Standardized Testing

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Almost all colleges and universities require some standardized testing as part of the admissions application.� Unfortunately, these requirements are not uniform.� Some colleges require only the SAT I, some require the SAT I and up to three SAT II subject tests.� Few schools require the ACT but many allow you to substitute it for either the SAT I or both the SAT I and SAT II.� Each college will have testing requirement information in their application materials.� Be sure you are meeting each college�s requirements.� So that you meet the most stringent of testing requirements, and are prepared to apply to schools with early deadlines in the fall, the college office suggests the following standardized testing plan:

 

SAT I - To be taken spring of the junior year and again in the fall of the senior year, if deemed necessary.� For most students, it makes sense to take this test twice.� Almost all colleges will take a �best score,� either of your best test or as a combination of more than one test.

 

SAT II - To be taken spring of the junior year and again in the fall of the senior year, if deemed necessary.� Students have the opportunity to take three different hour-long subject tests in each sitting and should do so. �All students should take the Writing test, and most students should take one of the math tests.� Ask the College Counseling Office if you have questions about which tests to take.

 

ACT � Especially appealing to students who are not as comfortable with the format of the SAT I test, the ACT can be compared to a combination of the SAT I and II in subject matter.� This test should be taken in the spring of the junior year, if at all, and the fall of the senior year, if deemed necessary.

 

REGISTERING FOR THE SAT I, II, AND THE ACT

 

Please remember that it is your responsibility to register for standardized testing.� The College Counseling Office has all of the necessary registration forms for the SAT and the ACT.� The first time you register for the SAT, you must register by mail.� Each subsequent registration can be done by mail, by phone (see registration booklet), or via the internet at www.collegeboard.org.� When you register, you should request St. Mark�s as your test center.� Pay attention to the registration deadlines.� If you register late, there is a possibility that you will be assigned to a different test center.� During busy test periods (June and October), late registrants may be assigned to distant test sites since local test sites fill up very quickly

 

All registration for the ACT is done by mail.� As St. Mark�s is not a test center for the ACT, you should request a test center that is convenient for you.

 

 

REPORTING TEST SCORES TO COLLEGES

 

Many colleges require that students� test scores be sent directly from the testing service.� If this is the case at the colleges to which you are applying, you should make sure that you get your scores sent to each of the colleges well before each college�s application deadline.� Each time you register for the SAT, you have the opportunity to send your scores to six colleges without any extra charge.� You also can request score reports by mail or by phone.� Instructions for these procedures are in the SAT registration packet.� Remember, however, that if the schools to which you are applying require both the SAT I and SAT II, you will have to wait to review you SAT II scores,� �release� the scores you want sent to colleges, then have them sent to colleges. (See Score Choice, below, for information on releasing SAT II scores). Keep a written record of all score reporting requests, especially when using the internet.

 

If the colleges to which you are applying do not require that you have your test scores sent directly from the testing service, the college office will send out your scores on a St. Mark�s School Standardized Testing Transcript.� We will send out all of your SAT I test scores and only the SAT II scores which you choose to release.� However, we must have your permission in writing to do so.� We will ask you for this permission in the fall of your senior year.

 

Should you need a copy of your Standardized Testing Transcript prepared prior to your senior year, see Mrs. Llewellyn.

 

SCORE CHOICE

 

If you choose Score Choice when you register for the SAT II, your scores are sent only to you and St. Mark�s, not to colleges.� Sending scores is a two-step procedure. After reviewing your scores, you may �release� certain scores to be included in your permanent testing record, by completing the necessary instructions outlined by College Board.� Once you have set your new testing profile, you must separately request through ETS that your scores be sent to each college to which you are applying.�� While all SAT I test results will appear automatically in your file, Score Choice enables you to send only your best SAT II scores to colleges and �hide� any low test score(s).� Note: Colleges usually require certain test scores, so you will have to release those scores which are required as part of your application.

 

Please keep in mind that selecting Score Choice during a fall testing may delay score reporting to colleges.� If you are planning to meet an early admissions deadline and are also considering Score Choice, please talk to the College Counseling Office before registering for the fall testing.

 

STANDBY TESTING

 

If you miss the late registration deadline for a standardized test, you may be able to take the test as a standby.� There is no guarantee, however, that you will be admitted to the test center as a standby.� Standbys are admitted on a first-come first-served basis and only if the test center has sufficient testing materials.� You will also have to pay a substantial additional fee for the privilege of standby testing.� Do not rely on this option!