BHSPA


Preliminary Planning for College: SAT

SAT I and Act

What is the SAT I Test
The SAT I is a requirement for college admission and is generally perceived by admissions officers as an indicator of how well the student will perform academically in college. The current SAT I is a 3-hour test in two sections: verbal and math. However this academic year a new version of the SAT I will be given from March, ’05 on. The new Sat I is a 3 hour and 45 minute test, and has the following changes, shown from the CollegeBoard website:

What Will Change?

Writing (new section)
  • Multiple-choice questions (grammar and usage)
  • Student-written essay
Critical Reading (currently called Verbal)
  • Analogies eliminated
  • Short reading passages added to existing long reading passages
Math
  • Math content expanded to include topics from third-year college preparatory math
  • Quantitative comparisons eliminated

More detailed information about the new SAT I is available on the website.

When to Take the SAT I
Traditionally: Take the SAT I in the Spring of the Junior year and again in the Fall of the Senior year.

This Year Only: Consider taking the current SAT I in the Fall, and then the new SAT I in the Spring.

Yet another opinion: Review your PSAT scores in December, and decide then whether to take the old SAT I in January or the new test in the Spring. If your student’s scores in math and verbal are strong, stay with the old test. If the writing scores are stronger, then your student could benefit from the new version of the test.

How to Register for SAT I
Register for the SAT I on-line or by mail (you can use the telephone to re-register for subsequent tests, but not the first time you register): Student Descriptive Questionnaire (SDQ)
The SDQ is an optional part of the SAT registration for that asks about interests, honors, activities, and preferences. If the student completes this section, his name becomes part of the Student Search Services.

ACT vs. SAT I
Students on the East and West coasts generally take the SAT I test while many students in the Midwest and South take the American College Test.

The ACT is a score choice test. Your student can choose to send only their best scores or not report these scores at all.

The SAT I is considered a scholastic aptitude test while ACT is considered an achievement test. Most colleges accept the ACT instead of the SAT I but it is always best to check with colleges in which you might be interested to be sure. Schools that require the Sat I and Sat II will often accept the ACT in lieu of the SAT II. This is a nice option since your student’s ACT scores are score choice.

Like the SAT I, ACT is a 3 hour test. It consists of 4 subject tests of 35-50 minutes each in: ACT provides four separate scores and a composite score that averages the tests. Scores can range from 1 (low) to 36 (high)

For complete registration information, call ACT, Inc. during normal business hours at 319-337-1270 or go to Act.org.

Preparing for the SAT I and ACT
There are many resources, organizations and Web sites to help students prepare for the ACT and SAT tests. Start by contacting the respective testing organizations through the registration information above.

Test Preparation Web Sites
The following is sampling of additional Web sites that can help students prepare: Test Preparation Companies
There are also many companies that specialize in helping students prepare for all of the college admissions tests. The best known of the local area companies include: Test Preparation Private Tutoring
Many families choose to engage private tutors to help their student prepare. Local options for private tutoring include: SAT I and ACT 2006-2007 Test Dates
The registration and test dates for ACT and SAT I for 2006-2007 are in the tables below.

SAT Test Dates Regular Deadline Late Fee Deadline
October 14, 2006 September 12, 2006 September 20, 2006
November 4, 2006 September 29, 2006 October 11, 2006
December 2, 2006 November 1, 2006 November 9, 2006
January 27, 2007 December 20, 2006 January 4, 2007
March 10, 2007 February 2, 2007 February 14, 2007
May 5, 2007 March 29, 2007 April 11, 2007
June 2, 2007 April 27, 2007 May 9, 2007

ACT Test Dates Regular Deadline Late Fee Deadline
September 16, 2006 August 18, 2006 August 25, 2006
October 28, 2006 September 22, 2006 October 6, 2006
December 9, 2006 November 3, 2006 November 16, 2006
February 10, 2007 January 5, 2007 January 19, 2007
April 14, 2007 March 9, 2007 February 14, 2007
May 5, 2007 March 29, 2007 March 23, 2007

SAT II Subject Tests

What are SAT II Tests and Why Take Them
Many colleges require or recommend one or more of the SAT II Subject Tests for admission or placement. Remember that some colleges will accept the score choice ACT exam in lieu of SAT II. Other college uses the SAT II for placement purposes only; in that case it may be wise to postpone taking the SAT II until after your student has been accepted. Some colleges require that students take three SAT II tests: 1 in math, 1 in writing, and 1 in science or foreign language. Before deciding which tests to take, your student should: Many colleges that don't require Subject Test scores will still review them since they can give a fuller picture of the candidate’s academic background.

SAT II Subject Tests
SAT II Subject Tests are each 1-hour long. Those offered in 2004-2005 are:

English Literature
History U.S. History
World History
Languages Chinese with Listening
French
French with Listening
German
German with Listening
Modern Hebrew
Italian
Japanese with Listening
Korean with Listening
Latin
Spanish
Spanish with Listening
English Language Proficiency
Mathematics Level IC
Level IIC
Science Biology E/M
Chemistry
Physics

Which Tests to Take
Encourage your student to focus on her strongest subjects and to take the corresponding SAT II Subject Test when he is best prepared, most often as soon as the course is completed.
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