Most colleges and universities require their applicants to take at least one standardized test for their consideration for admission. For most students, this usually means taking the SAT I: Reasoning Test (formerly called the SAT). Most selective colleges also require one, two, or even three SAT II: Subject Tests (formerly called Achievement Tests). If you live in certain parts of the country, the ACT may be the more common test.  The ACT is another standardized test used for college admission.  Most colleges and universities will accept either the SAT or the ACT.  Sometimes the ACT can be taken instead of the SAT I, and sometimes instead of both the SAT I and SAT II.  The ACT is a test which most students should consider taking at least once; by doing so, you could be giving yourself more options.  For a comparison summary of the two tests, click here.

Whatever standardized test(s) you take, remember that you are responsible for seeing to it that the respective testing agency forwards your score(s), in a timely fashion, to the colleges to which you will applying. Your test scores may or may not appear on your high school transcript, but even when they do, most colleges will still want an official report from the testing agency.

You are also responsible for registering yourself for each of the standardized tests you take. Registration materials area available in your school guidance or college counseling office, and you can also register online at www.collegeboard.com for SAT I and II, and at www.act.org for the ACT.

To see a typical standardized testing schedule for juniors, click here.