TESTING - PSAT/SAT/ACT/CLT

• High schools offer a School Day PSAT Test annually which is usually administered in October with results available mid-December via the College Board website.

• Preliminary Scholastic Assessment Test (PSAT) is administered to all 9th & 10th-grade students at no cost/FREE.  It is open to all 11th-grade students.

  • • What is the PSAT10?

      • • The PSAT10 is a practice test designed to expose sophomores to the structure, pace, and content of the SAT. 

        • Students can use their PSAT 10 scores to get free personalized practice for the SAT. PSAT 10 scores give students and their teachers information on what AP courses they will likely do well in. Their scores also give students information on what areas they're strong in and what they need to work on.

        • PSAT scores are not shared with prospective colleges nor used by colleges as admission criteria.

• PSAT scores in 11th grade determine eligibility for consideration in the National Merit Scholarship Program. ($2500 scholarships are awarded by the state to the winners of the program). 

  • • What is the PSAT/NMSQT?

      • • A practice test designed to expose juniors to the structure, pace, and content of the SAT. 

        • It is also used by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) in the selection of top scholars. 

        • The minimum score to receive national recognition varies from year to year. 

        • PSAT scores are not shared with prospective colleges nor used by colleges as admission criteria.

        • Note: The PSAT 10 and PSAT 8/9 will not be considered for entry to the National Merit Scholarship Program. The PSAT/NMSQT is the official route of entry to the National Merit Scholarship Program.

    • National Merit Scholar Semi-Finalists are announced in September the following year

    • National Merit Scholar Finalists are announced in March.

• Starting in fall 2019, if you take the PSAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT) and you're African American, Hispanic American or Latinx, Indigenous, attend school in a rural area, or are from a small town, you may be invited to apply for academic recognition as part of the College Board National Recognition Programs.

  • • NEW in 2024: College Board has added a new category for first-generation students.

• How to practice for the digital SAT?

  • • Although there are current "paper" practice tests available below, it is recommended you use the digital SAT practice found further down on this page.

PSAT BENCHMARKS BY GRADE

• Students who take the PSAT/NMSQT, PSAT 10, and PSAT 8/9 see grade-level benchmarks on their score reports. Grade-level benchmarks represent the section scores on each assessment that students should meet or exceed to be considered on track for college and career readiness. They're based on expected student growth toward each grade's SAT College and Career Readiness benchmarks. 

• Our public high schools offer a School Day SAT Test annually, which is usually administered in March/April, with results available about a month later via the College Board website.
  Mandatory and FREE for Juniors. Students do NOT have to register for this test.

• The SAT is a standardized test that many colleges use as part of their admissions process. Each institution sets its own requirements for minimum scores, so it’s important to research the specific expectations of the colleges you're interested in. Be sure to visit each school's admissions page to review their SAT policies and guidelines.

• FEES
  To verify costs, please visit the College Board website. 

  • • REGISTRATION: $68 (as of 6/27/25).  

    • LATE REGISTRATION: $38

    • CANCELLATION FEE: $34 (for canceling registration by the change deadline)

    • LATE CANCELLATION FEE: $44 (for canceling after the change deadline)

    • FEE WAIVERS:
      SAT fee waivers are available to low-income students in the US or US territories. If you're eligible for a fee waiver, you can take the SAT for free and receive other benefits when applying to college.

      • • How to apply:

          • • Contact your dean/counselor for more information.

            • Request fee waiver directly from College Board

        • What fee waivers cover

          • • 2 free SAT registrations (no late registration fees or cancellation fees)

            • Unlimited score reports to send to colleges

            • Waived college application fees at participating colleges

            • Free CSS Profile applications

• ABOUT THE DIGITAL SAT

  • • The exam consists of a total of ~100 questions. The time to take the test is 2 hours and 14 minutes.

      • • Reading/Writing Section

          • • 2 modules, 54 questions, 64 minutes (averaging 1 minute 11 seconds per question)

            • Reading passages have only one question per passage

        • Math Section

          • • 2 modules, 44 questions, 70 minutes (averaging 1 minute 35 seconds per question)

            • 75% multiple choice & 25% student-produced response

    • Multistage adaptive testing (MST)

      • • 1st module contains a mix of easy, medium, and hard questions.

        • 2nd module questions are based on how you perform on the 1st module. Questions will either be more difficult or less difficult.

          • • If you get the easier section, there is no road to get a high score!

    • There is NO PENALTY for guessing.

    • The highest SAT score is a 1600 (Average SAT score in 2022 was 1050)

    • The SAT may be taken on either a laptop or a tablet - test continues to run even if your connection drops

    • Must download Bluebook™ on your testing device and complete exam setup

      • • You may take a full-length practice digital SAT two weeks before test day! (HIGHLY RECOMMENDED)

    • Tools

      • • Mark for review: You can flag and return to any question within a given test module that you want to come back to later. ƒ 

        • Testing timer: A clock counts down the time remaining in each module. You can hide the timer, and you get an alert when 5 minutes remain in the module. When there are only 5 minutes remaining, the clock can no longer be hidden. ƒ 

        • Calculator: A built-in graphing calculator (Desmos) is available for the entire Math section. (You can also bring your own acceptable calculator.) ƒ 

        • Reference sheet: In the Math section, you have access to a list of common formulas. ƒ

        • Option eliminator: If you think an answer option is wrong, you can cross it out.

        • Annotation: You can highlight any part of a question and leave yourself a note. This tool is only available in Reading and Writing. ƒ (Currently not recommended to use because it takes too much time) 

• SCORES

  • • Scores will be reported on the College Board account.  Log into your account to view your scores.

    • Palm Beach County Schools - Scores are updated to the SIS system. To find them, log into your account, click on Child Info under your child's picture, and choose TEST - National Assessment.

• What do I bring to the SAT? 

  • • Eligible Testing Device with Bluebook™ installed, exam setup completed, and charged to last at least 3 hours (will need to download the app within 1-5 days before the exam).
      Recommended: Bring a charging cable or portable charger.

    • Your Admissions Ticket
      If you lost it, don’t worry; you can log in to your College Board account and print another one before the test
      NEW - You may present your admission ticket on your mobile device instead of printing

    • A Photo ID
      Preferably a driver’s license, learner’s permit, passport, or student ID

    • Pen or pencil for scratch work (doesn't have to be a #2 pencil) 

    • Your College Board username & password

    • A Calculator (optional)
      May bring an acceptable calculator (but Bluebook has an embedded DESMOS calculator)

    • A Jacket
      No matter what time of year you’re taking the test, it’s a good idea to dress in layers. The testing room could be cold or hot, and you want to make sure you’ll be comfortable.

    • A Snack and/or Drink
      You’ll get two breaks during the test, so it’s a good idea to bring a healthy snack to keep your energy going.

    • A charging cable or portable charger

2025-2026 SAT Dates & Deadlines

Click on image below to download and print

SAT PREPARATION & PRACTICE

• • Download Bluebook, preview the digital exam, and take a full-length practice

  • Official SAT Practice on Khan Academy®: Free and personalized study for everyone. Take official full-length practice tests, use interactive practice, and get a tailored practice plan based on your PSAT/NMSQT results.

    • Link your College Board account with Khan Academy. (How-to video)

  • Schoolhouse.world From the founder of Khan Academy, Schoolhouse.world offers virtual 4-week small-group tutoring courses taught by verified, high-performing peers!

  • RECOMMENDED DIGITAL SAT PREP BOOKS

    • College Board The Official Digital SAT Study Guide (2nd Edition)

    • Princeton Review Digital SAT Premium Prep (2027)

    • Barron's Digital SAT Study Guide (2026)

  • You may seek a paid service/company to help increase your score.

  • You may seek out a private tutor to help increase your score.

  • Click on one of the SAT Practice Tests below, you may print out and take (courtesy of CollegeBoard)

SAT COLLEGE READY BENCHMARKS

• Students who take the PSAT/NMSQT, PSAT 10, and PSAT 8/9 see grade-level benchmarks on their score reports. Grade-level benchmarks represent the section scores on each assessment that students should meet or exceed to be considered on track for college and career readiness. They're based on expected student growth toward each grade's SAT College and Career Readiness benchmarks. 

• When students take the SAT, their score is compared to the College and Career Readiness benchmark, regardless of their current grade.

• Students are considered college and career-ready when their SAT section scores meet both the Reading and Writing and Math benchmarks. It's important to note that college readiness is a continuum—students scoring below the SAT benchmarks can still be successful in college, especially with additional preparation and perseverance.

• Students with an SAT Reading and Writing section score that meets or exceeds the benchmark have a 75% chance of earning at least a C in first-semester, credit-bearing college courses in history, literature, social sciences, or writing classes.

• Students with an SAT Math section score that meets or exceeds the benchmark have a 75% chance of earning at least a C in first-semester, credit-bearing college courses in algebra, statistics, precalculus, or calculus.

• Benchmarks shouldn't be used to assign academic tracks, discourage students from pursuing college, or keep students from participating in challenging courses. Rather, the benchmarks are intended to help all students better prepare for life after high school.

• ACT Test Dates occur six times a school year (in most states).  The tests are administered on Saturdays.  The regular registration deadline is approximately one month before the test date.

• Most high school students choose to take the ACT Test during the spring of their junior year and/or the fall of their senior year.  Many students take the ACT twice (once as a junior and once as a senior). 

• You may register for the ACT at ACT.org. 

• About the test

  • NEW UPDATES EFFECTIVE APRIL 2025

    • Reduced # of questions - 171 questions if taking the Science section, 131 if not taking the Science section

    • Reduced the number of answer choices in math questions from five to four.

    • Reduced exam time: 2 hours 45 minutes if taking the Science section, 2 hours 5 minutes if not taking the Science section

    • The test sections are as follows

      • • English: 35-minute section with 50 questions (about 42 seconds per question) 

        • Math: 50-minute section with 45 items (about 66 seconds per question) 

        • Reading: 40-minute section with 36 items (about 66  seconds per item)

        • Science (Optional): 40-minute section with 40 items

    • Students can now choose to take the ACT National test with or without the science section. State and district customers will choose whether to include the science section with the ACT test for their students.

  • There is NO PENALTY for guessing.

  • The highest ACT score is 36 

• Cost for ACT (as of 9/19/25)

  • • $68.00 for the exam

    • $25.00 add writing section (optional)

    • $4.00 add science section (optional)

    • $38.00 late charge

    • $69.00 standby testing

    • $44.00 change Fee

      • Fee waivers are available - please contact your dean or counselor

• Preparation and practice

  • The Official ACT Prep Guide 2025-2026 (Amazon)

  • QuizMe (by ACT) - Practice quizzes in math, English, reading & science with an answer key proviced a the end of the quiz.  With real ACT practice questions

  • Online ACT Practice tests & sample questions on the ACT Website

  • Free ACT practice tests are available at TestGuide.com 

  • Free Kaplan ACT Test

• Scores

  • Most scores are available through your ACT account within two weeks after testing (or five weeks for the writing test) but can take up to eight weeks from the testing date.

  • Where can I access scores at a later time (school account)? 

    • • Palm Beach County Public School Students:
        Scores are updated to the SIS system.  To find them, log into your account, click on Child Info under your child's picture (if you are the parent) or My Info (if you are the student), and choose TEST - National Assessment.

2025-2026 ACT Dates & Deadlines

Click on image below to download and print

ACT COLLEGE READY BENCHMARKS

• The ACT College Readiness Benchmarks are the minimum ACT scores required for students to have a high probability of success in credit-bearing first-year college courses. Students who meet a benchmark on the ACT have approximately a 50% chance of earning a B or better and approximately a 75% chance of earning a C or better in the corresponding college course or courses.

• This will give you a general idea of where you may want to focus on studying.