Frequently Asked Questions

High school Timeline for College Planning

This is a General College Planning Timeline (each student is unique so this is flexible)

Before 9th grade

1 hour meeting to discuss high school choice and curriculum selection

9th grade mid-year

1 hour meeting to discuss course selection, extra curricular activities, summer plans, high school timeline

10th grade mid-year

1 hour meeting to discuss course selection, extra curricular activities, summer plans, high school timeline
Begin Best Fit Package
Start Test Prep Pkg 2 or 3: Practice Tests in May/June then prep summer between 10th and 11th grade

11th grade

Fall/Winter

1 hour meeting to discuss course selection, extra curricular activities, summer plans, high school timeline
Start or continue test prep
Begin Best Fit Package or
Meet to update the list that was created

Spring/Summer

request teacher recommendations
plan admissions strategies (ED/Rolling/EA/Regular)
Work on College Applications
Write common app essay
Write supplemental essays

12th grade

Continue with test prep if needed/desired
Work on College Applications
Write common app essay
Write supplemental essays

When should I take my first standardized test?

Starting too early is not ideal as it can lead to frustration and burn out.

Highest scores are usually earned spring of junior year through fall of senior year.
It is ideal to have testing completed by end of junior year. For early decision, early action, rolling admissions, many students like to complete testing by June of junior year. Most of these schools, however, accept scores through the October test taken senior year.
For some regular decision schools, the last test date is December of senior year.
The Ideal testing calendar would allow you to take the test of choice at least three times. While all three times may not be needed, it is best to plan three test dates incase they are needed.

Four Timing Options for Testing and Test Prep

Screen Shot 2020-03-30 at 2.15.38 PM.png

Screen Shot 2020-03-30 at 2.15.47 PM.png

Screen Shot 2020-03-30 at 2.15.55 PM.png

Screen Shot 2020-03-30 at 2.16.08 PM.png

How do my SAT and ACT scores compare to each other?

- Concordance Table

Other things to know before picking a test:

Super-scoring: more schools super-score the SAT than the ACT (This decision is controlled by the colleges and is subject to change at any time. Checking the school’s website is the only way to know the school’s current policy.)Super-scoring means combining the highest section score from different test dates.

Accommodations

SAT and ACT extra time is added to each individual section (if given 1 hour to take the English Language, the student must wait that full hour before moving on to math)

Cancelling of Scores

SAT – you have until 11:59 EDT Wednesday after you take the test to cancel your scores
ACT – If you ordered that your scores be sent to schools, you have until Thursday noon central time after the Saturday you took the ACT to stop your ACT scores from being sent to the schools. ACT also has a process to delete a test from record.

Sending of Scores to Colleges

SAT – scores are ordered and sent in a bundle
ACT – scores are ordered and sent one test at a time

***all of the above information is subject to change – the only way to know the current information is to visit the SAT, ACT or college websites

What is score choice: your ability to choose which test scores you want to send to colleges.

What are the differences between the SAT and the ACT?

There is no longer an essay on the SAT

Do I need to take both the SAT and the ACT?

- No college requires both SAT and ACT scores. EDNavigators suggests taking a practice SAT and a practice ACT and based on the results and feel of the testing experience, selecting either SAT or ACT to prep for and take for real.

Is there a certain month when the SAT/ACT is easier?

- No, they are all scored on a scale that is determined before the test date.

Is my SAT score a good score?

- Understanding Scores 2017 by College Board provides a percentage of each score https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/pdf/understanding-sat-scores.pdf

This score is equal to or better than this percent of National Sample

SAT ACT = to or better than

950 18 38 percent

980 19 44 percent

1020 20 52 percent

1080 21 63 percent

1120 22 70 percent

1190 24 80 percent

1240 26 85 percent

1290 27 90 percent

1360 29 95 percent

1420 31 98 percent

1450 32 99 percent

1520 34 99+ percent

When are the Real SAT and ACT Offered?

SAT

ACT

If I do test prep with EDNavigators, can Sandy suggest colleges for me?

Sandy will only recommend colleges to students who complete the Best Fit Package.

There are so many components that go in to creating a student’s college list and recommending majors, and the college decision is such a big one for a student and family on many levels. Sandy does not feel comfortable making recommendations without gathering and assessing all of the background information that comes with the Best Fit Package.

How far apart should I space my prep sessions?

Allow time to complete 4 hours of homework between each session. For some students a week apart works, for others 2 weeks. Over breaks, sometimes students prefer to meet five days in a row. - The sessions just need start after the practice test(s) and finish before the real test date,

Should I submit my test score?

This depends upon many factors (college, major, high school transcript, high school profile, unique student circumstances), and it is a very important decision. For students who have completed Best Fit or Test Prep with EDNavigators, we can help you decide whether to sent scores and to which colleges. Scheduling links for this meeting are on your CCP dashboard.

Do colleges prefer the SAT or the ACT?

Both tests are accepted equally everywhere.

Which Colleges Require Test Scores

As of March 2023, this is the list of colleges requiring standardized tests. Please confirm each college you are considering as these policies change.

Public Universities in Florida
Georgia Tech
University of Georgia
Purdue
Georgetown
University of Tennessee (state-wide)
MIT
Military Academies

Notes

SMU is hinting at bringing back the test requirement

Penn State announced it will be test optional for 2024 and 2025 high school graduates

Will I take the Digital SAT or the Paper SAT?

Digital SAT Timeline

March 2023 - International SAT is digital

Fall 2023 - PSAT is digital (SAT School Day and Weekend tests will still be paper and pencil)

Spring 2024 - SAT will be fully digital for everyone

So…students graduating in 2024 - you will be taking the paper and pencil SAT

Students graduating in 2025 and after, you will be taking the paper SAT until December 2023 and all digital SATs thereafter (the PSAT in October of 2023 will be digital)

How Do I order the SAT QAS?

The QAS is available for the October, March and May SATs. Option 1: Order the QAS when registering for the SAT

Option 2: If student name took the Saturday SAT in October, March or May, the QAS can be ordered through the student's College Board Login after the scores have been released. Under the My Score Reports heading, click on the test you want to order the QAS for and a yellow PURCHASE button for the full answer key should be on the screen.

Option 3: call College Board customer service at 866-630-9305 or email them here

What is the difference between the SAT SAS and the SAT QAS?

The SAT SAS(Student Answer Service) provides testers a list of the question numbers in each section that were missed.

The SAT QAS (Question Answer Service) is only offered on the Saturday tests in March, May and October and provides the student with the entire test content including the incorrect answer that the student selected and the correct answer for each question.

Which Colleges are Test Free? (they do not look at standardized tests)

California State System

Cornell

College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
College of Architecture, Art, and Planning
Cornell SC Johnson College of Business - Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management
Cornell SC Johnson College of Business - Peter and Stephanie Nolan School of Hotel Administration

Caltech

Dickinson College

Hampshire College

LaSalle UniversityLoyola

University New Orleans

Northern Illinois University

Pitzer College (part of Claremonts)

Reed College

Stonehill College

University of California System

University of Washington

Washington State University

Worcester Polytechnic Institute

I have an essay written. Can EDNavigators just review it?

College essays are unique. We are trained in gathering the necessary information from the student, selecting what is important and guiding the student thorough conveying their unique story in 650 words or less. We need to get to know the student through the brainstorming session in order to have the information we need to guide them in creating an impactful and memorable college application ready essay. We also find too many different editors/opinions frustrate the student and muddy the message. Therefore, we will not just read over a student's essay. We only work on college essays with students who purchase and complete the EDNavigator's college essay package.