With the coronavirus rearranging college classrooms and many other facets of our lives, high school students and their parents may be wondering how this affects standardized testing in regards to entrance exams. Here’s what you need to know about COVID-19 and SAT / ACT.
The Tests Are Cancelled or Rescheduled
March is usually a month where many high school students are either taking the ACT and SAT or preparing for it. However, both upcoming SAT and ACT have either been canceled or rescheduled.
For example, the SAT test for May 2, 2020 was canceled, and students who were registered for tests taking place in March and May may be eligible for refunds. You can find more information as it develops for the SAT on the College Board’s website.
For the ACT, the April 4, 2020 national test was rescheduled to June 13. If you are not able to attend this test date, you can can receive a refund for the registration fee. This could change in the future as the situation develops, so students and parents can keep up on any changes regarding the ACT here.
Some Schools Are Waiving Requirement
In response to COVID-19 and the cancellation of the ACT and SAT test dates, some schools are waiving the requirement for the tests and making them optional. A few examples of these schools include
For some schools, the tests are only waived for Fall 2020 admissions. Others are removing the requirement for Summer 2020, Fall 2020, and Spring 2021 semesters. If you’re not sure if your potential schools are waiving ACT or SAT exams, make sure to reach out to them to see where they stand. As time goes on, more schools may decide to remove the requirement.
COVID-19 and SAT / ACT: Advice in the Meantime
What you do in the meantime depends on where you are in the college application process. However, one of the most important steps you can take is to remain abreast of the situation. Reach out to the schools you’re applying to, see where they stand regarding applications (and the SAT/ACT), and keep on top of the news. Things are changing daily.
If your SAT or ACT exam was scheduled for June or after, it’s important to still study and prepare for them in the event they aren’t canceled. Even if your school waived the requirement, it doesn’t mean you still can’t submit your exam results. Colleges can still look at your results and use them in the application process.
During these stressful times, it’s important to keep on top of the news coming out. More dates may change, and your school may change their approach to the tests.
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