I.               WHAT ARE THE TESTS?

A.  Practice Test

 1.      PSAT/NMSQT:  (Preliminary Scholastic Assessment Test/ National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test) is a practice test for the SAT that is also used to determine National Merit semifinalists.  It is given once a year in October at CVHS, primarily to juniors.  The PSAT is appropriate for students who have completed at least Geometry, as the math section of the test covers a fair amount of geometry.  Many ninth and tenth graders take the PSAT as practice, but should also take the PSAT as eleventh graders.

 B.  College Entrance Examinations

 1.      SAT (Scholastic Assessment Test):  Generally taken during the junior and/or senior year.  The SAT Reasoning test is comprised of three sections: Critical Reading, Writing, and Math, with scores ranging from 200-800 for each section for a potential score of 2400.

 2.      ACT (American College Test):  Generally taken during the junior and/or senior year.  The ACT consists of four multiple-choice tests:  English, Reading, Math and Science Reasoning.  Students are given a score for each test, with scores ranging from 1-36.  These four scores are then averaged to arrive at a “Composite score.”  The ACT offers an optional  Writing Test that is only taken if a student intends to apply to a college requiring it.

 3.       SAT Subject Tests:  One-hour tests that measure a student’s knowledge in specific subject area (US History, Spanish, Physics, etc).  The tests are required by some of the more competitive colleges.  A student may want to take these tests following the completion of a high school course in that subject area.

II.          TEST FACTS (Q’s & A’s)

 A. Why take the ACT and/or SAT?

Almost all four-year colleges require scores for either the ACT or the SAT Reasoning.  Colleges generally accept scores from either test; however, to determine if the college you’re interested in requires or prefers the ACT or the SAT, check the college’s catalog.  Scores from testing may be used for admission, scholarships, and/or placement.  (Remember, tests may be used in combination with your other information; coursework, grades, activities etc). 

B.  When do I take the tests?

Most college bound students take theses tests by the spring of their junior year so that they will have time to retake them if their scores are not as high as they need to be.  Students may retake these tests as many times as they want and colleges will generally use the highest set of scores. ( The College Board forwards all test scores.) 

C.  Which tests should I take?

Students who are hoping to be accepted  to a competitive college or program, as well as students who are applying for scholarships, should consider taking both the ACT and SAT. 

D. How do I prepare for these tests?

Solid academic coursework is the best way to prepare for these tests and for college in general.  However, many students prepare for these tests by taking the PSAT/NMSQT and by participating in a review class and/or studying an ACT or SAT review book and/or CD ROM program.  Information about these opportunities and materials is available in the CVHS Career Center. 

E.  How do I sign up for these tests?

Registration information for the SAT Reasoning, ACT and SAT Subject Tests is available in the CVHS Career Center.  Students are encouraged to register online at www.collegeboard.com for the SAT and at www.actstudent.org for the ACT.  Tests are administered at a variety of locations (OSU, Salem, Eugene, etc).  Because the PSAT is administered at CVHS, students sign up in the Career Center in early fall. 

 For additional information and test dates: Check these web sites: www.collegeboard.com and www.act.org
For FREE online practice for both the ACT and SAT's see: www.4tests.com and www.Number2.com