9th GRADERS
If you are a high school freshman, you can just relax. If you
are not a 10th Grader, you must talk to Linda before you sign up. No
EXCEPTIONS! Contact her at LindaBLopez@gmail.com
10th GRADERS
If you are a sophomore, you should consider taking the PLAN,
which is a practice ACT made especially for 10th graders. This is a good way to
find out what this college test is like, without the pressure. To sign up, visit
the counseling office at your local public or private high school. Do so very
soon. It is not offered at all high schools, so call first. There is a fee,
which varies from school to school. Be sure to pick up a PLAN preparation
booklet when you register - then read it carefully!
OR, YEAH is also offering the PLAN test again this year. Any homeschooled student may register. Please go to PLAN Test for more information and this year's dates and times.
As a sophomore, you can take the PSAT, but it will not count as the National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. (see below)
11th GRADERS
All juniors going to college should take the PSAT, which is a
pre-SAT. This is a good way to find out what this college test is like, without
the pressure. It is also the National Merit Scholarship Qualifying test, and is
the first step of the National Merit process. There are only two test days for
this test, and each high school chooses either a Saturday or a Wednesday in
October (go to www.collegeboard.com
for this year's dates). Again, you can only sign up at a public or private high school.
(YEAH will not be giving this test.) Public high schools are supposed to allow
homeschoolers to take the test, but may not allow out-of-district students to
sign up. (If you have any trouble, please let me know.) There is a fee, which
varies from school to school. Be sure to pick up a PSAT preparation booklet when
you register - then read it carefully!
11th and 12 GRADERS
All students even considering college should take the
ACT or SAT. Some colleges require one or the other; most allow you to send
either. In the latter case, you can take both, then make the decision which to
send with your application. Unless you are planning on attending a very
competitive college or entering a very competitive program (like the U of M's IT
program), you can wait until the spring or summer of your Junior year to take
the tests, leaving you time to re-take them if needed. If you are a senior and
have not taken a college test, sign up now. You can pick up a registration
booklet at any high school or college. You can register by phone, on-line (www.act.org),
or by mail. Tests are given at least every other month, but
you must register at least 5 weeks for the test, so
Register early!
Lastly and so very important, please use the homeschool codes when you test so that the scores are sent to you at your home address, and not to the high school where you tested.
PLAN: 979-999
PSAT: 992499 ACT: 969-999 SAT: 970000
NO ONE needs to give out their social security number when taking these tests. Refusing to give it will make no difference in the testing or scholarship process. (This also applies to PSEO applicants.)
The career information part of the PLAN test is optional. ACT assures us that this information is used only as a tool for individual student planning and is to be used by the school counselor (in our case, the parents). When the homeschool code is used, results go only to the home.