Anonymous wrote:Why can’t ACT/SAT rent out convention centers, arenas, or large hotel ballrooms to give the tests? I actually suggested this to ACT and they said they give preference to their school partners.
So frustrating!

Maybe because the school partners provide the space for free but renting a convention center would cost them money?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why the assumption that high-scorers test early? Not the case at all for my kid and his friends.

My Dc's guidance counselor, at a FCPS school suggested that all kids who were considering applying to top 25 schools take the ACT and/or SAT in the fall of junior year so that they could realistically see where they fell, and to give them time to prepare to retest if necessary. So DC has scores to submit.

Same DS took one last August during cross-country practiice and the other in September. 1540 and 35 so he’s fine. Going in state to save money for graduate school though, so he likely doesn’t need a score to get in anyway.

Your kid could get full rides from some schools with the 35 instead of “saving money” by paying $37k+/yr for UVa/W&M.

Is the PSAT not going to happen this fall?

FCPS School Board At-Large Member, Rachna Sizemore-Heizer, posted this update on her Facebook page:

SAT and ACT Testing Update
FCPS is aware that families of high school students are concerned about access to ACT and SAT testing opportunities in FCPS and surrounding areas. We are currently exploring options regarding FCPS testing sites for August, September, and beyond in order to offer opportunities for students to test as soon as possible based on the health and safety guidelines. We will send an update to our families once testing sites are confirmed. We are also encouraging our rising seniors to carefully review the admissions criterion for the colleges on their list as many colleges are adjusting their requirements for the ACT or SAT. School counselors and career center specialists will be available in mid-August to discuss postsecondary planning with students and their families, taking into account the changes in admission criteria and testing options available to students.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why the assumption that high-scorers test early? Not the case at all for my kid and his friends.

My Dc's guidance counselor, at a FCPS school suggested that all kids who were considering applying to top 25 schools take the ACT and/or SAT in the fall of junior year so that they could realistically see where they fell, and to give them time to prepare to retest if necessary. So DC has scores to submit.

Same DS took one last August during cross-country practiice and the other in September. 1540 and 35 so he’s fine. Going in state to save money for graduate school though, so he likely doesn’t need a score to get in anyway.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Anyone whose kid wanted to take the ACT this summer was part of a disaster movie. For those of us with high performing kids and without test scores, what do you think the chances are that SAT or ACT will have any tests in this area this fall?

Um, if kid is "high performing" then they would have a test score by now. Unless you're not talkig about a rising senior. In which case, f off.

False. Lots of high performing kids without test scores.

Probability in NE getting lower and lower every day.

Anonymous wrote:Why can’t ACT/SAT rent out convention centers, arenas, or large hotel ballrooms to give the tests? I actually suggested this to ACT and they said they give preference to their school partners.
So frustrating!

We're in NYC and the magnet high school exam (for admission to Bronx Science, etc) is potentially going to be given at the Javits Center so kids can take it but remain socially distanced.

I'm not sure why the SAT/ACT can't do this.

Our child was able to to take the July ACT at a testing center in West Virginia.

Anonymous wrote:Why the assumption that high-scorers test early? Not the case at all for my kid and his friends.

My Dc's guidance counselor, at a FCPS school suggested that all kids who were considering applying to top 25 schools take the ACT and/or SAT in the fall of junior year so that they could realistically see where they fell, and to give them time to prepare to retest if necessary. So DC has scores to submit.

My kid’s “bad” high school encourages all kids to wait until the end of junior year to test

Why the assumption that high-scorers test early? Not the case at all for my kid and his friends.

Why can’t ACT/SAT rent out convention centers, arenas, or large hotel ballrooms to give the tests? I actually suggested this to ACT and they said they give preference to their school partners.
So frustrating!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Anyone whose kid wanted to take the ACT this summer was part of a disaster movie. For those of us with high performing kids and without test scores, what do you think the chances are that SAT or ACT will have any tests in this area this fall?

Um, if kid is "high performing" then they would have a test score by now. Unless you're not talkig about a rising senior. In which case, f off.

My "high performing kid" doesn't have an ACT score. She was scheduled to take the test in April, the same as her sister who is at at T3 school. Not everyone takes the teat before spring.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If they are going to cancel, they should cancel nationwide like the College Board did for May and June. Not the piecemeal, last minute, guessing game, no communication disaster that was the July ACT.

Certainly they should avoid the communication disaster of ACT. But, if some significant portion of test centers will be open, at least some kids would get a chance.

True. But that might also favor certain parts of the country and families who can travel hundreds of miles so their kid can take a test. It's a tough one.