Frequently Asked
Questions on College Admissions Testing
Provided
by the Skyline PTSA
What are the differences between the SAT and the ACT?
A comparison of the two
tests can be found at http://www.fastweb.com/printer/resources/articles/index/110320
A table comparing ACT scores with SAT scores can be
found at http://www.powerprep.com/actvssat.htm
Which test should my student take?
Nearly all colleges accept
either test, although the SAT is more common with schools on the coasts, while
the ACT is the dominant test in the
What about the SAT II and SAT Subject Tests?
These are two names for
the same thing, specifically, hour-long tests in specific subject areas such as
math, history, sciences, literature and foreign language. Most highly selective
colleges require one to three subject tests; other schools have no subject test
requirements. Most students take these tests in the fall of their senior year,
or immediately after completing a related course. These tests cannot be taken on the same day as the
regular SAT.
What’s the difference between the practice SAT and the PSAT?
The PSAT is
the qualifying test for National Merit Scholarships and Letters of
Commendation. Students usually take the PSAT in October of their junior year. It
is shorter than the SAT, as it has no essay and no Algebra II. This year’s PSAT will be held at Skyline on Saturday,
October 18, 2008. Students can sign up for the PSAT with the bookkeeper
at Skyline. Juniors can register
beginning Monday, September 8,, and sophomores can register
if space is available beginning Monday, September
29. The cost is $25. The
registration deadline is Wednesday, October 8. Students receive an information
practice booklet when they register.
On the other
hand, a practice test is just that–practice. Only the student will ever see his
or her score. The practice SAT is graded on the spot. The practice ACT score is
mailed to the student within a few weeks.
When should I take a practice test?
Most students take
practice tests as sophomores or juniors. This gives them time to determine and
address their areas of weakness. The tests are also open to freshmen, who may
just want to get an idea of what the tests are like or to reduce their test
anxiety.
How do I sign up?
Sign-up instructions for
the practice SAT and ACT tests are on Skyline PTSA’s website www.skylineptsa.org/programs/collegereadiness.htm
When should I take the actual SAT or ACT?
The latest a student
should schedule an SAT or ACT is the fall of their senior year. However, many
students take the tests as a junior, so that they have time to repeat the tests
and improve their scores.
Also, it is not possible
to take the SAT subject tests at the same time as the actual SAT. So that needs
to be taken into account when a student is determining his or her test
schedule.
How do I sign up?
Test dates and
registration deadlines for the SAT can be found at http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/sat/calenfees.html
Test dates and registration deadlines for the ACT can be found at http://www.actstudent.org/regist/nextdates.html
What if the dates for Skyline’s practice tests aren’t convenient for me?
Practice SAT tests are
also offered at Issaquah High, Liberty High and Hazen High. Check with
SATPrep.org or with the PTSAs at these schools to determine test dates and
availability. The practice ACT can be taken at home and proctored by a parent
or other adult. Contact Molly Bellehumeur at 425-392-7138 for more information.
I missed the registration deadline–can I still sign up for the practice
test?
The practice SAT is
administered by SATPrep and you would need to contact them directly. The
practice ACT is administered by the Skyline PTSA and you may contact Molly
Bellehumeur at 425-392-7138. Please do not drop off registration forms at the
school–they cannot accept them.
Who can answer any other questions my student has about college admissions
testing?
Students should contact
their assigned counselor at Skyline with any questions related to college
readiness including admissions tests. http://www.shs.issaquah.wednet.edu/Counseling/