College Planning Guide

College Entrance Examinations

• PSAT/NMSQT : Described earlier in this guide. The Guidance Office subscribes to the point of view among admission professionals and the National Merit Corporation that PSAT scores, because of their "preliminary" nature, should not be provided to colleges as an admission credential.

• SAT Reasoning Test (formerly called the SAT I) : Scholastic Assessment Test. Administered in October, November, December, January, March, May, and June. The exact dates vary from year to year and are listed on the school calendar.

• SAT Subject Tests (formerly called the SAT II’s) : Subject tests are available for Literature, U.S. History, World History, Math Level I, Math Level II, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, French, German, Modern Hebrew, Italian, Latin, and Spanish. Subject tests are offered on many--but not all--SAT dates (German, Italian, and Hebrew are offered only once a year). They may not, however, be taken on the same day that a student sits for the SAT Reasoning Test. Some colleges require certain subject tests and some colleges do not even require SAT Subject Tests.

• ACT : American College Testing Program. Described earlier in the guide. The tests are usually administered in September, October, December, February, April, and June.