grade in which they are enrolled. For example, a student who completes Algebra I in eighth grade will typically take the Algebra I EOC at the end of eighth grade.
Yes. Students enrolled in Texas public schools are generally required to meet state graduation requirements, which include satisfactory performance on the five required EOC assessments. If a student does not initially meet the passing standard, opportunities for retesting are provided.