A-HTS® Testing Updates

Please review and bookmark this page in your browser so you can return for future reference. 

NOTE: The College Board and ACT have both been looking into adding test dates, expanding testing centers, and setting up online options.  A-HTS™ will continue to monitor the testing landscape and communicate as news becomes available. 

We have also listed our recommendations below on how we can help you adapt your test preparation plan amid the June 2020 SAT cancellations, as well as our advice for our June 2020 ACT test takers.

Click here to send us an instant message to discuss your student’s personalized test preparation plan!


School Updates

In our ever-changing environment, we hear of colleges that are shifting to a test optional policy on a temporary basis. This is designed to ease the pressure on students impacted by the SAT and ACT cancellations during the COVID-19 pandemic. Please keep in mind, that students with standardized testing scores that will support their application can and should still send those scores on to colleges as they will be considered during the review process.

To make it easier for you to keep track of these developments, we’ll keep the list below updated as we learn new information. If you would like to share the name of a school that’s missing from this list, please email us at info@athometutoringservices.com. p>

Reminder that you should always check the website of the school for complete details on testing requirements. For example, some test-optional colleges will still require test scores from home-schooled applicants and candidates applying from non-traditional schools and others will still require test scores for merit aid consideration.

Colleges with Temporary Test-Optional Policies in Response to COVID-19

School Name Duration
Alfred University Students applying for Fall 2021 admission.
Amherst College Students applying for Fall 2021 admission
Babson University Students applying for Fall 2021 admission, then will review
Baylor University Students applying for Fall 2021 admission
Boston University Students applying for Fall 2021/Spring 2022 admission, then will review
California State University system Students applying for Fall 2021 admission with 2.5+ GPA
Centre College 3-year pilot
Colgate University Students applying for Fall 2021 admission
Cooper Union 2-year pilot
Cornell University Students applying for Fall 2021 admission
Davidson College 3-year pilot
Elon University 3-year pilot
Fordham University 2-year pilot
Gonzaga University Students applying for Fall 2021 admission
Grand Valley State University Students applying for Fall 2021 admission
Hamilton College Shift from test-flexible to ACT/SAT optional for Fall 2021/Spring 2022 applicants
Grand Valley State University Students applying for the 2021-22 academic year
Haverford College 3-year pilot
Hawaii Pacific University 3-year pilot
Loyola Marymount University Students applying for Fall 2021 admission
Meredith College Students applying for Fall 2021 admission
Middlebury College Shift from test-flexible to ACT/SAT optional for 3-year pilot
Montana State University Students applying for Fall 2021 admission, with GPA requirements
Murray State University Students applying for Fall 2021 admission with 3.0 GPA
Northeastern University Students applying for the 2021-22 academic year
Oakland University Students applying for Fall 2021 admission, then will review
Oberlin College 3-year pilot
Purdue University Northwest Students applying for Fall 2021 admission
Pomona College Students applying for Fall 2021 admission
Rensselaer Students applying for Fall 2021 or Spring 2022 admission
Rhodes College 3-year pilot
Santa Clara University Students applying for Winter 2021/Fall 2021 admission
Swarthmore College First year students applying for Fall 2021 or Fall 2022
Texas Christian University Students applying for Fall 2021 admission
Trinity University (Texas) 3-year pilot
Tufts University 3-year pilot
Tulane University Students applying in the fall 2020 and fall 2021
University of California Berkeley Students applying for Fall 2021 admission
University of California Davis Students applying for Fall 2021 admission
University of California Irvine Students applying for Fall 2021 admission
University of California Los Angeles Students applying for Fall 2021 admission
University of California Merced Students applying for Fall 2021 admission
University of California Riverside Students applying for Fall 2021 admission
University of California San Diego Students applying for Fall 2021 admission
University of California Santa Barbara Students applying for Fall 2021 admission
University of California Santa Cruz Students applying for Fall 2021 admission
University of Cincinnati Students applying for Fall 2021 & Fall 2022 admission
University of Richmond Students applying for Fall 2021 admission
University of Montana Students applying for Fall 2021 admission, with GPA requirements
University of Pittsburgh-Bradford Students applying for Fall 2021 admission
University of Southern California Students applying for Fall 2021 admission
University of Washington Bothell Student applying to any quarter from now through Fall 2021
Virginia Tech Students applying for Fall 2021 admission
Vassar College Students applying for Fall 2021 admission, then will review
Villanova University Students Applying for Fall 2021 admission, then will review
Western Michigan University Students applying for Fall 2021 admission
William and Mary 3-year pilot
Williams College Students Applying for Fall 2021 Admission

Testing Updates

SAT and Subject Tests

The College Board has canceled the SAT and SAT Subject Test administration that was slated to take place on June 6. It has added a new test on September 26 to its existing roster of fall tests. They will not be administering SAT Subject Tests in September.

Registration for the Fall 2020 SAT opens at the end of May.

Read more SAT Coronavirus Updates


ACT

ACT

ACT has not cancelled its June and July tests, but has added makeup test dates when a test center location is not able to open on the regular test date.

Click HERE to see a list of closed June 13 ACT testing sites.

The make-up date for the June 13 ACT is June 20, and the make-up date for the July 18 ACT is July 25. Also, ACT stated it will offer a remote proctoring option for the ACT test in late fall/early winter 2020.

Registration for the Fall ACT dates opens after July 18.

Read more ACT coronavirus updates

ACT Section Retesting The ACT insists that it will deliver Section Retesting starting with the September 12 test date. Section Retesting gives students who have already taken a complete ACT the ability to take individual sections instead of the whole test.

We have yet to find a school that is willing and able to administer ACT section retesting. Since it’s available as an online offering only, schools don’t want to take on the additional IT effort and resources. As a student, you’ll see if and where it’s available when you register.

ACT Costs To take an ACT (without Writing) costs $52 (it increases to $55 starting with the September date). To do a single section through ACT’s section retesting costs: $44. Two sections are $48, and three sections are $52.


AP Exams

On April 3, the College Board announced the dates for the new 45-minute, online AP exams. The table on their website shows primary dates for every exam and make-up dates (i.e. secondary dates).

They have provided access to free online AP review courses. Read more AP exam coronavirus updates.


SSAT

The Enrollment Management Association (EMA) cancelled the April 25/26 SSAT administration and all SSAT Flex and Benchmark administrations until May 31. EMA extended its deadline for free test changes until July 31.

April 15 Update: The EMA announced it will offer large-scale online at-home administration of the SSAT beginning in fall 2020. The new “SSAT at Home” will also be administered on a limited basis starting mid-May.

Read more SSAT coronavirus updates.

 

ISEE

ERB, the administrators of the ISEE assessment, is offering families a secure, online, remotely-proctored option that enables students to take the exam at home. This option is only for those applying to grades 5 – 12 and testing in the U.S. and Canada.

Read more ISEE coronavirus updates.

 

 

COLLEGE RESPONSE

In light of spring test dates being canceled, many colleges have decided to adopt a temporary test-optional policy for applicants from the high school class of 2021. Some have decided to implement longer trial periods of 2-3 years (e.g., Tufts).

Cornell is the first and only Ivy to go test-optional for this coming application cycle (so far). Their language is interesting and clearly communicates that this is a one-year trial only and that they would strongly prefer test scores. You can read the article here.

To support students and help themselves, colleges are extending deadlines. Over 400 colleges have moved the May 1 decision day deadline back to June 1 for this cycle. Some schools have talked about pushing back early action and early decision application deadlines for the upcoming cycle, but no school has officially announced anything at this point.

In the absence of second-semester grades, colleges will need data to evaluate whether applicants can do the work at their schools. Assuming schools open in September, it is safe to assume that senior fall grades will be more important than ever to an application. Test scores – AP, SAT, and ACT – will also show that students are college-ready.


Our Recommendations

Contact us to discuss a personalized test preparation plan that we will tailor for your student.  If you are a current A-HTS™ client, our Program Director will make a customized recommendation based on your student and our shared history of tutoring sessions and practice tests.

High School Juniors

For juniors who have not taken their first official SAT or ACT.

If your first official SAT was one that was cancelled, we strongly recommend that you register for the August 2020 and September 2020 SAT knowing that you can take it again in October 2020, if needed. For each of these 3 test dates, you will have scores back in time for a November 1, 2020 early decision deadline. For the regular decision deadline you could potentially test in November 2020 or December 2020 (if needed). Registration for these tests will open in May with priority given to students who registered for June 2020 SAT and have not taken an official SAT.

If you are on the ACT path, the June 13, 2020 and July 18, 2020 tests are still on (along with makeup dates of June 20 and July 25, respectively). As all Texas schools schools are closed until the end of this academic year, this has eliminated certain test center locations from the June dates. If you haven’t done so, register for a July test date in case the June ACT is canceled.  We can begin planning your fall testing plan, with the September 2020 ACT as your next opportunity. ACT may add an August test date but no announcement has been made.

Whether you are on an SAT or ACT path, we strongly encourage you to take a full length practice test under realistic conditions soon.  We are offering virtual proctoring online so please call us to set this up for your student. 

A-HTS™ provides practice tests that will establish your student’s baseline score.  Our Program Director develops a detailed score analysis and works with our test preparation team to advise your student how and when to take an official test. 


For juniors who have taken at least one official test.

Our Test Preparation Team we will analyze your student’s score report to devise a personalized test preparation plan.  

For students on an SAT path whose test plan was to retest in June 2020, choose one of the fall dates based on your score goals. We anticipate high demand for all tests in fall 2020 so we encourage you to secure a test date when registration opens in May. Keep in mind that for the November 1, 2020 early decision deadlines, the August 2020, September 2020, or October 2020 SAT dates will get your scores back in time. You could also potentially test in November or December and still meet regular decision deadlines.

If you are on the ACT path, the June 13, 2020 and July 18, 2020 tests are still on (along with makeup dates of June 20 and July 25, respectively). As all Texas schools schools are closed until the end of this academic year, this has eliminated certain test center locations from the June dates. If you haven’t done so, register for a July test date in case the June ACT is canceled.  We can begin planning your fall testing plan, with the September 2020 ACT as your next opportunity. ACT may add an August test date but no announcement has been made.

If your test plan was to SAT retest in the fall, then using one of the other fall dates for SAT Subject Tests can be a good option. We want to emphasize though that taking your final SAT should take precedence over Subject Tests.


 

For AP Exam Prep Support

We have adapted our AP tutoring programs to match the new format as set forth by the College Board. Beginning with a rigorous self-assessment, our expert tutors will customize online sessions to address the most immediate needs of the individual student. Focus will be split between content review and real practice with free-response questions that have appeared on past AP tests. Our engaging tutors work with your student in real-time on shared documents and teach strategies that help break down the free-response tasks into easier, manageable steps. Homework assignments will help bolster key content mastery and familiarity with the new test format. 


 

High School Sophomores

Most of the Class of 2022 should be unaffected by the recent test cancellations. Both the SAT and ACT are curriculum based tests and a student’s performance correlates with age, maturity, and time spent in school. 

Anticipating a high demand for seats at testing centers in fall 2020, we want to emphasize that having a clearly defined testing plan is important. We usually recommend that sophomores take a practice SAT and ACT in the summer months leading up to junior year, then use these tests to decide between the SAT-ACT and create a test plan with target test dates and a study schedule. Taking these practice tests gives students an exposure to the type of content and difficulty level of the material, a sense of their strengths and weaknesses, and can uncover underlying skills of which to improve.  

The few situations where we diverge from our standard recommendation of targeting spring test dates are when a sophomore is a strong scoring student, a recruited athlete, or knows that their spring of junior year is too full of other commitments to make time for test prep. These sophomores typically move their testing timeline up to take advantage of the December test dates as their first opportunity to take the test.

These sophomores, the “early testers”, may want to consider registering for the December test when registration for the fall testing season opens up in a few short weeks (at this writing, in May for SAT and July for ACT). At A-HTS™, we anticipate there will be a larger demand for seats at the fall test dates due to the seniors who were impacted by the spring 2020 cancellations. For early testers, taking an SAT and ACT practice test in the next few weeks might be beneficial so when the registration for these fall tests open, they know whether they are pursuing an SAT or ACT path.

 

Calendar of Test Administrations

Dates are subject to change. Always check the test administrators’ website.

* Fall SAT registration opens at the end of May, the College Board recently announced.
** Fall ACT registration typically opens after the July 18 test and, at this writing, ACT has not announced any changes to this.

 
SAT & Subject Test Dates ACT Dates
August 29 * June 13 (makeup date June 20)
September 26 (no Subject Tests) July 18 (makeup date July 25)
October 3 September 12 **
November 7 October 24
December 5 December 12