Frequently Asked Questions

High school Timeline for College Planning

This is a General College Planning Timeline (each student is unique so this is flexible)

Before 9th grade

1 hour meeting to discuss high school choice and curriculum selection

9th grade mid-year

1 hour meeting to discuss course selection, extra curricular activities, summer plans, high school timeline

10th grade mid-year

1 hour meeting to discuss course selection, extra curricular activities, summer plans, high school timeline
Begin Best Fit Package
Start Test Prep Pkg 2 or 3: Practice Tests in May/June then prep summer between 10th and 11th grade

11th grade

Fall/Winter

1 hour meeting to discuss course selection, extra curricular activities, summer plans, high school timeline
Start or continue test prep
Begin Best Fit Package or
Meet to update the list that was created

Spring/Summer

request teacher recommendations
plan admissions strategies (ED/Rolling/EA/Regular)
Work on College Applications
Write common app essay
Write supplemental essays

12th grade

Continue with test prep if needed/desired
Work on College Applications
Write common app essay
Write supplemental essays

When should I take my first standardized test?

Starting too early is not ideal as it can lead to frustration and burn out.

Highest scores are usually earned spring of junior year through fall of senior year.
It is ideal to have testing completed by end of junior year. For early decision, early action, rolling admissions, many students like to complete testing by June of junior year. Most of these schools, however, accept scores through the October test taken senior year.
For some regular decision schools, the last test date is December of senior year.
The Ideal testing calendar would allow you to take the test of choice at least three times. While all three times may not be needed, it is best to plan three test dates incase they are needed.

Four Timing Options for Testing and Test Prep

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How do my SAT and ACT scores compare to each other?

- Concordance Table

Other things to know before picking a test:

Super-scoring: more schools super-score the SAT than the ACT (This decision is controlled by the colleges and is subject to change at any time. Checking the school’s website is the only way to know the school’s current policy.)Super-scoring means combining the highest section score from different test dates.

Accommodations

SAT and ACT extra time is added to each individual section (if given 1 hour to take the English Language, the student must wait that full hour before moving on to math)

Cancelling of Scores

SAT – you have until 11:59 EDT Wednesday after you take the test to cancel your scores
ACT – If you ordered that your scores be sent to schools, you have until Thursday noon central time after the Saturday you took the ACT to stop your ACT scores from being sent to the schools. ACT also has a process to delete a test from record.

Sending of Scores to Colleges

SAT – scores are ordered and sent in a bundle
ACT – scores are ordered and sent one test at a time

***all of the above information is subject to change – the only way to know the current information is to visit the SAT, ACT or college websites

What is score choice: your ability to choose which test scores you want to send to colleges.

What should I know about the changes to the ACT 2024/2025 Classic to Core?

The Current/Classic ACT will be given for the last time in July 2025. It can be given either with writing (3 hr 35 min) or without writing (2 hr 55 min)

The current ACT consists of 4 sections plus the optional writing
- English: 75 questions, 45 minutes
- Math: 60 questions, 60 minutes
- Reading: 40 questions, 45 minutes
- Science: 40 questions, 35 minutes
- Writing: OPTIONAL 1 essay, 40 minutes

Perfect Score: 36 (average across each section)

The New/Core ACT - will be given starting in April 2025

English: 35 minutes with 50 questions
Math: 50 minutes with 45 questions
Reading: 40 minutes with 36 questions
Optional Science: 40 minutes with 40 questions

The New/Core ACT will have 4 options

Core (English, Reading, and Math)
Core + Science
Core + Essay
Core + Science + Essay

It is not clear how colleges will handle students for the class of 2026 who could be taking one or both versions of the ACT.

What are the differences between the SAT and the ACT?

Graphic Comparison - Note the ACT is changing 2024-2025 - The classic version is in this graphic

Do I need to take both the SAT and the ACT?

- No college requires both SAT and ACT scores. EDNavigators suggests taking a practice SAT and a practice ACT and based on the results and feel of the testing experience, selecting either SAT or ACT to prep for and take for real.

Is there a certain month when the SAT/ACT is easier?

- No, they are all scored on a scale that is determined before the test date.

Is my SAT score a good score?

- Understanding Scores 2017 by College Board provides a percentage of each score https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/pdf/understanding-sat-scores.pdf

This score is equal to or better than this percent of National Sample

SAT ACT = to or better than

950 18 38 percent

980 19 44 percent

1020 20 52 percent

1080 21 63 percent

1120 22 70 percent

1190 24 80 percent

1240 26 85 percent

1290 27 90 percent

1360 29 95 percent

1420 31 98 percent

1450 32 99 percent

1520 34 99+ percent

When are the Real SAT and ACT Offered?

SAT

ACT

If I do test prep with EDNavigators, can Sandy suggest colleges for me?

Sandy will only recommend colleges to students who complete the Best Fit Package.

There are so many components that go in to creating a student’s college list and recommending majors, and the college decision is such a big one for a student and family on many levels. Sandy does not feel comfortable making recommendations without gathering and assessing all of the background information that comes with the Best Fit Package.

How far apart should I space my prep sessions?

Allow time to complete 4 hours of homework between each session. For some students a week apart works, for others 2 weeks. Over breaks, sometimes students prefer to meet five days in a row. - The sessions just need to start after the practice test(s) and finish before the real test date,

Should I submit my test score?

This depends upon many factors (college, major, high school transcript, high school profile, unique student circumstances), and it is a very important decision. For students who have completed Best Fit Package with EDNavigators, we can help you decide whether to sent scores and to which colleges. Scheduling links for this meeting are on your CCP dashboard.

Do colleges prefer the SAT or the ACT?

Both tests are accepted equally everywhere.

Which Colleges Require Test Scores

As of March 2024, this is the list of colleges requiring standardized tests. Please confirm each college you are considering as these policies change.

California Institute of Technology
Harvard College
MIT
Dartmouth
Yale
Brown
Public Universities in Florida
Georgia Tech
University of Georgia
Purdue
Georgetown
University of Tennessee (state-wide)
Military Academies
UT Austin
University of Dallas
Gallaudet University
Morehouse College
Thomas Aquinas College
University of Memphis
Stanford
Cornell (2026)
Johns Hopkins
Carnegie Mellon (test flexible)

Notes

Auburn is test preferred and sometimes required

Penn State announced it will be test optional for 2025 high school graduates

Villanova and Vanderbilt extended test optional for the class of 2025

UNC Chapel Hill is sometimes required

Many colleges are test optional only through the high school graduating class of 2025. It is important to check each college website for the latest information.

Some colleges give scholarships based on test scores

Do I take the SAT and ACT on a computer or paper/pencil?

SATs are only offered online

ACT still offers the paper/pencil test. Some testing centers will also offer the ACT online.

The ACT will change in 2025 - see 'what should I know about the changes to the ACT 2024/2025 Classic to Core?'

Both tests when taken online allow the use of built in calculator.

Which Colleges are Test Free? (they do not look at standardized tests)

California State System

Dickinson College

Hampshire College

LaSalle University

Loyola University New Orleans

Northern Illinois University

Pitzer College (part of Claremonts)

Reed College

Stonehill College

University of California System

University of Washington

Washington State University

Worcester Polytechnic Institute

I have an essay written. Can EDNavigators just review it?

College essays are unique. We are trained in gathering the necessary information from the student, selecting what is important and guiding the student thorough conveying their unique story in 650 words or less. We need to get to know the student through the brainstorming session in order to have the information we need to guide them in creating an impactful and memorable college application ready essay. We also find too many different editors/opinions frustrate the student and muddy the message. Therefore, we will not just read over a student's essay. We only work on college essays with students who purchase and complete the EDNavigator's college essay package.

Do Colleges Know if I Took the SAT or ACT? Do they know how many times I took it?

No. Colleges are Score-Choice, meaning when you take the SAT or ACT, your scores belong to you. The only way colleges will know you took the test is if you choose to send the score report to the colleges or write your scores in on your application. You can take the test multiple times, but only send/report scores from one or two test dates to the college. The college will not know you took the test multiple times. (Note: the exception here is Georgetown University which requires students tosend them results for every standardized test taken)

Which states ban the use of legacy preference in admissions?

California

Virgina

Maryland

..as of May 2024

Does the preferred major I select on my college application affect whether I'm admitted to a University?

In most cases, yes. In college admissions, the answer to many questions is, "It depends." That holds true for this question as well. Many factors go in to a university's admission decision. Very often the selected major plays a role.