Many schools will accept the ACT as an alternative to the SAT I. Some folks find that they are more suited to one test than the other. We encourage students to take a look at both tests to determine which one might be better for them.
For more selective schools and for the University of California system, in addition to the SAT I or ACT you will also need to take the SAT II: Subject Tests. Of these colleges, most ask their applicants to take three subject tests. Of those three, most require the Writing exam and either of the Math exams (IC or IIC). The third choice is up to you; there are 22 subjects from which to choose. Choose the subject that makes the most sense for you. If you excel in a particular subject, take the SAT II Subject Test in that subject (assuming it is offered, of course).
One more important point: While some colleges do not use scores on the SAT II: Subject Tests as a factor in admissions, they do use them for college placement. Be sure to take a look at the admissions requirements for the schools on your list.
When to Take It
The SAT I is offered seven times a year: October, November, December, January, March/April, May, and June. The ACT is offered six times a year: September, October, December, February, April and June. Most likely, you've already taken the test at least once. If not, don't panic-you've got some time, but not a lot of flexibility.
If you have yet to take the SAT I or the ACT and you are a HS Senior, you should plan to take the first test offered once school starts: October for the SAT and September for the ACT. If necessary, you can wait until the next administration November for the SAT and October for the ACT. But, you should keep in mind that it takes approximately three weeks for scores to be reported, so in many cases, later test dates will be too late to meet a deadline in early January.
If you need to take one or more SAT II: Subject Tests in addition to the SAT I or ACT, you'll need to be even more on the ball. You can take up to three SAT II exams on a test day (each test is one-hour long), but not all tests are offered on all test days and this makes for a grueling day-think finals with a twist!
Your Fall testing scheduling could look like this if you need to take both the SAT I and SAT II:
- October: SAT I (or ACT)
- November: SAT II (1-3 tests)
- December: Re-take SAT I or SAT II(s), if necessary, OR take additional SAT IIs
If you are planning to take an SAT II: Subject Test in a Foreign Language with Listening and ELPTTM, be aware that they are only offered in designated testing centers and are not offered on the October or December test date.
Preparing to Take the SAT I & SAT II
Once you've solidified your schedule (and marked registration deadlines and test dates on your calendar!), start thinking about how you are going to fit preparation into your schedule. These scores mean a lot to most colleges and some time spent getting a solid score on your first take is your smartest route.
A preparation course can certainly give you the added edge on test day, but it's not the only option you have to prepare. Depending on your time, budget, and motivation, you can prepare in a course, with a private tutor, online, or on your own with books. A great place to start is by taking a practice test. You can take an online practice SAT and/or ACT for free on PrincetonReview.com. Your test results can help direct your preparation efforts.
Score Reports & Requesting Scores
Once you've taken the test, you'll need to send your scores to schools. Your scores will automatically be sent to you and your high school.
If you know which schools you are likely to apply to when you register, take advantage of the four free reports you get during registration. Additional score reports from ETS can be requested for $6.50 per report. Since all your scores will be reported anyway, we recommend that you do not wait to see your scores before submitting them to schools.
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