SAT and ACT COVID Changes: What Parents Should Know

Here is the advice I sent to my parents

1)         Do not risk your student’s life for this test.  I would not take a test in the summer until all the kinks are worked out AND, most importantly, there is not a risk of infection.

2)         Determine if you can afford to go test-optional. Fairtest.org has a comprehensive list of test-optional colleges and universities.  Virginia Tech is the recent addition to that list, GO HOKIES!

3)     What I recommend is

a)     Finalize your list of colleges with a lot of backups this year. 

b)    Contact each college if you can or look on their website to see if they are doing “test-optional admissions”

c)     Check to see if any of your test-optional schools plan to use test scores for scholarships.  If you aren’t sure call or email and ask, “do you plan to still use test scores for scholarships even though you have decided to go test-optional?”

d)    Plan to take the SAT/ACT if you plan to play any NCAA sports. They have not decided eligibility as of yet.

4)    Explore all options including community college.  Northern Virginia Community College is not only a good option, it is a GREAT option that allows guaranteed admissions for many colleges and universities (explore that here: https://www.nvcc.edu/gaa/)

5)    If you decide you want to take an SAT or ACT you can begin to self-study for the test. You can do short-review sessions with a tutor or get recommendations for books from them.  Tutors tend to know what books suit student’s skillset so a recommendation can be incredibly helpful. However, don’t overdo it. The focus right now should be on staying mentally and physically healthy. 

a)     Self-study involves 15-30 minutes a day of review about 3 to 5 times a week early on then daily study sessions 30-45 minutes a day in the 2-3 weeks leading up to the test.

b)    Remember depth not width is the goal- doing practice tests but not taking the time to review them is a waste of time.  1600.io is great for review of practice tests.

c)     Please note: Khan Academy has great free SAT resources and 1600.io has a free course available.

d)    You do not need intensive prep until about 8 weeks out if you want less than 200 points on the SAT or 2-3 points on the ACT

e)     You do not need intensive prep until about 10-12 weeks out if you need more than 200 points on the SAT or 2-3 points on the ACT

f)     Do not let test- prep advertisements about “staying ready” influence your test prep timeline. You have more than enough time to prep for this test and do not need to rush 

6)         If it is possible for you to go test-optional and take this 100% off your plate, I encourage you to take that path.  Colleges will be willing to work with you.  I know a couple colleges that are not officially test-optional but when I called and spoke with them said they would be willing to accept applicants without scores if they were asked. 

7)         Please consider whether an online format of SAT and ACT will work for you.  Khan Academy allows you to do practice online for SAT.  Try taking an entire practice test online before you decide.

8)         If you are a student with anxiety or accommodations, please take that into consideration when deciding what to do next. College Board has not had a good track record with accommodations for the online reformatted AP exams, I do not anticipate they will become proficient in that area by the fall.  Start the accommodation process now, advocate for more than what you think you will need so you can receive the bare minimum. 

9)         Do not assume the NCAA is going test-optional.  NCAA has yet to release anything at this point has a statement about more options for testing on their eligibility website.