Testing
Overview
For better or for worse, for the colleges that require them, standardized test scores are an important factor in the admission process. In our experience, the importance of your scores depends a great deal on where they land in relation to a college's 'ballpark.' The further away from that range—higher or lower—your scores fall, the more strongly they tend to factor into the equation and the more an admission reader is likely to focus on them.
Note that there are some colleges that do not require SAT or ACT Testing. For a full list go to the FairTest Web site; for a shorter list of some of the colleges commonly considered by students with whom we are working, click here.
What to take and when to take it
Most high schools offer juniors the opportunity to take the PSAT (practice test for the SAT) and/or PLAN (practice test for the ACT) in the fall; some offer the test to sophomores, as well. It is important that you take one or both of these tests when they are offered to you. These scores do not get sent to colleges; however, the junior PSAT is the qualifying exam for the National Merit Scholarships.
It is important that you take the actual ACT, SAT and Subject Tests early enough that you are ready with the required scores should you decide to apply early somewhere—but not so early that you won’t be adequately prepared. In general, we recommend that juniors take the ACT for the first time in February of the junior year and the SAT for the first time in March/April (be sure to pay attention to registration deadlines). This leaves May and June for Subject Tests and, if necessary, a retake of the SAT and/or ACT. Feel free to consult with us to help you design a testing plan that makes the most sense for you.
Colleges that require Subject Tests generally require two or three (these tend to be the most selective colleges). Many of these colleges will also accept the ACT in lieu of the SAT and Subject Tests. It's worth checking with each of the colleges you're considering so that you can make the best decisions about which tests to take, and thereby present the strongest score profile possible. Subject Tests should be taken when you are at your strongest in a particular subject, and in subjects in which you are likely to earn the highest score. Your teachers and high school counselor may be useful in helping you assess which tests to take and when to take them.
AP exams are generally not required by colleges, but they will be considered in the admission process should you submit them. High scores on the AP exams can add a positive weight to your applications, but low scores can hurt you. You can choose which AP scores you report.
How—and how much—to prepare
The bottom line is that you want every part of your candidacy to be as strong as it can be. So make test prep choices that support that goal, within a range that feels comfortable to you. At the very least, you should go into the standardized tests prepared for what you will encounter: know what is covered in each section, understand the directions, and understand when it is good to guess and when it is not (an issue only with the SAT, as students do not lose credit for incorrect answers on the ACT exam).
How and how much to prepare is trickier to answer. For students who are self-disciplined and interested in the test prep process, independent study can work quite well. For students who find it difficult to get engaged in the process of preparing, working with a tutor or taking a prep course can be much more effective and motivating.
Regardless of what method of preparation you choose, none work magic—the real gains tend to come with consistent hard work.
