No July 2021 ACT in New York
In most of the United States, the ACT is administered seven times. In New York, however, the ACT is only administered six times. Historically, this has meant that no test centers have been scheduled in New York for the July national test date, July of 2020 proved an exception to that otherwise ironclad rule, but, then again, a summer test date when most schools were still shut down by the pandemic was hardly the biggest surprise of the year. Why does the Empire State stand alone without a July ACT? Blame the Truth-in-Testing Law: The “truth in testing” law, known formally as the Admissions Testing Law, was adopted by the State Legislature in 1979 after lobbying by consumer, civil-rights and other groups. The law, which took effect in January 1980, requires sponsors and manufacturers of college admissions examinations to offer test takers the right, at the time scores are reported,…
The Case for the June SAT & ACT
Of all the test administrations of the year, the ones in June present the most problems. Many high schools have already flipped the CLOSED sign while others are facing finals and other culminating tests. Even worse, students have to contend with a host of other distractions: Playoffs and championships for spring sports Prom Exhaustion That summer feeling wafting through the classroom windows… Clearly, the odds of a student earning his or her best SAT or ACT scores in June appear unfavorable to say the least. No wonder we strongly recommend that high schoolers take the tests as early in junior year as makes sense based on preparation and extracurricular commitments. Yet, a case for the June SAT & ACT can and should be made. Three different groups of students benefit from blocking out the first two weekends of the month for testing: 1. Juniors who have already prepped but haven’t…
When to Take the SAT & ACT in 2021
“Planning without action is futile, action without planning is fatal.” At least that’s what project management exam prep expert Cornelius Fichtner says. While we may disagree in terms of degree, I fully support the idea that planning and action must always go together, especially in test prep. That’s why, when Punam Saxena of edu-Me invited me to speak about any topic related to the SAT & ACT on her splendid podcast, I chose to focus on planning. As Punam herself says, creating a schedule and ensuring that your child is efficient with their time is critical for maintaining sanity and doing well on the test. Are you interesting in a big picture overview of when teens should take the SAT or ACT? How about getting into the nitty-gritty details? When is the best time to take the ACT or SAT? When is the best time to prepare for these tests?…
Frequently Asked Questions About When to Take the SAT or ACT
Back in the early days of college admissions testing, students generally tested at the same time. However, we’ve come a long way from the days of exclusively testing at the end of junior year and the beginning of senior year. The big tests now grace nearly every month of the calendar year. In fact, no matter what week or month you read this, lots of high schoolers are preparing to take their SAT or ACT. So, before you decide when you or your teen should sit for these very influential exams, consider the options… MONTH BY MONTH What is the case for the February ACT? What is the case for the March SAT? What is the case for the April ACT? What is the case for the May SAT? What is the case for the June SAT & ACT? What is the case for the July ACT? What is the…
College Admissions Testing for the HS Classes of 2021 and 2022 Q&A
Earlier this week, I had the privilege to speak to a large group of families from the Pittsford and Fairport school districts. In this College Admissions Testing for the HS Classes of 2021 and 2022 Seminar, I explained what the tests are, why they matter, and what you can and should do about them during this singular moment in recent history. Attendees submitted questions ahead of time, so we made sure to address the following points: Does it make sense for me to take the SAT/ACT if I have a strong GPA and colleges are making it optional? What does test optional really mean? Will the SAT/ACT be required for the class of 2022? When should students in the class of 2021 or 2022 try to take the tests? How has COVID changed the role of testing? What is the best preparation for the PSAT? What habits should students cultivate…
Why September is Awesome for Testing
Traditionally, high school students are supposed to take the SAT and/or ACT at the end of junior year and, if needed, the beginning of senior year. COVID-19 ruined most opportunities to test in the spring of 2020, but College Board and ACT have responded with a ton of fall options. If all goes well, September will be a month like no other with more official SATs and ACTs than every before. That’s good news, as September may be the best month of the year for testing? Why should people get excited about testing right as they get back to school? Well, obviously, July and August have a lot to do with what makes September so great for testing. During those blissful summer months, most teens historically enjoy a much lighter academic and extracurricular schedule. The current pandemic has further constrained activity to the point where some SAT & ACT prep…