Many colleges require that prospective students submit standardized test scores as part of the application packet. These tests provide a consistent way for a college to evaluate you as they are nationally administered.  The most common tests, the SAT and ACT, are accepted by most four-year colleges and colleges accept either test interchangeably. In general, students are encouraged to take both the ACT and SAT at least once, as students often find that they like one test better than the other.

Standardized test results are only one piece of your college application.  Whereas high school curriculum is different in every high school, the SAT and ACT are standardized.  Therefore, these tests are one-way colleges can compare students from different schools and even different parts of the country.  Colleges consistently rank the strength and rigor of the high school transcript as the most important factor in a student’s admissibility to college.

Some students find that standardized testing does not represent them fully or adequately as a student.  These students feel that their high school transcript provides a more accurate picture of their strengths as a student.  For those who are interested, there is a growing list of colleges and universities that do not require any standardized testing, or are test optional.  This list is constantly growing and can be found at Fair Test

**While some institutions may be test-optional for ADMISSIONS, they may be required for SCHOLARSHIP consideration.  We encourge our college bound students to take an exam to have if needed.

For most students, the recommended testing time for the SAT or ACT is in 11^th grade.  We recommend giving yourself about 2 months to study for these exams.  Think of it as a season, just like athletics or extracurricular activities.  If you play a fall sport, then taking the March & April exams may be in your best interest as your season will be over.  Similarly, if you participate in the spring musical, maybe taking the November & December administrations would give you more time to study before rehearsals really amp up.  We are happy to talk with you about what might be the best plan.

Registration for all standardized tests are done online through the test’s website.  Registration deadlines tend to be at least a month prior to the exam date so sign up early!

BHS is a test site for both the SAT and ACT exams.  Students are able to take it at BHS or at other area locations.

If you’d like to take the exam at BHS, be sure to register early.  Spots fill up quickly as we are a public test site, so students from all over Monroe County and surrounding areas can test here.

The College Board

PSAT/National Merit Qualifying Exam

We offer all juniors the opportunity to take the PSAT during school in October. The PSAT is divided into two main sections: evidence-based reading and writing, and mathematics. Scores from the PSAT are never sent to colleges, but the results are used as the qualifying measure for National Merit Scholarships. 

SAT

The SAT is composed of two sections:

(1) the Reading and Writing section

• The Reading and Writing section presents short reading passages (or passage pairs) followed by a single multiple-choice question. Questions on the Reading and Writing section represent one of four content domains—Craft and Structure, Information and Ideas, Standard English Conventions, and Expression of Ideas. To help you budget your time, questions that test similar skills and knowledge are grouped together and arranged from easiest to hardest.

(2) the Math section

• The Math section focuses on the areas of math that play the biggest role in college and career success:

  • Algebra
  • Advanced Math
  • Problem-Solving and Data Analysis
  • Geometry and Trigonometry

Each section is divided into 2 equal length modules, and there is a 10-minute break between the Reading and Writing section and the Math section. The first module of each section contains a broad mix of easy, medium, and hard questions. Based on how you perform on the first module, the second module of questions will either be more difficult or less difficult.

The ACT

The ACT contains multiple-choice tests in four areas: English, mathematics, reading and science. ACT's writing test is optional and will not affect your composite score.

• English

  • Measures your ability to make decisions to revise and edit short texts and essays in different genres

• Math

  • Measures the mathematical skills you have typically acquired in courses up to the beginning of grade 12.

• Reading

  • Measures your ability to read closely, reason logically about texts using evidence, and integrate information from multiple resources.

• Science

  • Measures the interpretation, analysis, evaluation, reasoning and problem-solving skills required in biology, chemistry, Earth/space sciences and physics.

• Writing (Optional)
  • The optional writing section measures writing skills taught in high school English classes and in entry-level college composition courses.

TOEFL

Test TOEFL is the most widely respected English-language proficiency test in the world. TOEFL test scores are accepted by more than 10,000 colleges and universities in 150 countries.  The TOEFL iBT^® test is delivered via the internet in a format that fully integrates all 4 language skills measured: reading, listening, speaking and writing. This test may be required by colleges for students whose first language is not English.

Students with economic hardship, most often demonstrated by participating in the free/reduced school lunch program, may be eligible for a fee waiver for the different standardized college entrance exams.  Students who believe they are eligible for a fee waiver should see their counselor.

Students with a documented disability may be eligible for testing accommodations on standardized exams.  There is a separate application process for requesting test accommodations through ACT and College Board (SAT/PSAT, AP).  Each of these requests take about 6-8 weeks to process. 

Remember- both College Board and ACT are private companies. They have the right to approve or deny any test modifications you may have at BHS. If you have any questions, please reach out to your counselor or College Board/ACT for more information. 

• College Board- BHS will apply for accommodations on College Board exams for all students with IEP and 504 plans at the end of their sophomore year in preparation for the PSAT (or end of freshman if taking an AP course the following year). If your test accommodation requests are approved by College Board, they are approved for ALL future College Board exams (PSAT, SAT, AP).
• ACT- Students must REGISTER for the ACT exam BEFORE we can apply for any testing accommodations. Once registered, please email your School Counselor your registration confirmation to start the request process.