National Merit Commended Scholar or Semifinalist? What's the Difference?

Q: What is the difference between being a Commended Scholar and Semifinalist for the National Merit scholarship?

A: High school juniors take the PSAT each October, many with hopes of becoming a National Merit Scholar. Scores are released in the winter months, but students have to wait until September of the following year to learn if they will be progressing in the competition. 

Commended Scholars are those that have a high score, but their results are lower than the selection index in their state. This year, the cutoff for Commended Scholars is 214. So a student who scores a 219 in Connecticut, where the cutoff to move on is 222, will be given a letter of commendation in recognition of their achievement, but will not be in the running for a scholarship. They may, however, be able to get money from a corporate award through a parent's workplace. 

Those that meet or exceed the National Merit cutoff will become Semifinalists and are eligible to complete an application to become a Finalist and vie for a scholarship. At this point, the committee looks at more than just a high test score. Finalists must have a strong academic record and an excellent letter of recommendation from their principal. 

Ask the Consultant: Another SAT?

Q: I took the SAT this past weekend and don't think I did so well. I was hoping to apply to a few schools early action. Will I have time to take it again?

A: First of all, take a deep breath! We often have students tell us that they "bombed" a test initially, and then are pleasantly surprised with the results.  Good news!  Most colleges will consider October or even November SATs, or September ACTs, for consideration for early action. As always, check the college website or call the admission office to confirm!

There is still time!

You can indicate on your Common Application or Coalition Application that you are planning to take a test in the future, which will signal to the college admission team that they need to wait for that score to render a decision. Just make sure that you send an official score report to each college via the College Board or ACT website as soon as scores are released. You can then go back into your Common or Coalition app and update the testing section with your better scores! 

An Unexpected Reason to Take Standardized Tests Multiple Times

Another reason to take standardized tests multiple times...

When student scores were released for the June SAT, the internet lit up with reactions of frustration and confusion.  Students who expected the June test to be their final try but who saw their score fall were dismayed. Something very unexpected had happened:  the test itself was an anomaly.  It turns out, the June test was much easier than most SATs and therefore had a far steeper grading curve.  Because of this, students could miss fewer problems to receive the same score as previous tests.  Experts warn that variability on standardized tests such as the SAT and ACT is not uncommon and that the variance on the June SAT is not as unusual as it may seem.  Test creation is a complicated endeavor as the writers have to estimate the difficulty of content for the cohort of students taking the exam.  If they miscalculate, it affects the curve proportionally.  The takeaway:  plan to take standardized tests 2 or 3 times, if possible.  That way, if you happen to get caught up in a test like the June SAT, you will still have a fallback option or two. 

Ask the Consultant

Q: What are the difference between AP exams and SAT Subject Tests? Which should I take?

A: We get this question a lot! They are both tests administered by ETS that assess your knowledge in a single subject. But beyond that, they are very different.

Some colleges require SAT subject tests as an admission requirement (although the number that do is dwindling). That being said, even if they don't require them, most colleges will consider them as a part of your application if you submit them. And while SAT subject tests are given in particular areas of study such as Chemistry, US History or Latin, they do not directly correspond to one specific course curriculum. Our advice: good test scores never hurt a student. Take a practice exam and see how you do. If you do well, take the test, even if the colleges to which you will be applying do not require them. Having two solid SAT subject test scores in your testing portfolio gives the student the most options! 

AP exams are also subject specific, but they are tied to a specific curriculum. AP exams scores are never required for college admission because there are many high schools that either offer the International Baccalaureate curriculum or have decided to sidestep the AP curriculum altogether. That being said, one does not need to be enrolled in an AP class to take an AP exam. We have had many students earn college credit via their AP scores, even in courses that were not classified as AP. The main purpose of taking AP exams is to earn college credit, which usually requires that a student score a 4 or 5 out of the maximum score of 5. 

So which should you take? If qualified, take both. The subject tests to show readiness for college-level work and AP exams to exhibit mastery of a subject.  

ACT Announces Free Test Prep Resources

The testing company ACT recently launched "ACT Academy," a free online test prep and learning tool for students who want to improve their ACT scores.  The service is similar to College Board's partnership with Kahn Academy for SAT test prep and aims to close the gap regarding equity, opportunity, and achievement for all students interested in test prep, including those who may not have the means or desire to pay for test preparation services.  The content is personalized for each student and uses instructional videos, practice questions, full-length practice tests, and games for learning.  The personalized approach is shaped by the student's previous ACT or preACT scores, which are entered by the student manually, as well as platform diagnostics.  ACT reports that the ACT Academy tool was developed in partnership with Khan Academy, NASA, PBS, and other organizations.  Making it even more user-friendly, ACT Academy is compatible with all devices and is available anywhere that a student has internet access.

College Board Announces New AP Prep Program

College Board will be launching a Pre-AP program starting this fall.  According to  College Board, "The Pre-AP program will offer consistent, high standards in focused courses that help build, strengthen, and reinforce students’ content knowledge and skills. Pre-AP courses will get students ready for AP and other college-level coursework."  Similar to AP, each individual high school will determine whether they want to include Pre-AP as part of their academic offerings to students.  Currently, Pre-AP is available in Algebra I, Biology, English I, World History and Geography, and Visual and Performing Arts.

Low-Income Families Can Now Send Test Scores for Free

Both College Board and ACT changed their policies to enable low-income families to send their standardized test scores free of charge.  ACT was the first to announce that students qualifying for a fee-waiver would be allowed to send their scores to as many as 24 colleges without incurring a fee.  In response, the College Board followed suit, allowing low-income students to send their SAT scores to as many colleges as they want free of charge. 

The Standardized Test Plan: Start Early

SAT or ACT? SAT Subject Tests? AP Exams? 

Now is a great time for high school juniors to create or review their testing plan for college admission.  Assess what you have taken and what's left to take.  Have you taken the SAT? Are you satisfied with the results? Take the time now to consider your options:  

• It might be worth considering and focusing the ACT instead of the SAT if the scores aren't where you want them to be.  Colleges that require test scores for admission will accept either the ACT or SAT without bias for one over the other.  Take a practice test and see how you do to compare performance.  
• Consider your workload and extracurricular activities as you map out a testing plan calendar (go online to find test dates and locations).  Try to pick a timeframe for test prep and test-taking with fewer competing demands.  And remember:  it's important to take the test soon after you complete your focused test prep to maximize your improvement.  As a general rule, most test preparation experts recommend taking the test three times for best score results. 
• Once you create your test prep and testing dates calendar, note the test registration deadlines and register early as some testing locations fill up quickly.
• If you plan to take AP tests or SAT Subject Tests, you'll probably want to avoid any other testing in May and June.
• With new summer tests being offered by both ACT (July) and SAT (August), timing has become more flexible and user-friendly. 
• "    With Early Decision applications on the rise, finishing one's testing by early fall of senior year is important for more students than ever before.
• The best advice we can give you is that it's less stressful to have your testing completed by the time you're working on your college applications with deadlines looming.  Planning now can and will help ease the stress and maximize performance!

Ask the Consultant: Test Optional Colleges

Q: The college I am applying to is test optional.  Will it hurt me if I don’t submit my standardized test scores?

A: Many colleges no longer require standardized test scores in the application process.  They find that the results of the ACT or SAT have little predictive value in determining student success at the college level. As such, not submitting your standardized test scores will not be held against you.  At the same time, colleges that are test optional put more weight on your high school transcript, so if you have a lackluster transcript and high standardized test scores you may wish to send them as part of your application. You always want to put your best foot forward in the college application process, so if your scores will help your application then submit them, but if they are not indicative of your caliber as a student, then don’t send them; the college won’t hold that against you.

Most Connecticut Colleges are Test Optional

The majority of 4-year colleges and universities in Connecticut are test optional! Only Yale University, The University of New Haven, and Albertus Magnus College require that applicants submit standardized testing.