Fairview High School

Counseling and Post-Grad Centers

(revised 12/3/2007)

Developing a Schedule for ACT, PSAT, SAT and SAT II Tests

Understanding the many types of standardized tests that are offered for college entrance consideration and credit can be challenging. The following chart will offer suggestions about timing for taking these exams. For more individualized information, please contact your counselor or come to the Post-Grad Center.

-Students who are planning to go to a Junior College (2-year college) do not need the ACT, PSAT or SAT tests to be considered for admission.

-Students who are planning to attend a four-year college generally follow the standard path, shown in the chart below.

-Students planning for the most competitive colleges, see page 2. For links to more detailed information, see the list of web sites on page 3.

	Fall Semester	Spring Semester
Freshman Year		(CSAP – automatic registration)
Sophomore Year	May try PSAT (Preliminary SAT) q Register in Sept. in Counseling Office on space available basis. q Take test/ pay fee on the Oct. Saturday test date. q Not used by colleges for admittance purposes. q Students receive scores and their test booklets at school in December. q Test preparation materials are available	(CSAP – automatic registration)
Junior Year	October PSAT q Register in Sept. in Counseling Office. q Take test and pay fee on the Saturday test date in October. q Is not used by colleges for admittance purposes. q Serves as the National Merit Scholarship qualifying test. q Students receive scores and their test booklets at school in December. December –April Register for spring semester tests (collegeboard.com)	April: The ACT is offered nationally five times a year but in April, it is given to all Colo. 11^th graders at their own high schools (instead of CSAPs). q No registration required. No fee. q Take test during school day. q Scores appear on official high school transcript. q Counts for college admittance.[1] q Test preparation materials available. May (usually) or June SAT q Register early for May or June tests (collegeboard.com). Pay fee. q Take test on a Saturday. q Counts for college admittance. June SAT IIs (Subject tests) q Check with colleges to see if SAT IIs are required. q Register early (collegeboard.com). Pay fee. q Take test on a Saturday.
Senior Year	Retake tests if you are trying to improve upon your previous scores. (Most colleges will use the best score for each part of each test.) q Register for fall tests in summer - September. q Take tests in Oct., Nov. &/or Dec. q ACT, SAT &/or SAT IIs, as needed.	IB &/or AP exams, for students in those courses. Register for IB in October/ November; AP in February. Pay fee.

Standard Testing Path for Fairview Students:

A More In-Depth Study and Test Plan

Students who are planning to apply to very competitive colleges should develop a plan that will help them schedule test dates for college entrance exams with adequate time for registration and preparation. This may include time to study during the summer months as well. Here is a sample calendar for the students who are most intent on studying for and taking the tests multiple times.

Suggested Testing Plan for Very Competitive College Applications

	Fall Semester	Spring Semester
Freshman Year	Learn the PSAT format.	(CSAP – automatic registration)
Sophomore Year	Try the PSAT – q Register in Sept. in Counseling Office on space available basis. q Study for the PSAT (Aug – Oct.). Preparation materials are available. q Take test/pay fee on the Oct. Saturday test date. q Not used by colleges for admittance purposes. q Students receive scores and their test booklets at school in December.	(CSAP – automatic registration) Prepare for PSAT, SAT &/or ACT. June – August
Junior Year	August- Plan a schedule of tests and registration dates. October PSAT q Register in Sept. in Counseling Office. q Take test/pay fee on Saturday test date in October. q Not used by colleges for admittance purposes. q Serves as the National Merit Scholarship qualifying test. q Students receive scores and their test booklets at school in December December –April Register for spring semester tests (collegeboard.com and act.org)	April The ACT is offered nationally five times a year but in April, it is given to all Colo. 11^th graders at their own high schools (instead of CSAPs). q No registration required. No fee. q Take test during school day. q Scores appear on official high school transcript. q Counts for college admittance.[2] q Study for test. Test preparation materials available. March, May, or June SAT or June ACT q Register early for tests (collegeboard.com or act.org). Pay fee. q Take test on a Saturday. q Counts for college admittance. June SAT IIs (Subject tests) q Check with colleges to see if SAT IIs are required. q Register early (collegeboard.com). Pay fee. q Take test on a Saturday.
Senior Year	Retake tests if you are trying to improve upon your previous scores. (Most colleges will use the best score for each part of each test.) q Register for tests in summer - September. q Take tests in Oct., Nov. &/or Dec. q ACT, SAT &/or SAT IIs, as needed.	IB &/or AP exams, for students in those courses. Register for IB in October/ November; AP in February. Pay fee.

More Information

These web sites provide information about registration dates, fees and test preparation.

College Board Test Dates –

http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/sat/calenfees.html

ACT Home page –

http://www.act.org/

SAT Online Registration –

http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/sat/reg.html

ACT Online Registration –

http://www.actstudent.org/regist/

College Board SAT Question of the Day –

http://cbweb9p.collegeboard.org/tqod/bin/question.cgi

SAT Learning Center –

http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/sat/prep_one/prep_one.html

ACT Test-Taking Strategies –

http://www.actstudent.org/testprep/index.html

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[1] Athletes must register (NCAA.org) and submit one SAT or ACT score. The April in-school ACT scores can not be used, but the test should still be taken seriously by athletes because these scores will appear on the high school transcript.

[2] Athletes must register (NCAA.org) and submit one SAT or ACT score. The April in-school ACT scores cannot be used, but the test should still be taken seriously by athletes because these scores will appear on the high school transcript.