<p>As a junior, I'm seeking advise regarding my schedule for this spring's standardized tests.
Last October I took the PSAT and scored a 225. I live in California, and the highest ever cutoff so far was a 223. Considering that I likely will qualify for national merit semifinalist this September, I will have to take or have taken the SAT to move on to finalist correct? I've prepared for around 6 months and I've been scoring 2180-2220. I'm aiming for a 2250.</p>
<p>So with that in mind, I recently took my 2nd ever practice ACT (from the released 2012 test) after looking briefly at the mistakes I made taking my 1st practice one. I got a 34 composite (33.5) with virtually no studying. Considering that a 34 on ACT translates roughly to a 2280 on the SAT, and the fact that I've scored better on the ACT with negligible preparation than on the SAT, I'm thinking about taking the ACT as well. </p>
<p>Should I still take the SAT? Is it likely that I'll eventually need to for National Merit? If I have to then I'd rather do it sooner than later. I was considering this schedule of test dates:
January (now late registration): SAT
February (deadline soon): ACT
March: SAT (most likely will improve over Jan)
April: ACT (if I believe I can improve)
May: 4 AP tests
June: 2-3 SAT II subject tests</p>
<p>Looking it over I realize it's a lot of testing. I also participate in FRC robotics, and build season goes from January to February. I'm also testing for piano CM level 10 in May? (around then). So what do you guys think? Too much or is it manageable? Thanks for helping out!</p>
<p>p.s. The reason why I crammed them for spring is because I'm planning on applying early decision/action for top tier universities this fall. Are September and October still in time for EA/ED or no?</p>
<p>For a student with aspirations such as yours, I would have recommended that you take the ACT/SAT in the spring of your sophomore year or the fall of your junior year. I would have also suggested that you take Subject tests shortly after you finish the corresponding class. Most of the high-scoring students with whom I’ve worked have finished their standardized testing by the fall of the junior year. Makes the fall of senior year a piece of cake. The students can focus exclusively on putting together college apps and can easily handle a full schedule of AP/IB classes and extracurricular activities.</p>
<p>Why did you spend 6 months preparing for the SAT…without taking a full-length ACT practice test first? A more reasonable approach would have been to figure out which test is a better match for your natural abilities (by taking one full-length ACT practice test and one full-length SAT practice test) and then prepare for that one test.</p>
<p>In order to “validate” your PSAT score for NMS finalist consideration, you’ll need to take the SAT. Take it whenever it’s most convenient. I’ve had several students who “validated” their NMS-qualifying PSAT scores with SATs taken in the spring of the sophomore year (taken prior to the PSAT/NMSQT).</p>
<p>If you remain organized, anything is possible – even the testing schedule you outlined above.</p>
<p>Yes. If you’re applying EA/ED, the September ACT and October SAT test results will make it to the adcoms in time. Check the admissions webpages of the respective schools to verify the last test date(s) the adcom will accept.</p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>Thanks for the help. I realize that I would have been better prepared if I had taken both ACT and SAT practice tests earlier, but at the time I never seriously considered the ACT. However, I do not greatly regret it, because through preparing for the SAT, I also prepared inadvertently for the PSAT. And since I’m likely to qualify, I’ll have to take the SAT regardless.
I’ve also heard that since the ACT is more of an achievement test, with a strong academic foundation I shouldn’t need much time to prepare, but I’ll still definitely study as much as I feel necessary.
Lastly, thanks for confirming that September and October tests are options for EA/ED. When are typical deadlines for EA/ED and how long does it take for score reports to be sent out? Assuming that they will make them, should I consider taking fall tests or take them all now and save fall for college apps?</p>