Click here to see the FCPS Scholarships and Awards Handbook.
ACT National Test Dates 2008-2009
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SAT and Subject Tests National Test Dates 2008-2009
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Click on the following links to scroll down to the appropriate section on testing:
College Entrance Testing Information
There are two college entrance exams, the ACT (American College Test) and the SAT I and/or II (Scholastic Assessment Test), which are used for admission, placement, and scholarships. It is recommended that college-bound students check requirements of individual colleges to determine the necessary tests for admission. Registration forms are available in the college/career center and online. Students who must test on a Sunday for religious reasons should check the College Board web site or the SAT registration bulletin for required documentation, locations and dates of exams offered.
ACT (American College Testing Program)
Registration is available online at www.act.org . To find out if the Writing Test is required, visit the web site or call the admissions office of each college or university to which you plan to apply.
SAT (Scholastic Assessment Test)
The CEEB (College Entrance Examination Board) offers the following tests: SAT I: Reasoning Test, SAT II: Subject Tests, AP (Advance Placement), TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language), and CLEP (College-Level Examination Program). Contact your counselor for free-waiver information.
Sat I: Reasoning Test:
The SAT Reasoning Test takes approximately four-hours and measures writing, verbal and mathematical abilities. Students may register for the test by mail or on-line. It is highly recommended that students register on-line at www.collegeboard.com .
The SAT Reasoning Test has a mandatory writing section. Each section is scored separately: math, critical reading (verbal), and writing using the 200-800 scale. The testing time will extend to 3 hours and 20 minutes.
SAT II: Subject Tests:
The SAT II Subject Test are given in a number of academic areas and are used by some colleges for admission and placement purposes.
AP Testing, visit the web site www.collegeboard.com/apstudents or call 1-888-225-5427
CLEP (College-Level Examination Program)
The CLEP is designed to waive courses and grant college-level credit by examination.
Use the College Board web site www.collegeboard.com/clep to locate a testing center. Then contact the testing center for its service fees and registration procedure.
Testing for Special Needs Students
Students with a documented disability may be eligible for accommodations on SAT, SAT Subject Tests, AP, PSAT and/or ACT. To receive accommodations for testing, students must submit a complete eligibility form and be approved before testing. When testing at a center on a national date, students normally receive up to 50 percent extended time and can use a regular or a large-type test book. Students receiving an accommodation of more than 50 percent extended time or another accommodation such as a reader cannot test at a national center. Contact your child's counselor well in advance of testing for information about the schedule and location of test sites for special accommodations. Both types of accommodations are offered on each national test date. Reminder: It is the student's responsibility to meet with his/her counselor in early September to discuss testing arrangements.
ETS Special Needs Hotline is 1-(609) 771-7137. The web site is www.collegeboard.com/ssd . The ACT web site is www.act.org/aap/disab .
PSAT/NMSQT (Preliminary Scholarship Assessment Test/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test)
The PSAT is a two hour and ten minute exam that measures academic abilities important in college work. It is administered only once during the school year and consists of two 25-minute critical reading sections, two 25-minute math sections, and one 30-minute writing skills section. This test is a practice for students preparing for their first SAT I test. Scores are used to help predict how well a student may do on the SAT I. Only students who take the PSAT as juniors will be considered for the National Merit Scholarship Program, the National Achievement Scholarship Program or the National Hispanic Scholar Awards Program.
Contact your college/career center or counseling office for additional registration information.
High School Assessments
What are the Maryland High School Assessments (HSA)?
Maryland High School Assessments are four end-of-course exams - one each in algebra/data analysis, biology, government, and English - that all students must take and pass in order to graduate, beginning with the class of 2009 (this year's juniors). The Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) has designed the tests to measure student achievement and school performance, providing valuable information to students, parents, and schools. The freshman and sophomore-level tests were developed by Maryland teachers.
Students take each assessment as they complete the related course. Passing the test is one of several high school graduation requirements, which also include passing each course, earning state-specific credits, completing service-learning requirements, and fulfilling attendance requirements.
Maryland students will have as many as five times per year to take the exam. Students having difficulty will be provided with online tools and other targeted assistance to strengthen their ability to pass each exam.