College Entrance Exams

PSAT 

The PSAT will be made available to our sophomores and juniors and will be administered on Tuesday, October 25, 2022.

Reasons why sophomores should take the PSAT:

  • to get familiar with test questions and formatting of college admissions tests (SAT/ACT) in a low risk setting (scores will not get sent to colleges).
  • your scores will highlight your academic strengths and areas of improvement that you can work on before taking the SAT/ACT.
Reasons why juniors should take the PSAT:
  • practice before taking the “real” SAT in spring semester of junior year.
  • the junior year PSAT score is the qualifying score for the National Merit Scholarship Program. If your scores are within a certain high range, you may qualify for scholarship money.

Payment for the PSAT:

  • Sophomores will take this test free of charge.
  • Juniors will need to pay $30 to register. Registration occurs October 4-12. There are a limited number of tests, so please register ASAP.

*Registration and payment are done through Payport, found on the NS website (select “PSAT Registration” in the Transaction dropdown menu). The total cost covers the test + Payport fee.

SAT/ACT

SAT Test Dates and Information: www.collegeboard.org

ACT Test Dates and Information: www.act.org

Fee Waiver Information

SAT Fee Waiver and ACT Fee Waiver Information. There are eligibility requirements which must be met in order to receive a fee waiver. Income levels are based on the USDA Food and Nutrition Service Income Eligibility Guidelines. Contact your counselor if you think you might qualify for the waiver.

Test Prep Information

Many students find it beneficial to enroll in preparation classes prior to taking the ACT and/or SAT. The counselors do not specifically endorse any specific preparation program and feel there are many that are helpful. Following is information on a few local preparation programs that other students have found beneficial:

  • Kathi Lecertua provides preparation before each administration of both the ACT and SAT. Kathi was the career counselor at Borah High School and has offered SAT and ACT test prep classes to students in the Valley for over 25 years. Sessions focus on testing strategies, math, critical reading, sentence completion, and science reasoning. Actual SAT and ACT exams are used in class for practice. Cost is $175, payable at the first class. Classes meet in the Eagle area. She can be reached at 208-761-4140, or by email at kathi.lecertua@gmail.com
  • Club Z offers individual tutoring as well as test preparation. Their phone number is 208-424-9500
  • Huntington Learning Centers provide preparation sessions at each of their Boise locations. Huntington provides an individualized prep program that allows students to work 1:1 with instructors while they pin point their specific needs to get the best results.
  • Tutor Doctor offers customized 1:1 and small group ACT/SAT preparation. Small group preparation is 18 hours in the classroom followed by three hours of 1:1 tutoring to maximize scores. Our ACT SUCCESS program provides a highly-detailed, six-page analytic report to pinpoint exactly where students need the most help. On average, students who complete our ACT SUCCESS program have raised their composite scores by six points! Tutor Doctor is located at 4840 N. Rosepoint Way, Suite C, Boise, 83713. Phone: 208-922-6416.

Free ACT/SAT prep is available from the following resources:

 

Contact Maria Chelko in the counseling office for more information.