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Testing for College Prep (SAT, ACT, TSI)

SAT and ACT Tests

Register for the SAT: http://sat.collegeboard.org/register/sat-us-dates
Register for the ACT:  http://www.actstudent.org/

Act Registration Dates and Deadlines: https://www.act.org/content/act/en/products-and-services/the-act/registration.html#dates

Students eligible for free/reduced meals may take two free SAT tests and two free ACT tests. See your guidance counselor for a fee waiver.

College-bound juniors and seniors who wish to take the SAT or ACT college entrance exams can pick up registration and practice materials in the Counseling Office.

Seniors who have not yet taken their SAT or ACT exam or who wish to take the exam again should plan to take them in the early fall of their senior year in order to meet college admission deadlines. Juniors are encouraged to take their SAT or ACT for the first time beginning the spring semester of their junior year (January-June).

 

SAT

ACT

The SAT (Scholastic Aptitude Test) Reasoning Test measures the critical thinking skills you will need for academic success in college. It is given seven times during the school year.

Starting in March 2016, the new SAT is scored on a 1600-point scale (math = 800; reading and writing = 800) rather than a 2400-point scale (each section = 800). The SAT consists of three parts: Critical Reading--sentence completion and questions based on reading passages; Mathematics--based on the first three years of high school math for college-bound students; and Writing--multiple choice questions and a written essay. The SAT is 3 hours and 45 minutes long. For information about the “new” SAT, visit www.collegeboard.org. 

In March 2016, students started being able to choose to take the SAT without the essay. To see if a college you are interested in requires or recommends the essay, go to SAT Essay Policies of Colleges and Scholarship Providers

SAT registration and practice materials are available in the Counselors' Office.

Students eligible for free/reduced meals may take two free SAT tests and two free ACT tests. See your guidance counselor for a fee waiver.

The ACT contains multiple-choice tests in four areas: English, Mathematics, Reading, and Science, and an optional Writing portion on the ACT Plus Writing. Scoring is on a 36-point scale with the maximum score on each section being 36 points, then the four parts are averaged together to get one composite score. The ACT is 3 hours and 25 minutes long. The ACT writing is a 30-minute essay.

You can see which colleges require, recommend, or do not need you to take the ACT Writing Test.

ACT registration and practice materials are available in the Counselors' Office.

Students eligible for free/reduced meals may take two free SAT tests and two free ACT tests. See your guidance counselor for a fee waiver.

 

Test Day Checklist
 

 

 

TSI (Texas Success Initiative) Assessment

The TSI Assessment (TSIA) is part of the Texas Success Initiative program designed to help a college or university determine if students are ready for college-level course work in the general areas of reading, writing, and mathematics. This program also will help determine what type of course or intervention will best meet each student's needs to help each become better prepared for college-level course work if not ready. Incoming college students in Texas are required to take the TSI Assessment — unless already exempt — to determine  readiness for college-level work. 

Students MUST present a photo ID when they report to the testing room.

Review Exercises / Practice TSI Tests:


COLLEGE-READINESS SCORES

Scores on the TSI Assessment determine if a student is ready to take college-level courses. If college ready, a student may enroll in any related entry-level college course without having to take developmental courses or interventions.
Interpreting What Your TSI Scores Mean

 

College-Ready
TSI Scores

Students are EXEMPT from individual areas
of TSI testing
if any ONE of the following is met:

READING
351+

* SAT March 2016 or after: Reading & Writing (EBRW) of 480
* ACT:  Composite 23 with English 19
* College Course: Earn a C or better in a college course requiring Reading (through dual-enrollment)

MATH
350+

* SAT March 2016 or after: Math 530
* ACT: Composite 23 with Math 19
* College Course: Earn a C or better in a college course requiring Math (through dual-enrollment)

WRITING
A 4+ on the essay and a 340+ on the multiple-choice
OR
if below a 340 on the multiple-choice,
a 5+ on the essay and 
a 4+ on ABE Diagnostic

* SAT March 2016 or after: Reading & Writing (EBRW) of 480
* ACT: Composite 23 with English 19
* College Course: Earn a C or better in a college course requiring Writing (through dual-enrollment)

 

Many colleges will provide forms/websites for students to complete to give the college permission to access the student’s TSI scores from the database. As this information becomes known, the links will appear below:

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