The PSAT will be given to area high school juniors (and younger students in some districts) on Wednesday, October 16. But does this test really matter? Should you take it seriously? Is it something students should prepare for so that you do well? Do Colleges Care About the PSAT? The PSAT is not used directly by colleges and universities when they make their college admissions decisions. Your acceptance or rejection into college … [Read more...]
News about SAT and ACT Tests
Update June 2020: The ACT has decided to add 3 new test dates to Fall 2020. Registration opens the last week of July. Mark your calendars! September Saturday, September 12 Sunday, September 13 Saturday, September 19 (new test date) October Saturday, October 10 (new test date)Saturday, October 17 (new test date)Saturday, October 24Sunday, October 25 … [Read more...]
How High School Courses Impact SAT Scores
Every year, high school juniors and seniors take the SAT. More than 1 million students annually across the nation participate and many take it more than once. Many students have been preparing for months after realizing how important high SAT scores are in college admissions and scholarship awards. Others don’t prepare or study much, many believing that it’s an ‘intelligence test’ and can’t be studied for, or that they want to just see how well … [Read more...]
How To Prepare for the College Interview
Some colleges require an in-person interview with all applicants. Other colleges allow the students to request an interview if desired, and will consider it as part of the admissions file. In both situations, college interviews provide an opportunity to learn more about the college and whether or not the student would be a good fit on the campus. If you are applying to a college that doesn't require, but does allow for, college interviews, you … [Read more...]
Which Colleges Superscore the SAT?
A student's test scores from the SAT or ACT are crucial for college admissions. But it's tricky to know when and which scores to send to which of the colleges on your list. Most colleges will use the highest scores sent to them, either from the same test day or highest score in each section over time, called superscore. What is an SAT Superscore? According to College Board, the creators of the SAT, Score Choice is "score-reporting feature that … [Read more...]
Major Changes to SAT Announced
The College Board, creators of the SAT, just announced major changes to the SAT! These changes won't go into effect until Spring 2016, so will only affect the class of 2017 and younger students. Here are the major changes: The essay will become optional, and will require students to analyze a passage. (Keep in mind that colleges may still require the essay for admissions. The overall scoring will revert back to the 1600 scale, with just … [Read more...]
What are the SAT IIs and Does Your Child Need to Take Them?
The College Board, the creator of the original SAT, has also created SAT IIs, better known as SAT Subject Tests to help students showcase their knowledge in certain subject areas. These Subject Tests are the only national college admissions tests where the students get to choose which subject they want to be tested on. SAT Subject Tests allow students to set themselves apart from other applicants and send a “send a strong message regarding … [Read more...]
More Texas Students Take the SAT But Scores Decline
Students take either the SAT or the ACT during junior and senior year of high school in order to get into college. In Texas, more and more students are choosing to participate in this testing, but, unfortunately, their scores are falling. The College Board, who administers the test, released a report last Monday that show the national and state average for all test takers. Texas, just like many of the states, showed an increase in … [Read more...]
