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SAT/ACT General Info

The SAT and ACT are college entrance exams that all students should take to apply to a four year college or university.  These tests can be taken multiple times, but they are only offered at certain times of the year. Many colleges are "Test Optional" but most use ACT and/or SAT to determine merit scholarships. 

    

Are the SAT/ACT different?

Yes.  The SAT and ACT are two different college entrance exams from two separate companies, but both are widely accepted.  

 

 

Which should I take, the SAT or ACT?

It's hard to tell what test a student will do better on. We recommend students try both test to see which they prefer.  After receiving scores and seeing which is better, a student can identify the test they wish to continue taking and improve their score.  Please check out this link to see the differences between the tests:  http://www.princ

etonreview.com/sat-act.aspx .

 

When should I take the SAT/ACT?

I recommend that students begin taking the tests in the spring semester of their junior year.  This will give students plenty of time to continue to study and retake their test to improve their scores.  

 

What is a good score?

There is no exact answer to a "good" score.  Every college has different requirements for admissions.  We recommend that you look up your prospective college's score requirements for admission.

How much does the SAT/ACT cost?

Cost of exams changes so please check www.collegeboard.org

If you qualify for free or reduced lunch, you will be eligible for a fee waiver.  Students can use up to two fee waivers per test (depending on availability).  Please come by college and career if you would like to receive a waiver.

 

How do I register for the SAT/ACT?

Registration for the SAT and ACT is done completely online.  For the SAT,www.collegeboard.org  and for the ACT,  www.actstudent.org .  Students will need to create an account for each test.  Make sure you save and write down your account username and password.  MWHS does not have any access to these accounts, and cannot reset them.  For more inormation about registering, check out the section below titled "Registering for the SAT/ACT".

 

How do colleges get my scores?

When you register for the tests, you can choose up to 4 colleges to receive your scores for free.  If you wait until after the tests, you will have to pay for each school that you send your scores to.  The cost is approximately $12 per score per school.

 

How do I study for the SAT/ACT?

There are many free online resources for students to utilize to help prepare for the tests.  We recommend khanacademy.org. There is also a free mobile app that students can download called Bench Prep.  Students are also welcome to check out books from our library.