Testing
Standardized tests have traditionally played a significant role in the college admissions process. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, almost all colleges adopted test optional admissions. Students could choose to submit their score if they felt it would help their application or not to submit if they didn't feel it would help. Most colleges are still test optional, although a few have recently added them as a requirement again. It's important to look at the college's website to see what their testing requirements are.
Before going any further, it's important to remember that far and away the most important factor in college admission has always been a student's strength of schedule and how they've performed in that schedule. In other words, have you taken appropriately challenging classes and how have you done in those classes? This outweighs your test scores - whatever they might be.
Colleges can use these tests as a basis for comparison. It's difficult enough to compare students from one high school, let alone trying to make judgements on a large number of students from across the country. What's to say that a Clarence student's 92 GPA isn't the equivalent of an 89 at another school? Or a 95 at another? That doesn't even take into account schools that have entirely different grading scales. Some colleges find the standardized test to be a helpful data point in determining who to admit. Many schools find they simply don't need them to know if a student is capable of success at their school.
There are two main standardized tests used in the admissions process: the SAT and the ACT. Although they are different tests, colleges accept them equally - they don't care which one you take. In fact, most colleges will only use the higher test score. We strongly encourage students to take both. Many students score higher on one test than the other. It's difficult to predict which one you'll do better on, so take both.
The ACT is offered five times a year. We offer it at Clarence in April and October. It's made up of five sections: English, math, reading, writing (optional - we don't recommend doing writing), and science. The score range for each section is 1-36. Your overall composite score is an average of the English, Math, Reading, and Science sections. The ACT is still a paper-pencil based test at Clarence. Plenty of information about the test and what to expect on test day can be found at ACT's website.
The SAT is offered seven times a year. It is ONLY offered in digital format - it is a computer based test. We offer it at Clarence in March, May and November. The test is made up of two sections: math and evidence based reading and writing. The score ranges for each section are 200-800 for a total score range of 400-1600. Plenty of information about the test and what to expect on test day can be found at the SAT website.
The PSAT is a practice test for the SAT. The PSAT is only offered in October. Students register through CHS to take it. The test is made up of two sections: math and evidence based reading and writing. The score ranges for each section are 160-760 for a total score range of 320-1560. PSAT scores are not sent to colleges; it's just a practice, so you shouldn't worry to much about the score. There is a box you can check on the test that gives consent for colleges to send you marketing materials based on your score. Those schools don't know your actual score, they just know that you scored in a certain range. Plenty of information about the test and what to expect on test day can be found at PSAT's website.
The PSAT is the National Merit Scholarship Qualifying test. Juniors who score exceptionally well on the PSAT may earn National Merit commended, semi-finalist or finalist status. Each year we have roughly between five and ten commended students and up to five semi-finalist.