PSAT/SAT/ACT Information

  • PSAT

    Over 3.6 million students take the PSAT/NMSQT each year. Only 11th-grade students can qualify for scholarships and recognition, but younger students benefit from early feedback on their skills. The PSAT/NMSQT assesses the critical reading, mathematics, and writing skills students need for college and beyond. Find out what the test is like and try practice questions. The test helps students become college ready. It provides detailed feedback on skills, access to scholarships and personalized online tools, and excellent practice for the SAT.

    For more information on the PSAT and to view practice tests, visit The College Board website: www.collegeboard.org/psat-nmsqt

    If you are interested in taking the PSAT, see your counselor for more information and test dates.

     

    SAT

    The SAT is designed to assess your academic readiness for college. These exams provide a path to opportunities, financial support, and scholarships, in a way that's fair to all students. The SAT keeps pace with what colleges are looking for today, measuring the skills required for success in the 21st century. The SAT and other College Board tests are offered several times a year. Most students take the SAT for the first time during the spring of their junior year and a second time during the fall of their senior year.

    As the nation’s most widely used college admission test, the SAT is the first step toward higher education for students of all backgrounds. It’s taken by more than two million students every year and is accepted by virtually all colleges and universities.

    For more information on the SAT and to view practice tests, visit The College Board website: sat.collegeboard.org

    If you are interested in taking the SAT, see your counselor for more information and test dates.

     

    ACT

    The ACT is a national college admissions examination that consists of subject area tests in: English, Mathematics, Reading and Science. The ACT Plus Writing includes the four subject area tests plus a 30-minute writing portion.  ACT results are accepted by all four-year colleges and universities in the US. The ACT includes 215 multiple-choice questions and takes approximately 3 hours and 30 minutes to complete, including a short break (or just over four hours if you are taking the ACT Plus Writing). Actual testing time is 2 hours and 55 minutes (plus 30 minutes if you are taking the ACT Plus Writing).

    For more information on the ACT and to view practice tests, visit The College Board website: sat.collegeboard.org

    If you are interested in taking the ACT, see your counselor for more information and test dates.

     

    What is the difference between the ACT and the SAT?

    The ACT is an achievement test, measuring what a student has learned in school. The SAT is more of an aptitude test, testing reasoning and verbal abilities. The ACT has up to 5 components: English, Mathematics, Reading, Science, and an optional Writing Test. The SAT has only 3 components: Critical Reading, Mathematics, and a required Writing Test. The College Board introduced a new version of the SAT in 2005, with a mandatory writing test. ACT continues to offer its well-established test, plus an optional writing test. You take the ACT Writing Test only if required or requested by the college(s) you're applying to. The SAT penalizes you for wrong answers, so guessing is discouraged. The ACT is scored based on the number of correct answers with no penalty for guessing. The ACT has an Interest Inventory that allows students to evaluate their interests in various career options.