PSAT/NMSQT
Junior Year
The Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT) measures what students are learning in school, determines if they are on track, and can open doors for opportunities to prepare and pay for college.
The PSAT is offered during the fall semester
Suggested for juniors for National Merit Scholarship qualification; however, it may also be taken during the sophomore year
The PSAT is not used in college admissions decisions
SAT
Spring of Junior Year
You may repeat the SAT as needed or desired until fall of your senior year.
The Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) is typically taken by high school juniors and seniors
It tells students how well they use the skills and knowledge they have attained in and outside of the classroom, including how they think, solve problems, and communicate
Pre ACT
Sophomore or Junior Year
American College Testing: act.org
The ACT is divided into four required sections:
English – punctuation, grammar and usage, sentence structure, and rhetorical skills
Mathematics – skills typically acquired in courses through the end of the 11th grade
Reading – reading comprehension
Science – interpretation, analysis, evaluation, reasoning, and problem-solving skills required in general or introductory science courses
The optional Writing Test measures skills taught in high school English classes and entry-level college composition courses.
ACT
Spring of Junior Year
You may repeat the ACT test as needed or desired until fall of your senior year.
American College Testing: act.org
The ACT is divided into four required sections:
English – punctuation, grammar and usage, sentence structure, and rhetorical skills
Mathematics – skills typically acquired in courses through the end of the 11th grade
Reading – reading comprehension
Science – interpretation, analysis, evaluation, reasoning, and problem-solving skills required in general or introductory science courses
The optional Writing Test measures skills in high school English classes and entry-level college composition courses.
College Entrance Exam Policies
Nearly all colleges and universities in the United States accept either the SAT or ACT scores for consideration of college admissions. Entrance exam scores are one of several factors considered in college admissions decisions.
Colleges set their own policies regarding:
Which scores they want students to send
Which scores they review
Be sure to check with the admissions offices of the colleges to which you are considering submitting an application.
Score Reporting:
When reporting ACT scores to colleges, you can choose which ACT score to release
For the SAT, you may select the optional score reporting feature, which allows you to choose one, multiple, or all SAT test scores on a single score report
If this option is not selected, all SAT scores will be sent by default (traditional practice)
Test Optional and Test Free Colleges
This list includes bachelor degree-granting institutions that do not require all or most recent U.S. high school graduates to submit ACT/SAT results before admissions decisions are made: