College admission testing requirements vary from college to college.
It is important that you are aware of the testing requirements for all the schools on your list.
Which Test(s) Should I Take?
Most colleges will accept either the ACT or SAT I. Additionally, most will take the highest scores from different test dates. Juniors should take either the ACT, SAT I, or both.
Some colleges require SAT II: Subject Tests in addition to the SAT. Some schools will accept the ACT in lieu of SAT II: Subject Tests. SAT II: Subject Tests are like multiple-choice finals. It is helpful to study for them and to take them as soon as possible after completing the appropriate course.
Some schools make standardized test scores an optional requirement.
The PSAT/NMSQT and PLAN are preliminary versions of the SAT I and ACT. Some students take these as juniors and/or sophomores.
When Should I Take the Test(s)?
Juniors should take the ACT or SAT I in the spring between March and June. Make plans to retake the SAT in October, November, or December of your senior year, and the ACT in October or December. As you plan for test dates, take into account factors such as athletic commitments, family travel, and any other obligations you might have. When you plan a sequence of testing, consider the following:
- Some schools will accept the ACT in lieu of SAT II: Subject Tests.
- You cannot take SAT I and SAT II: Subject Tests on the same day.
- You can take up to three SAT II: Subject Tests on the same day.
- Not all SAT II: Subject Tests are offered on all testing dates (check Testing Schedule for details).
- Some schools require or recommend particular SAT II: Subject Tests. Find out from the colleges on your list if any SAT II: Subject Tests are required or recommended.
What are the Tests and Their Differences?
The following descriptions were taken directly from
The College Board and
ACT web sites:
ACT Assessment
The ACT Assessment is a national college admission examination that consists of tests in: English, Mathematics, Reading, Science Reasoning. The ACT Assessment tests are curriculum based. The ACT Assessment is not an aptitude or an IQ test. Instead, the questions on the ACT are directly related to what you have learned in your high school courses in English, mathematics, and science. Because the ACT tests are based on what is taught in the high school curriculum, students are generally more comfortable with the ACT than they are with the traditional aptitude tests or tests with narrower content.
SAT I
The SAT I measures verbal and mathematical reasoning abilities that students develop over time, both in and out of school, which are related to successful performance in college.The test consists of seven sections, each timed separately. SAT scores are intended to supplement the secondary school record and help admission officers put local data - such as course work, grades, and class rank - in a national perspective.
SAT II: Subject Tests
SAT II: Subject Tests are designed to measure knowledge, and the ability to apply that knowledge, in specific subject areas. Students take the SAT II: Subject Tests to demonstrate to colleges their mastery of specific subjects like English, history and social studies, mathematics, science, and language. The tests are independent of any particular textbook or method of instruction. The content of the tests evolves to reflect current trends in high school curricula, but the types of questions change little from year to year.
PLAN
The PLAN is the pre-ACT, which some students take as sophomores. It gives an indication of how students may perform on the ACT, as well as offering a career interest inventory.
PSAT/NMSQT
Some students also take the PSAT/NMSQT (Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test) as juniors or sophomores. It's a standardized test that provides practice for the SAT I. It also gives juniors a chance to enter National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) scholarship programs.
