While test optional admissions policies have been around for a while, they have gained a lot of national attention over the last several years, as more and more schools have adopted these policies. With all of the current media buzz and conflicting information, it can be hard to separate fact from fiction. There are a…
Read more...What the UC Announcement on Standardized Testing Means for Your Student
In the wake of several high profile colleges announcing test optional policies in recent weeks, the University of California’s announcement on May 21st around standardized testing requirements has created additional confusion for many families.
While the announcement might suggest a broader shift in the importance…
|
What the UC Announcement on Standardized Testing Means for Your Student In the wake of several high profile colleges announcing test optional policies in recent weeks, the University of California’s announcement on May 21st around standardized testing requirements has created additional confusion for many families. While the announcement might suggest a broader shift in the importance of testing, the details of the five-year plan entail very limited impact on sophomores or juniors nationwide, and changes mainly affect in-state students for the classes of 2023 and beyond. We broke down how these changes affect applications for students applying to any of the 10 UC schools below. For the classes of 2021 and 2022 (current juniors and sophomores), the UC schools will be test optional, meaning that students can choose whether or not to submit an ACT or SAT score as part of their application. It is important for students to know that research on test optional policies consistently shows that a strong ACT or SAT score helps students stand out in a competitive pool of applicants. Our FAQ can help you navigate what test optional policies mean for your student. For the classes of 2023 and 2024 (current 8th and 9th graders), students attending California high schools only receive test blind admissions considerations, meaning their score will not be considered as part of their UC application.
For the class of 2025 (current 7th graders) and beyond, the UC system is considering developing its own standardized test to be required for admission.
PrepNow recommends that all students – including those attending high school in California and only planning to apply to UC system schools – prepare for the SAT and ACT. These standardized tests are a critical data point for scholarship awards and offer a chance to further boost a strong application. Choosing not to prepare for and take either the SAT or ACT as part of a student’s admissions journey runs the risk of limiting the student’s options, as well as reducing their competitiveness in the applicant pool. Full release and timeline from the University of California can be found here. |
|
|
|
Planning for Junior Year Exams
While more schools are announcing test optional admissions policies in response to COVID-19, students should still prepare for and take standardized tests during junior year. Test optional policies do not mean test blind, and proper preparation for testing enables your child to optimize standardized test scores and maximize opportunities for college admission…
|
Planning for Junior Year Exams While more schools are announcing test optional admissions policies in response to COVID-19, students should still prepare for and take standardized tests during junior year. Test optional policies do not mean test blind, and proper preparation for testing enables your child to optimize standardized test scores and maximize opportunities for college admission and financing. More information on test optional policies can be found here.There isn’t a cut-and-dry formula that determines when all students should begin testing, but we do recommend you consider the following factors that may affect your student’s testing timeline during junior year: Extracurricular Activities Many students take the SAT or ACT for the first time during the spring of junior year. However, if your child has serious extracurricular commitments in the spring, this timeline may not work. Students involved in multiple organizations, sports, and clubs need to be especially mindful when planning a time to take admissions exams.
Though it may seem like an appealing option to wait until senior year to test, this leaves a very limited number of test dates if something unpredictable should arise such as an illness or distracting test environment.
Early Admissions Most early admission deadlines are in October or November, so students applying in this manner have virtually no opportunities to test during senior year. Though colleges will occasionally let applicants send in updated scores if they continue to test throughout the fall, these scores may not be taken into consideration for those students applying early. Therefore, students who are set on a school that offers early admission should use that to their advantage and plan to test several times by the end of their junior year. |
|
Mid-April, the College Board and ACT announced changes to test dates and contingency plans for remote testing during fall of 2020. We know that many families are uncertain about what these shifts mean for juniors. Below is a summary of important updates announced, as well as recommendations for navigating these changes.
Updates from the College Board
When…
Read more...While some colleges have offered test optional policies for years, more schools have announced similar policies this spring in the wake of COVID-19. At PrepNow, we spoke with Kristen Lefebvre, our National Director of Curriculum and Academics, to break down how these policies might impact your student’s college preparation.
What does test …
Read more...This spring has brought unprecedented shifts to your child’s educational experience. As parents ourselves at PrepNow, we understand the challenge of providing support and guidance for your child in a rapidly changing academic environment.
To simplify your spring and summer planning, we’ve broken down which national testing dates have or have not changed, as well as…
The changes to the SAT coming in spring of 2016 prompt numerous questions. Below, we’ve gathered some of the most common ones, along with our answers. Read through the below, and always feel free to contact us directly so we can answer your questions.
How do I know which test I should take?
Though your college…
The SAT is changing in March 2016, and there are numerous questions surrounding the change – most notably what to expect, and how will these changes affect my child? At PrepNow, our expert curriculum team has been hard at work updating the programs we offer your family, along with making sure our personalized curriculum is…
Read more...Our experience working with thousands of students has led us to develop clear recommendations for your child’s testing calendar. We typically do not recommend the Accelerated Track unless your child has completed Algebra II prior to junior year. However, every student has unique personal and academic needs, so we encourage you to call PrepNow the…
Read more...Our experience working with thousands of students has led us to develop clear recommendations for your child’s testing calendar. We typically do not recommend the Accelerated Track unless your child has completed Algebra II prior to junior year. However, every student has unique personal and academic needs, so we encourage you to call PrepNow the…
Read more...
ShareThis
