TESTING
Two year schools
Placement testing is often required at community colleges. Hawaii Community Colleges require placement testing before students enroll in classes.
Four year schools
College entrance exams are required by most four year colleges. The SAT and the ACT are widely accepted by nearly all colleges.
All juniors have an opportunity to take the ACT on our campus each winter.
Depending on where you apply, your test score can be an important piece of your college application.
Students often inquire about which test to take. The SAT and ACT are indeed different exams.
It can be helpful to compare the tests with the button below.
Placement testing is often required at community colleges. Hawaii Community Colleges require placement testing before students enroll in classes.
Four year schools
College entrance exams are required by most four year colleges. The SAT and the ACT are widely accepted by nearly all colleges.
All juniors have an opportunity to take the ACT on our campus each winter.
Depending on where you apply, your test score can be an important piece of your college application.
Students often inquire about which test to take. The SAT and ACT are indeed different exams.
It can be helpful to compare the tests with the button below.
Free SAT prep can be found on-line at Khan Academy.
More than you wanted to know about
SAT and ACT
Nearly all colleges accept SAT or ACT and will use whichever score is higher for admission purposes. Some schools prefer one test over the other.
The SAT is administered by the College Board; the ACT is a different test company. Both organizations use the same school code, required when you register for the exams.
Ka'u High School's "school code" is 120200 (This code is also known as the CEEB code.)
The SAT Reasoning exam consists of Reading, Math and Writing. It is considered a logic and reasoning test.
The ACT is a multiple subject exam in the areas of English, Math, Reading, Science and optional Writing. This is a subject information test.
The SAT Subject Exams are one hour tests and are different than the SAT Reasoning. They are offered in several Foreign Languages, Literature, History, Science and Math. For more information on SAT Subject exams check out this link: http://sat.collegeboard.org/about-tests/sat-subject-tests
- Students can take up to three SAT Subject exams in one sitting.
- Students can not take both SAT Subject Exams and SAT Reasoning in the same sitting.
What colleges require scores from the SAT or ACT?
Community Colleges – No SAT or ACT scores are required. However, some community college bound students may want to take the SAT or ACT to use the scores for scholarship applications, or for transferring to a four year school after one year of community college. Community Colleges also use qualifying SAT or ACT scores in leiu of placement exams. We also know that students often change their minds, so taking the exams will keep “doors of opportunity” open as graduation nears.
University of Hawaii – Students are required to take the SAT Reasoning or the ACT.
High selective schools, such as Ivy League, University of California, Stanford, Rice, USC, University of Michigan, U Penn, etc. – Students applying to highly selective schools are very likely to be required to take the SAT Reasoning and/or ACT with Writing. It is strongly recommended that Univeristy of California applicants also take two different subjects from the SAT Subject Exams.
Note - Many highly selective schools will not accept the ACT without the Writing Score.
Hawaii colleges and universities – All require the SAT Reasoning or ACT.
Out of State Schools – All will most likely require the SAT Reasoning or ACT. Students must research specific requirements regarding SAT Subject Exams, or if the school requires the Writing portion for the ACT score to be valid. Specific majors at out of state schools may also require specific Subject Exams.
When is the deadline to take the SAT or ACT for seniors?
For most colleges, (public and private) the final test date is the December exam of the senior year. However, some selective colleges have required a test score by October of the senior year in past years.
Students who plan to use the Early Action or Early Decision options for college will find that October of senior year is probably the last testing option. Scores are usually not available after October test dates to meet an Early Action or Early Decision deadline.
Out of State schools test deadlines vary. Students will need to research individual schools to confirm the final date for testing. It is most likely December of the senior year, but it could be another date. Do your homework!
Sending your Scores to Colleges
Releasing scores – Most colleges, some scholarships, and the NCAA require that the College Board or ACT submit official scores to them directly. This can be done when a student registers for the exam (four schools included in the exam fee), or after the test, for a fee of about $10 per school.
With SAT, when you "send scores" to a college, all of your SAT scores (both SAT Reasoning and SAT Subject exams) are released, regardless of how many times you have tested.
The ACT however sends only the scores from the one test date you designate, not any other test scores. This ensures that you direct the reporting of your scores. You may send additional ACT scores from other sittings, but you must pay an additional fee for each date requested.
Withholding scores - The College Board will allow Score Choice, the option to withhold some SAT Scores. For example if a student tested in May with a lower score than in June, the student will have the option to send only the June SAT scores. If a student doesn’t exercise Score Choice, the SAT score report will include all SAT scores in the student’s file. Most colleges discourage Score Choice.
The ACT does not offer a "score choice" since only one testing date score report is included when you officially send ACT scores.
When should I take the SAT or ACT?
Sophomore year – SAT Subject Exam in AP or high level subjects in spring if UC bound
Junior year – SAT Reasoning & ACT with Writing at least once in fall, winter or spring,
SAT Subject Exams - Spring if UC bound
Senior year – Fall dates only. December is usually the last test date accepted by colleges. Some CSUs have a November test date deadline, some CSUs have used October as their testing deadline for senior year.
How many times should I take the test?
Juniors should test at least once during the junior year, and then re-test if they are not satisfied with their scores. Most students do not take the SAT Reasoning or ACT more than three times.
Should I take a prep class?
If the SAT score or ACT score is not reflective of a student’s classroom performance, sometimes a prep class will help a student raise test scores. There are several private vendors that offer SAT Prep in our region. Please remember that taking a prep class is not a guarantee of score increase. However, it is doubtful that taking a prep class will lower your score.
Which should I take, SAT or ACT?
Both - Schools will accept either, and use whichever is highest, so unless the first testing experience provides completely satisfactory scores, students are encouraged to take both SAT Reasoning and ACT with Writing.
How do I register to take the SAT?
Online – www.collegeboard.com You must register a few weeks in advance. To be sure that you are assigned a local testing site, register early in the fall for all of the dates you plan to test throughout the year. College Board no longer offers stand by testing.
How do I register to take the ACT?
On-line – www.act.org You must register a few weeks in advance. To be sure that you are assigned a local testing site, register early in the fall for all of the dates you plan to test throughout the year. The ACT currently offers standby testing. See the ACT website for details.
120200