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Testing Information

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Washington’s public universities drop SAT, ACT requirement for admission. Click here for article.

Please click here for our College Admission Testing 101 Presentation

Many colleges and universities require students to take either the SAT or ACT as part of the college admissions process. Please use the following questions and answers to help you understand the basics of the SAT and ACT.

What is the SAT/ACT?
The SAT and the ACT are standardized testing used as part of the college admissions process. They test reading and math. The ACT also tests science – understanding graphs and tables, etc.

What is the difference between the SAT/ACT?
Here is a link to a useful comparison between the  SAT and ACT provided by the Princeton Review: https://www.princetonreview.com/college/sat-act. Please note that we do not sponsor the author; we only find the public document useful.

Do colleges care which test I take?
For the most part, colleges do not have any preference on which test you take so it is up to you!

How do the scores between the SAT and ACT compare?
Here is a link to a useful comparison between the  SAT and ACT scores, provided by the Princeton Review: https://www.princetonreview.com/college-advice/act-to-sat-conversion. Please note that we do not sponsor the author; we only find the public document useful.

When should I take the SAT/ACT?
We recommend students to take the SAT or ACT at least once their junior year and at least one more time during the fall of their senior year.

How can I register?
You can register for the SAT through collegeboard.org and the ACT through www.actstudent.org. Our school code for registration is 480072.

Is there a fee waiver available?
Yes! There is a fee waiver available for on-time registration. For late registration, the fee waiver will only cover the test fee and not the late registration fee. Unfortunately, there is no fee waiver for sending score reports because students have the opportunity to send four free score reports to colleges during their actual test day. To see if you are eligible for a fee waiver, please check out https://sat.collegeboard.org/register/sat-fee-waivers.

How can I prepare for the SAT/ACT?
There are three awesome ways to prepare for the SAT/ACT!

  1. Take the classes through our Sammamish High School PTSA! SAT Prep Classes are available in the Fall and in the Spring. Please see your school counselor or look out for information in the Totem News.
  2. Use Khan Academy! Khan Academy collaborates with College Board to offer free, online SAT prep program. You can link you Khan Academy account with your College Board account to get free, individualized prep for the SAT. Register here. (link: https://www.khanacademy.org/sat)
  3. Use your KCLS log in. The King County Library System offers ACT test prep online. Students can log in using their library card. (link: kcls.org)

Will I have access to practice tests?
Yes! You will have access to different practice tests during junior year at SHS during Super Wednesday in mid-October. 11th grade students will take the PSAT/NMSQT. For more information about the PSAT and the National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test, please go to http://www.nationalmerit.org/nmsp.php.

Are there any universities that do not require the SAT or ACT?
Yes! The National Center for Fair and Optional Testing has a list of universities that do not require SAT or ACT. Please go to http://www.fairtest.org/university/optional for more information and for a list of those universities.

What does my college admissions testing schedule in high school look like?

11th Grade 12th Grade
October -PSAT/NMSQT

 

February/March -SAT or ACT

 

May/June-SAT Subject Test (optional)

 

 August-Start College Applications

 

September/October– SAT or ACT

 

January-Complete FAFSA/WASFA

 

When are the SAT and ACT Test Dates?
For the most current information on the SAT and ACT Test and Registration Dates, please check on their websites: https://sat.collegeboard.org/register/sat-us-dates or http://www.actstudent.org/regist/dates.html.

AP

If you are looking for information about AP scores for students, go to www.apscore.org.

The Bellevue School District acknowledges that we learn, work, live and gather on the Indigenous Land of the Coast Salish peoples, specifically the Duwamish and Snoqualmie Tribes. We thank these caretakers of this land, who have lived and continue to live here, since time immemorial.