Parents and high school students always ask us how important are the ACTs and SATs?

My answer....VERY!!!! Colleges rarely admit this in public. That's not to say that a super high score is necessary, but it's more than likely that your child will need to take it. Your son or daughter should be willing to give up a few Saturday mornings as a small sacrifice to make their future great. 

How many times should he/she take the test?
The standard answer is at least twice. 

When should they start taking the tests?
Increasingly, I am recommending that students take a diagnostic ACT and SAT at the end of sophomore year (June) or at the beginning of junior year (August). 

What score should my kid aim for?
Your child needs to do the best they can do. They need to prepare with a tutor. Yes, elite schools have score expectations but please do not put pressure on your kid to get a certain score. With over 3,000 colleges and universities in the country, we will help them to find the right places to consider regardless of their score. 

Here are a few other responses to some FAQs: 

What’s going on with test-optional admissions right now?
Test-optional policies are not new. Many colleges were test-optional before COVID, but test-optional announcements are continuing due to the pandemic and massive test cancellations. Test-optional policies are back in the news now as many schools have extended their temporary policies due to the pandemic.

What does test-optional really mean?
With test-optional policies on the rise, informed college applicants need to understand what test-optional is and what it isn’t. A test-optional policy does not mean that ACT and SAT scores are not considered as part of the admissions decision, only that they are not required to submit an application. In other words: test-optional does not mean test-blind. Test-blind schools do not accept or consider standardized test scores at all. 

How will test-optional colleges look at my application if I do (or don’t) submit scores?Over five hundred colleges and universities took a pledge through the National Association for College Admissions Counseling, stating that they would not penalize students who did not submit scores. 

What should my 11th Grader do now?
Stay the standardized testing course. If your child is not registered for a test yet, please do so soon and also get a diagnostic evaluation from a test-prep company to decide if the ACT or SAT is best. We recommend: https://www.firateducation.com/

If you have more questions as you start to plan, their tutors are exceptional and can help you to schedule a practice test and provide individualized guidance.

For a full list of test-optional colleges, see the link below: 
http://fairtest.org/university/optional

Best Tutoring Companies
http://www.firateducation.com/fes/

http://36education.com/#/about/

Best Articles About the Tests
http://blog.prepscholar.com/what-do-ivy-league-schools-think-of-the-act

https://www.petersons.com/college-search/test-prep-act-sat.aspx#/sweeps-modal

http://www.compassprep.com/sat-and-act-planning-and-prep/