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Standard Test Requirement Waiver
On April 7, 2022 the UNC Board of Governors voted to extend the current testing waiver for students applying for admissions through Fall 2024.
Students will have the option to submit an ACT or SAT test score, but test scores will not be required for admission decisions. Those who do not submit a standardized test score will need to meet the minimum weighted GPA of 2.5 to be considered for undergraduate admission.
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What are College admission Tests?
There are two tests, ACT and SAT, used by nearly all four-year colleges in NC as one of the admissions criteria. They are alike and different in several ways. Your best strategy is to Google: Compare ACT and SAT and take a few minutes reviewing the search results. Check this out for the differences between the ACT and SAT. Some students perform better on one than the other. Many students want to take each at least once. ACT & SAT scores can be used for placement purposes at community colleges as well.
What score do I need to get into college?
Many four-year college admissions are competitive. You can find the average scores for a particular school on CFNC or the college website. Universities in the UNC system require a minimum of 880 (math + reading) and 17 Composite Score on the ACT. Admission offices practice superscoring, meaning that if you make a higher score on one subtest at one sitting and higher score on another subtest on another test day, these may be combined to yield your best performance.
When should I take the ACT or SAT?
We encourage you to take two of the same tests whether it’s the ACT or SAT. It’s up to you! All students take the ACT as a Junior so you already have one set of scores. Many college deadlines are in the early spring so it’s best to do your testing in the fall. Some schools do have rolling admissions so it’s best to look at the deadlines for colleges you wish to attend!
What does registration involve?
Both tests ask for extensive information regarding your high school education and your plans for the future. You may want to set aside some time to complete the registration. You will be asked to upload a clear face picture.
When registering, remember to use the code of the schools in which you have an interest in applying. You should be able to send scores to four colleges for free. You will have to pay for any additional score reports beyond the four. There is a fee for each test and you may pay with debit/credit cards.
If your family meets certain economic criteria, you may qualify for a fee waiver. See your counselor for information on fee waivers.
How far in advance do I need to register?
Both test sites will give you dates for regular and late registration. Don’t wait until the last minute. You will also need a photo ID when you arrive at the test site. If you do not have a Photo ID see your counselor for other options.
How can I prepare for these tests?
At minimum, you will want to visit the ACT and SAT sites to read about the format of the test and see some sample questions. Each site will offer additional tools. Please review the additional resources for test prep below:
Number 2 - Free Online Test Prep for SAT and ACT
Princeton Review - College Test Prep
Kaplan - College Test Prep
Khan Academy - SAT Test Prep
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