Test Information

• The ACT is approximately 3 hours long 
• The ACT is made up of four sections —  English, Math, Reading, and Science Reasoning - with an optional essay.

• The SAT is approximately 3 hours long
• The SAT is made up of two sections —  Reading/Writing,  & Math (with calculator and no calculator).

All colleges accept either the SAT or the ACT as part of their applications, but these tests differ in important ways.

• Princeton Review Comparison
• StudyPoints "Key Differences between the SAT and ACT"
• PrepScholar.com's Comparison Guide

• In your sophomore year, take the state-sponsored PSAT 10 in April.
  • Watch for announcements from the counseling office about when and how to register.
• Take free practice tests, available on ACT and SAT websites, and compare your scores.
  • SAT Practice Tests
  • ACT Practice Test
• Consider taking a practice test at a local test prep center.
  • These centers provide FREE, proctored practice tests on a regular  basis, usually without obligation to purchase tutoring sessions.
  • The proctored classroom environment simulates the actual ACT or SAT situation, as opposed to a self-timed environment at home.
  • Click here for a list of local test prep centers.

Because colleges have varying requirements, the ACT offers an optional essay section. The ACT calls this its optional "Writing Test," which is  requested by registering for the ACT Plus Writing test. 

As a general rule, most students take the ACT or SAT or both during the spring of their junior year. Then, depending on the results, they may choose to take one of the tests again in June or in the fall of senior year.

A state-sponsored college SAT is administered to Juniors in April of each school year.

• Consider your academic readiness. While the ACT and the SAT have similar reading and writing sections, there are some important differences.
  • The SAT Reading section contains more challenging vocabulary and  questions relying on evidence-based reading. ACT Reading section is more of a reading comprehension test.
  • Both ACT and SAT Math sections are heavily focused on algebra,  including manipulating equations and expressions, writing equations to  solve word problems, solving quadratics, and working with formulas.  While both tests include questions in geometry and trigonometry, the ACT contains more problems and does not provide common formulas. The ACT also tests more topics than the SAT, including logarithms, graphs of trig functions, and matrices, none of which are tested in the SAT.
• Consider your testing calendar. Do you have other tests that you plan to take in the spring of your junior year, including AP or IB? If you will be taking several of these tests, you may want to be finished with ACT or SAT tests prior to the spring.
• Consider your college application calendar:
  • If you are not satisfied with your test score, or your college  application list includes universities where accepted applicants  typically have mean scores higher than yours, you may want more time to  retest to obtain a higher composite score.
  • Are you applying Early Decision or Early Action? If so, your first  application may be due as early as October or November of your senior  year. All application components, including standardized test scores,  must be ready to send. Consider completing SAT or ACT testing no later  than September of your senior year. Click here to learn more about college application deadlines.
  • Students considering participation in Division I, II or III  athletics should be prepared to have test scores available by August before their senior year. See Athletics in College. These students should have ACT or SAT testing completed by June of their junior year.
  • Fine Arts majors may need to be finished with testing so they can prepare portfolios and complete auditions in the fall.
• Consider your other commitments. Will you be participating in  very time-consuming extra-curriculars in the spring of your junior year? Are you taking IB courses that require intensive research or study  for IB Internal Assessments due in February or March? Are you a member  of Choir or Band that requires extra time commitment in the fall or spring? Consider taking the ACT or SAT in the semester when you have most flexibility to prepare.

In April of each school year, all juniors are offered a state-sponsored college entrance test at Fairview. 

• This is a FREE opportunity for juniors to take the test and receive an official score.
• This exam was determined by state legislators, along with input from school districts and PARCC, to be a comprehensive assessment for 11th grade Reading, Writing and Math. The state-sponsored test given in April will thus serve the dual purpose of assessing college and career readiness and providing students with an entrance exam result widely accepted by U.S. colleges. The decision was made to reduce the testing  burden placed on students.

You may benefit from taking the ACT or SAT a couple of times - but  research shows that your chances of improving your score after three  times is very low.

There are many opportunities for test preparation for the SAT and ACT which range in cost and approach.

Most importantly, choose a program that fits your learning style and that you will USE!

Plan your study schedule so that your preparation finishes within two  weeks of the date when you are scheduled to take the test. One schedule  many students use is to take a prep course in the summer and take the  test in the fall.

• Test Prep Books: Both the ACT and SAT, as well as many other companies, publish test  prep books. You can find these books online or at local bookstores. A  sampling is available through the Fairview Academic Achievement Center.
• Online Programs: The ACT, SAT, and many other companies also offer online test prep programs. These courses are available for a range of fees. Free online prep for the SAT is available at Kahn Academy.
• Classroom courses: If you prefer to attend a test prep class, watch for classes through BVSD’s Lifelong Learning, and other private companies.
• Private Tutors: Tutors are an additional option for test prep. See Private SAT and ACT Test Preparation Classes for more information.

• ACT.org
• CollegeBoard.org

• ACT Test Dates
• SAT Test Dates

• Standby Testing (ACT)
• SAT Waitlist

• When you register to take the ACT or the SAT, you will have the  option of listing up to 4 places where you’d like to have your scores sent. There is no additional fee for this service.
• If you prefer to wait until after you see your scores, you can submit a request on the ACT or College Board websites to have your scores sent to colleges and scholarship sites of your choice. There is a  fee for each report that you request.
• ACT maintains the scores by test date and allows you to choose which date(s) you would like to send. How to send ACT scores
• College Board SAT Score Choice allows you to select your best scores by test date to send. How to send SAT scores
• Some colleges allow you to select your best SAT scores and/or ACT test dates, but a few require that you send ALL scores. Always check individual college requirements before registering for tests and sending scores.
• Many colleges do not retain application materials for more than a  year, and some purge the materials at the end of each application season. While most students take the tests in their junior year, it’s generally safer to start sending scores after August 1st before your senior year, as that is the date most colleges begin accepting  application materials for your graduating class. You are also more likely to have compiled a more realistic college application list by  then.

• Both the ACT and the College Board provide appropriate accommodations for students who have documented disabilities.
  • SAT for Students with Disabilities
  • ACT for Students with Disabilities
• The process for submitting documentation to request test accommodations  is coordinated by the Fairview Counselors. Contact your counselor if you  plan to take the ACT or SAT and believe that you qualify for accommodations.
• Begin the process several weeks before you plan to take the test for the  first time. Choose your test date and register for the ACT or SAT.  Then, email your test registration form to your counselor.
• Your counselor and teachers will submit documentation to the testing  companies. This documentation will be reviewed and a decision will be  made about the accommodations you may receive.
• You may appeal the decision is you feel it is incorrect. Remember to work with your counselor who will be the person communicating with the testing company.
• Once you are approved for accommodations by College Board, this approval will remain in effect until one year after your high school graduation.  It can be used on the SAT, PSAT/NMSQT, and AP Exams.  You do not need to request accommodations a second time.

• Students in Advanced Placement (AP) courses.
• Students in International Baccalaureate (IB) courses.
• ESL (English as Second Language) students.

• Honors students: High AP and IB exam scores can offer substantial college credit. The  amount of college credit awarded varies from college to college. To  investigate the details for particular colleges, check the college websites or seek information from the Fairview College and Career Center or the school counselors.

• IB students: In some cases, taking the AP exam can earn a student more college credit than IB courses or exams alone. Therefore, it is important for  students who are taking IB classes, as well as the students in AP classes, to consider taking AP exams. Students who are taking IB courses are often very well prepared for the matching AP exams because of the IB coursework. One of the most common comments from alumni who took IB courses is, “I wish I had taken more AP exams.”

• ESL students: These students may have the background to do well on AP exams, especially the exams for world languages.

• For college admissions: In the college admissions process, AP and/or IB are useful in  providing evidence that students have sought academic challenge in high school, an important criterion in admission to selective colleges.

• AP exams are low risk. Students choose which AP exam scores get reported to which colleges.

• Skip introductory college courses. Students who take AP and/or IB exams with a qualifying exam grade often have the option to skip introductory course work in college. This makes it easier for students to complete a four-year program in four years, study abroad, or to pursue higher-level coursework, or even a double major, if desired.

• In some cases, you can obtain a higher priority for college course registration. At some colleges, several high exam scores can classify an incoming  freshman as a junior or sophomore, which gives a student a higher priority rating with class registration. This can be especially helpful during the registration process at large universities, where classes can fill quickly before freshmen get a chance to register.

• For AP and IB Exam dates and registration, go to the Fairview Honors Program page.
• Note that while the tests are not administered until May, registration deadlines are usually in October.
• You are not required to take a Fairview course to take AP exams, but you must prepare on your own and register for the exam by the deadlines  set by the IB department.

The following chart shows some possible correlations between honors courses at Fairview with College Board Advanced Placement (AP) Exams. Whether you are taking AP or IB courses, or some of each, you may be well prepared to take the AP Exam that matches your course.

If the course includes "AP" in its title, it is specifically designed to prepare you for the corresponding AP exam. In some cases, the course may partially prepare you for the exam, but require additional self-study, which can be achieved by purchasing study guides for that exam or viewing sample questions on the AP website. In all cases, it is advised that you speak to teachers prior to course selection and AP exam registration to determine how the course would prepare you for particular AP exams. AP exam registration is typically done in October for the May exam date.

Detailed requirements and suggested preparation for each AP exam can be found on the CollegeBoard AP website.

Click here to see possible Course Matching for AP/IB tests

• Go to the College Board AP Website to see sample test questions, test taking tips by subject and other information about the exams.
• If needed, you can buy preparation booklets from College Board, at bookstores and online book suppliers.
• Fairview has a license to Albert.io. This is an online platform that has practice materials and tests for all AP tests. Talk to your teacher to set up access to this resource.
• Allow a full morning or afternoon for each exam. Exams typically take up to 3 hours of actual test time, plus one-half hour more for administration.

• Your Fairview IB course directly prepares you for the corresponding IB exam.
• IB exam preparation books can also be purchased online.
• Allow a full morning or afternoon for each exam. Exams typically take up to 3 hours of actual test time, plus one-half hour more for administration.

• Instructions for viewing and sending AP test scores can be found here. For AP tests, grade withholding and cancellation can be requested for individual test scores.
• IB test scores are sent to colleges during the summer after senior year. Requests for these scores are made through the Fairview Honors Program office during spring of the senior year.