Testing Context and Next Steps

All grades

The pandemic was only one catalyst for changes to standardized testing which have been underway for a long time. Well before the pandemic, approximately 1000 colleges, many of them well known, had already adopted test optional policies. Working in College Advising at Seattle Academy has always meant advising strategically a wide range of testing profiles relative to a variety of college testing policies. Our current test advising relies on that long experience and attention to college behaviors.

Changes to colleges’ use of standardized testing mean Seattle Academy testers (current or potential) fall into three strategic groups. Our experience has been that none of these groups is at a particular advantage over the other. Students should choose based on what is best for them:

Some students who know testing is not for them now have sufficient test optional college options that they can opt out of testing entirely if they wish.
Some students have always been exceptionally strong testers and know that they would like standardized testing to be part of their application profile.
Some students have mixed feelings about testing, either they are unsure whether they should test and would like to explore it more, or would like to take an exam that they may or may not send to colleges pending College Advising’s advice.

As with all things, we coach our 11th and 12th grade college advisees as individuals with many strengths. We bring to those meetings information about how high test scores need to be (near or above the middle 50% for each college at that link) to be additive (or even “submittable”) for particular college applications. The majority of our students have grades and stories so compelling that they may choose to emphasize these strengths and not send scores. In general, test scores alone were not variables that “moved the needle” for college applications for the graduating classes of 2021 or 2022, those graduating during the pandemic. Scores certainly did not supercede strong grades, compelling classes, rich stories, and the use of strategies like carefully chosen Early Decision colleges. Students with perfect scores were not admitted at their favorite colleges while students without perfect scores who did not submit them were admitted at their first choice colleges. Just having a score, especially “at any cost,” is not the key to a college of choice.

Consider attending this virtual event where a dynamic guest speaker discusses changes to and next steps for standardized testing (recording will be available).

Testing with accommodations requires evaluations sometimes with significant advanced notice. For additional information about this please contact Jaymie Lewis at jlewis@seattleacademy.org.

12th Grade

Each college advisor has already talked individually with their advisees about testing strategy relative to the student. Some 12th graders will not test at all. Some will continue to prep and to test, deciding in consultation with their college advisor whether they should send scores. Some students definitely will send scores provided the college advisor thinks they are high enough to be additive. If you are a 12th grader or 12th grade family member with additional questions about testing, please reach out to your student’s college advisor.

Again, consider attending this virtual event where a dynamic guest speaker discusses changes to and next steps for standardized testing (recording will be available).

11th Grade

Following practice tests which we’ll discuss in a moment, 11th graders curious about testing may want to sign up for and take in the winter (such as December, SAT dates here and ACT dates here) official SAT (register here when available) or ACT (register here when available) exams. While December certainly isn’t the only time to take a first exam, registration is sometimes easier in December and testing at this time may yield official results you can bring to your college advisor for advice and next steps. You may be able to determine at this time whether you should:

Keep prepping and testing for additional/future tests
Stop because you have a sufficient score
Discontinue prepping and testing because your application will emphasize other strengths

11th graders have several options to practice their testing.

One option is to take a free unofficial practice ACT or SAT remotely through Compass Testing. These are scheduled events in October. More information and registration are available here.

Another option is to take an official PSAT on one College Board-approved date in October. More information and registration are available here. This is the only available date for this particular offering. Students who choose not to take the PSAT or who wish to practice remotely or on a different date should consider the remote options above.

In addition to Compass Prep, with which some of our students work, and Khan Academy, which provides free online prep for the SAT, you will find a list of test prep providers families have sometimes used here.

Again, consider attending this virtual event where a dynamic guest speaker discusses changes to and next steps for standardized testing (recording will be available).

10th Grade

10th graders who are curious about testing and who have the bandwidth to practice it during 10th grade fall have the option of taking a free unofficial practice ACT or SAT remotely through Compass Testing. These are scheduled events in October. More information and registration are available here.

Again, consider attending this virtual event where a dynamic guest speaker discusses changes to and next steps for standardized testing (recording will be available).