ACT/SAT & College Testing

The ACT is a nationally recognized college entrance exam that assesses skills in English, math, reading, and science—with an optional writing section. Many colleges and universities use ACT scores as part of their admissions and scholarship decisions.

At SHS, all 11th grade students have the opportunity to take the ACT during the school day in 3rd quarter—no registration is required for this school-day test.

Students who wish to take the ACT again or test on a national test date must register through the official ACT website and choose a nearby test center. Please note: Sycamore High School is not an ACT test center for national test dates.

Key Info:

• Who Should Take It: Most students take the ACT in 11th grade, with the option to retake in 12th grade if desired.

• How to Register: Visit act.org to sign up for a national test date and choose a location.

• Test Format: Available in paper or online formats, depending on the test center.

• Test Prep: Free resources and practice tools are available at act.org and through other platforms.

Students should check with the colleges they’re considering to see if the ACT is recommended or required—and plan ahead, especially if retesting is part of their goal. Your school counselor is here to help with questions and planning!

Free Preparation & Practice

Test Dates & Deadlines

Registration

ACT Changes Coming in 2025 – What You Need to Know

What’s Changing? If you're planning to take the ACT starting in April 2025, there are some changes you should know about. These updates are designed to make the test shorter, more flexible, and a little less stressful—especially for students taking it for the first time!

What’s Changing?

• Shorter test – You’ll finish the ACT in about 2 hours, instead of over 3 hours.

• Fewer questions – The test has 44 fewer questions than before.

• More time per question – You’ll get a little more time to think through each question.

• Math section – Instead of 5 answer choices, math questions will have 4 choices, just like most other tests.

• Science section is optional – You can choose whether or not to take the science part of the test.

  • If you skip it, your score will be based on English, Math, and Reading.
  • If you take it, you’ll also get a separate science score.

• Writing section (essay) is still optional – You can choose whether or not to take it.

What’s Staying the Same?

• ACT scores will still range from 1 to 36.

• You can take the test on paper or online.

• Colleges will continue to use ACT scores to help with admissions and scholarships.

New ACT Format (Starting April 2025)

Test Section	Questions	Time
English	50	35 minutes
Math	45	50 minutes
Reading	36	40 minutes
Science*	40	40 minutes
Writing*	1 essay	40 minutes

*You choose whether to take these sections.

PSAT/NMSQT

The Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT) is a digital test offered each October to help students prepare for the SAT and explore college readiness. It also serves as the qualifying exam for the National Merit Scholarship Program in grade 11.

At SHS, the PSAT is given once per year during a school day in October. While the test is designed for 11th graders, 10th grade students are also welcome to register if they’d like an early opportunity to experience the test.

Key Info:

• Test Format: Digital test taken on a school-managed or approved personal device using the Bluebook™ app.

• Sections: Reading & Writing (64 minutes) and Math (70 minutes)

• Who Can Take It: Grade 11 students; Grade 10 students may opt in

• Test Date: One day only in October (exact date announced at the start of the school year)

• Registration: Opens at the beginning of the school year

All registered students will receive a copy of the PSAT/NMSQT Student Guide, which includes test details, sample questions, and tips for preparing.

Be sure to register early if you're interested. The PSAT is a great step toward college readiness—and for juniors, it could even open the door to scholarship opportunities.

The SAT is a college entrance exam used by many colleges and universities as part of the admissions process. It measures skills in reading, writing, and math that students typically learn in high school and helps colleges understand a student’s readiness for college-level work.

Students who want to take the SAT will need to register through the College Board and select a nearby testing location when signing up.

Key Info:

• Who Should Take It: Students in 11th grade who plan to apply to colleges that require or consider SAT scores.

• How to Register: Visit collegeboard.org to register and choose a test date and location.

• Test Format: The SAT is a digital test offered at official test centers on national testing dates throughout the year.

• Test Prep: Free practice resources are available on Khan Academy and through the College Board’s Bluebook™ app.

We recommend that students check the testing requirements of the colleges they’re interested in and plan ahead to register early—test dates and locations can fill up quickly!

If you have questions or need help getting started, reach out to your school counselor.

Free Preparation & Practice

Test Dates & Deadlines

Registration

The TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) measures English language proficiency and is often required for students whose first language is not English when applying to colleges or universities in the United States or other English-speaking countries.

Not all students need to take the TOEFL. It is typically required by colleges for students who have recently moved to the U.S. or who have not spent a significant amount of time learning in an English-speaking school system. Each college sets its own requirements, so students should check with individual schools to determine if the TOEFL is necessary.

Key Info:

• Who Might Need It: Students applying to colleges who are non-native English speakers or who have limited experience in English-language education.

• How to Register: Visit ets.org/toefl to find test dates, nearby testing centers, and register for the exam.

• Test Format: The TOEFL is typically taken online at a testing center or at home (if eligible), and includes sections on reading, listening, speaking, and writing.

• Test Prep: ETS offers free and paid prep tools on their website, and many other resources are available online.

Students who think they may need to take the TOEFL should speak with their counselor early in the college planning process to get guidance on requirements and timing.