For almost 50 years, the SAT has played a pivotal role in the college admissions process. The upcoming transition from the traditional paper-and-pencil format to a digital, adaptive SAT marks one of the most significant changes since its inception in 1926. The Class of 2025 will be the first cohort of U.S. students to undergo both the PSAT and SAT in a digital, adaptive format.
Early acceptance rates at these institutions showed a significant advantage over regular decision rates, according to U.S. News data. Though crafting a standout college application can be a time-consuming and stressful process, submitting an application in the fall, well before the typical winter deadline for regular admissions, is possible.Read on to find out more.
One of the biggest misconceptions about scholarships is that they are only for high school students. In fact, there are numerous lucrative scholarship opportunities that current college students can apply for. These scholarships for college students can help you pay for tuition, room, board, fees, and other expenses like books and laptops.
The PSAT/NMSQT is a standardized test that 11th graders (and some 10th graders) take in October. Like the SAT, it measures the knowledge and skills in reading, writing, and math students learn in the classroom—the same knowledge and skills your child needs to succeed in college and career.
The primary date for the 2021 PSAT/NMSQT was Wednesday, October 13, while some students took the test on Saturday, October 16 or Tuesday, October 26. See more PSAT/NMSQT test dates.
Students sign up for the PSAT/NMSQT at their school—not online. See how homeschooled students can sign up and take the test at a local school.
By taking the PSAT/NMSQT as a junior, students may meet the requirements to enter the National Merit® Scholarship Program, an academic competition for recognition and scholarships. Additionally, the SAT, PSAT/NMSQT, and PSAT 10 connect students to another $300 million in college scholarships for students across major demographics. Learn more about the scholarships.
The PSAT/NMSQT has three parts: the Reading Test, the Writing and Language Test, and the Math Test. See what's on the test.
PSAT/NMSQT scores are available online in December. Here's how your child can see their scores.
We never send PSAT/NMSQT scores to colleges.
If your child qualifies for a PSAT/NMSQT fee waiver, they take the test for free. After they take the PSAT/NMSQT, your child may also be eligible for other fee waiver benefits, including 2 free SATs, unlimited free SAT score sends to colleges, waived college application fees at participating colleges and more. Learn more about fee waivers.
When your child takes the PSAT/NMSQT, they open the door to more benefits than you might think.
It connects students to more than $300 million in scholarships, including the National Merit® Scholarship Program. If your child opts into our free Student Search Service®, scholarship providers will invite them to apply.
It's excellent practice for the SAT. Both tests measure the same knowledge and skills and ask the same types of questions, so PSAT/NMSQT takers will know what to expect on the SAT.
It's the first step to a free, personalized SAT study plan. Official SAT Practice on Khan Academy® uses your child's PSAT/NMSQT score to create a customized SAT study plan with sample questions that focus on areas where they need help.
It shows student progress on the road to college. The PSAT/NMSQT is part of the SAT Suite of Assessments, a series of tests beginning in eighth grade that shows your child and their teachers whether your child is on track for college.
It shows which Advanced Placement Program® (AP) courses your child is ready for. The PSAT/NMSQT Score Report indicates which college-level AP courses your child has the potential to succeed in.
Read More About It
For Students: Scholarships and Recognition
About the SAT Suite of Assessments
Parent's Guide to Official SAT Practice
For Students: Discover Your AP Potential
The only way your child can sign up for the PSAT/NMSQT is through their high school. Each school's signup process differs, so your child should talk to their school counselor to learn more.
Some students pay a small fee to take the PSAT/NMSQT, but many students have test-related fees covered in full or in part by their school. If your child qualifies for a PSAT/NMSQT fee waiver, they test for free. For more information, talk to your child's school counselor.
Read More About It
Learn About the PSAT/NMSQT and PSAT 10
PSAT/NMSQT Fee Waivers
The best way your child can prepare for the PSAT/NMSQT is to pay attention in their high school classes and study the course material. Students who do well in school are likely to do well on the PSAT/NMSQT.
Because the PSAT/NMSQT and the SAT focus on the same subject areas and ask the same types of questions, your child can use Official SAT Practice on Khan Academy to practice for the PSAT/NMSQT. It's a free, interactive study tool that provides a personalized practice plan that focuses on exactly what your child needs to stay on track for college.
Your child can download and print official PSAT/NMSQT practice tests.
PSAT/NMSQT scores range from 320 to 1520 and are on the same score scale as the SAT. This means that a score of 1100 on the PSAT/NMSQT is equivalent to a score of 1100 on the SAT. The only difference is that SAT scores range from 400 to 1600, because the difficulty level of the questions is higher than on the PSAT/NMSQT.
After your child takes the October PSAT/NMSQT, their scores will be available online in mid-December. If your child has a College Board online account, they'll get an email saying their scores are ready to view on the Student Score Reports website. If they don't, they can talk to their school counselor to get their scores.
We don't send PSAT/NMSQT scores to colleges. We only send your child’s PSAT/NMSQT score to:
Their school (always), school district (often), and state (often)
National Merit Scholarship Corporation
Select scholarship and recognition programs (your child may opt out of)
If you want to log in yourself to see your child's score report, use the email and password your child used when they set up their College Board online account.
Once your child gets their score report, they should sit down with you and go over it. That way, you both know what to focus on to be ready for college. Score reports also indicate suitable AP or grade-level courses to take in the future.
Read More About It
For Students: Understanding Scores
For Students: Who Sees Your Scores
Student Search Service
“We were happy because this program focuses on the individual. After our daughter did the mock practice tests, it was discovered she only needed SAT math tutoring. The in person 1 on 1 prep got her up 210 SAT math points!
— Leslie N. (Washington, DC)
SAT FORMAT AND STRUCTURE (FOR JUNE 2021 TEST AND BEYOND)
Reading – 65 minutes (52 questions)
Writing and Language – 35 minutes (44 questions)
10 minute break
Math – No calculator – 25 minutes (20 questions)
Math – Calculator allowed – 55 minutes (38 questions)
On the SAT, students will have an average of 1 minute and 10 seconds to answer each question. This includes the multiple-choice questions and the math grid-in questions. This varies drastically from the ACT, which gives students an average of 49 seconds per question. The format is similar to the ACT; however, there are two SAT math sections and no dedicated science section like the ACT. There is no penalty for answering incorrectly. Therefore, students should answer every multiple-choice question. Students can only gain points on the SAT, so it’s important not to leave any questions unanswered. The SAT contains four answer choices, instead of five, which was seen on the old SAT. A new SAT report will encompass a math section with a scale score of 200-800 and a reading/writing section with a scale score of 200-800. The overall combined scale score will be 400-1600.
SAT Reading
The new SAT will focus more on academic achievement. The College Board is eliminating sentence completions from the new SAT and increasing the presence of tier 2 vocabulary. All of the SAT reading passages will be considered “long” as the College Board got rid of the shorter passages. Students will need to be skilled at citing evidence, extracting information, analyzing structure, and purpose. The new SAT reading section will include a pair of related passages and questions will ask students to draw connections.
SAT Math
The new SAT math section will focus heavily on algebra. The College Board added a sub-score to the new SAT report titled “Heart of Algebra.” Geometry will be de-emphasized, while algebra will be the main focus. There will be more real-world math problems, for example, how to leave a calculated tip at a restaurant. The new SAT will include trigonometry for the first time. Both the ACT and SAT will now contain trigonometry. Formulas are provided on the SAT, unlike the ACT, and there will be the introduction of a no calculator math section.
SAT Writing and Language
The SAT writing and language section will test students editing and revising skills. They will need to correct errors in sentence structure, usage, and punctuation. There will be at least one informational graphic on the SAT reading and writing section. This section will be similar to the ACT English section.
We offer SAT prep throughout the Washington DC area, Northern VA area, Richmond VA area, Fredericksburg VA area, Charlottesville VA area, Raleigh NC area, and Charlotte NC area. We will have a SAT tutor come to your home for one-to-one instruction. We will review previous SAT practice test scores or official SAT scores to determine the area of focus. We can also email out a SAT practice test to take at home and provide an analysis for a customized SAT prep program.
Contact us to learn more about our SAT prep program or choose a package from below.
12-Hour SAT Prep Package $1,500.00
18-Hour SAT Prep Package $2,070.00
24-Hour SAT Prep Package $2,520.00
36-Hour SAT Prep Package $3,420.00
January is a great time to get organized and jump into the new year. Here are some tips for you!
Underclass Students
1. Meet with your high school counselor.
Review fall PSAT test scores and ask questions about the tests and your progress.
Ask for recommendations for summer programs.
Schedule next year's courses. Take your four year plan into the counselor with you. It will come in very handy in your discussion of what courses to take.
Discuss with your counselor any other school based standardized testing offered by the school (AP, IB, or school based SAT).
Ask any other questions on your mind, or that your parents may have.
2. Plan for Standardized Tests.
Juniors should prepare and plan to take all tests by the end of the school year.
3. Gear up for next year.
Explore summer programs.
Prepare for those standardized tests you have signed up for.
Ask teachers about their recommendation policies for summer programs, scholarships, or college applications (especially if you will be a senior next year).
Job shadow or do an internship to learn more about potential careers.
Plan college visits in spring break and other times in spring and summer.
__________________________________________________________________________
Senior Students
1. Meet with your high school counselor.
Request your last semester's grades for your records
Request your counselor send transcripts to any private colleges you applied to.
Request your counselor send transcripts to any public colleges if they request it.
Ask about scholarships and deadlines.
Check on graduation requirements and deadlines.
2. Check on college applications.
Make sure you have set up all your college email accounts.
Make sure you can log into all your college email accounts.
Check your college email accounts and follow up on any requests for information.
Confirm all your test scores have been sent and received by all your colleges.
Confirm all your recommendations (if needed) have been sent and received by the colleges.
Email an update to any colleges about additional honors or awards you have received since you submitted your applications.
3. Finalize your financial aid.
Talk with your parents about their college budget for you.
Attend financial aid workshops with your parents.
Check financial aid deadlines for colleges.
Check on scholarship application deadlines.
File you FAFSA and other forms (if required).
2021-2022 Mock Test Dates
with a Live Virtual Proctor
VHES offers online mock SAT and ACT tests Saturdays at 9:00 am through Lessonspace, a teaching platform that enables our proctors to oversee virtual exams and gauge students' test readiness. Upon registering for mock tests, students will receive a test packet in the mail that includes the following:
ACT/SAT answer sheet
ACT/SAT test booklet
Testing instructions
Please sign up no later than Monday during the week of the mock test. The day before each test, students will receive an emailed link to join the virtually proctored test.
Upon completion of the test, parents and students receive a 9-page diagnostic report showing how the student is performing in each dimension of the SAT or ACT. This detailed report is used to establish a baseline score, is the basis for test-prep planning, and is instrumental in helping us customize a tutoring program that addresses the most pertinent test sections. For students taking both the ACT and SAT, we also provide a concordance chart with test recommendations. See what our baseline test reports look like: ACT and SAT. There is a $25 test registration fee.
Register for a mock test by clicking on a specific test date below.
Mock ACT test dates:
January 8, 2022
February 5, 2022
March 5, 2022
April 16, 2022
May 21, 2022
Mock SAT test dates:
January 15, 2022
February 19, 2022
March 19, 2022
April 9, 2022
May 14, 2022
Visit our Mock Testing page to learn more.
Learn more about our test prep program.
Find out how an academic coach can help.
Interested in one-to-one tutoring? Contact us to get started.
College application deadlines can seem to pop up faster than social media trends. But, preparing for college, inevitably, takes time.
Plenty of students prefer to get ready as early as their junior year of high school—in an effort to strengthen their eventual college applications (and make the process more manageable).
For those interested in college, some years of high school carry more weight—especially, the junior year. Colleges often look more closely at grades and achievements from students’ junior years when evaluating who to accept.
Some high school years carry more weight—especially, the junior one. After all, that third year in high school is the last full academic calendar a college can view before students apply.
So, approaching junior year with a clear action plan may even give applicants a leg up on admission into their dream college. Compiling a junior year of high school checklist could help students to tackle this vital year with more drive, confidence, and focus.
Here’s an overview of why junior year of high school is so key and some strategies for staying focused while preparing to apply for college.
Junior year of high school can be especially impactful for strengthening a student’s college application. It’s the last school year that universities can look at in full before applications are due during senior year.
So, many admissions committees pay particularly close attention to grades and extracurricular activities from the junior year of high school.
The third year of high school can feel overwhelmingly for a few reasons:
• Class difficulty levels can increase later on in high school
• Students can begin studying now for the SAT and ACT. (It’s possible to take these exams in spring of junior year, affording juniors a chance to retake them during the fall of senior year.)
• Upper-class students can take on numerous extracurriculars and a part-time job.
Although junior year can strongly impact one’s college admissions chances, it’s not an impossible weight to lift (when planned for).
Entering junior year with a checklist in hand may help students see more success when college acceptance letters are sent out the next year. Here are some helpful things students may want to keep in mind to make more out of this critical year:
To strengthen their college applications, many juniors opt to get more involved with organizations or activities they care deeply about. Being involved in extracurriculars doesn’t have to feel like a chore.
Extracurriculars that might stand out on a college application range from clubs to student council, from athletic endeavors to volunteering. There’s no one-size-fits-all way for students to be engaged in school or in their communities.
Many high schools host a variety of clubs that students can join. Juniors could choose one or two they’re really passionate about, allowing these extracurricular activities to serve as a break from hitting the books (all while still fleshing out their college application profile).
Another potential way to increase focus is to keep a planner. It seems simple, but in today’s technology-driven age, it’s easy to forget how valuable writing big dates or goals down can be.
With seven dates available to take the SAT, and seven or more different dates available to take the ACT, it’s not hard for busy students to lose track of when to study for and schedule their college admission tests.
Once a test date has been chosen, students can mark it down in their printed planner. It’s then possible for a high school junior to work backward, planning out practice tests and penciling in study sessions during the build-up to the testing date.
The simple act of writing things down can make them easier to remember, so some researchers suggest jotting down key dates first in a physical planner before then adding them to a digital device or calendar.
In addition to writing down important dates, some students may benefit from making a personalized junior year checklist. Some tasks that could be included on such a list are:
• Studying for major tests, like the SAT or ACT
• Joining extracurricular clubs or organizations
• Researching different colleges and universities
• Getting familiar with the format of college applications
Once a checklist is drafted, students might then make to-do lists under each sub-category. The planner could be used in tandem to help students stay on top of these goals and deadlines.
Creating a dedicated space for studying can also improve a student’s focus during a jam-packed school year. Many high schoolers opt to designate a comfy space at home, where they may then concentrate on their studies. It’s even possible to give this study space a personal touch—decking it out with school supplies, keeping it clutter-free, and decorating it with inspirational photos or personal effects (like a magnet from one’s dream college).
Creating a dedicated study space, some claim, could both make recalling information easier and studying more effective.
Busy high school juniors might want to remember to reward major accomplishments during this high-stakes year. Once important dates and tasks are mapped out (and scheduled), students could make another list of potential fun rewards to enjoy, once an outlined goal is met. Aced those finals? Binge on some light TV. Finished the SAT practice exam? Download that new game everyone’s been playing.
It may also be helpful to recall that an overly hectic junior year can increase students’ feelings of stress, possibly making it harder to accomplish big goals. Burnout is likely easier to avoid when students carve time out for regular breaks.
There’s a multitude of ways for juniors to strengthen their eventual college applications. Choosing which tasks to focus on can be the hard part.
It may be helpful for juniors to find a volunteer opportunity in the field they’re hoping to pursue.
Some juniors add volunteering to their schedules this year. Certain volunteer opportunities have age restrictions, which can make them easier for upper-class students to apply for. Similar to the earlier at-school clubs, many juniors opt to volunteer with non-profit organizations or institutions they’re passionate about.
To possibly stand out more on the college application, it may also be helpful for juniors to find a volunteer opportunity in the field they’re hoping to pursue as a career someday.
For instance, a student interested in medicine might seek out opportunities in a local hospital (so they could learn firsthand about that working in that environment and evidence their commitment to a given field of study.)
Junior year could also be a good time for students to get their first part-time job. Many states allow young people to begin working once they’re 16 years old. If a student can find a job that’s easy to get (and doesn’t distract from academics), work experience can be one more experience to highlight on a college application down the road. Holding a part-time job at a young age might demonstrate skills, such as time management and personal responsibility.
Moreover, there may also be unique opportunities available to upper-class students at their individual schools. It’s common for special electives or programs to open up to older students— things like working on the school yearbook, interning for credit, or volunteering on or off-site.
Earning admission is just one piece of the going-to-college puzzle. Once accepted, many high schoolers have to wrestle with how to pay for college and the cost of tuition. For parents, saving up for a child’s college years is something they may want to start while their student is much younger.
What are some options for financing college? Some ways to pay for college include need-based grants, merit or affinity scholarships, federal student loans, and private student loans.
Some grants, such as Federal Pell Grants, are disbursed by the US government to those who qualify. Grants, unlike loans, do not typically have to be repaid by the student. Scholarships are frequently merit-based, meaning they’re often awarded based on a student’s academic, athletic or community-based accomplishments.
Many high schools and colleges publish lists of financial aid resources available to eligible undergraduates. These lists are one starting place to begin searching for potential scholarships or grants.
So, it may be worthwhile to check with a guidance counselor or on a college’s official financial aid web page (to see what resources have already been compiled).
Junior year can play a vital role in preparing students to vie for college admission. There’s a lot to keep track of this year—from juggling academics alongside extracurriculars to figuring out how, eventually, to pay for college (once accepted).
Loans are another common way to help pay for college. There are both federal as well as private student loans. Federal loans are offered by the US government to those who qualify. It’s important to note that federal loans can come with certain baked-in benefits (such as forbearance or income-driven repayment options) not always guaranteed by private lenders.
If a student and their parents can’t cover the cost of attendance after exhausting scholarship, grant, and federal loan options, some choose to pursue a private student loan.
Register for a mock ACT by clicking on a specific test date below.
Mock ACT test dates:
Register for a mock SAT by clicking on a specific test date below. :
Mock SAT test dates:
We also offer one-to-one mock testing at our offices. This consists of a full-length practice test for your child. Tests include: ACT, SAT, PSAT, SSAT, ISEE, HSPT, and SAT Subject Tests. We provide the test booklet, essay booklet, answer sheet, testing timer, calculator, and pencils.
We can send parents a practice test as well, to administer to their student in-home. We will send out a free practice test packet along with proctoring instructions. Parents must send the answer sheet back to us via email or mail.
ACT and SAT
$25 Registration Fee (1 Mock Test: ACT or SAT) Includes test scores comparison
Mock testing for the ACT and SAT, held in a group setting. Parents will receive a diagnostic score report and phone consultation. View sample student score reports: ACT and SAT.
For the ACT and SAT, we will compare scores in order to determine which test is better for the student to take. See virtual mock test dates above for the 2021-2022 school year.
ACT, SAT, PSAT, SSAT, ISEE, HSPT and SAT Subject Tests
$125 Standard Test (In-office)
$175 Special Accommodations (In-office)
FREE Parent Administration (In-home)
One-to-one testing at our offices or in-home testing proctored by a parent. A perfect fit for students that need to get acclimated to the test format, structure, and timing. This can help to relieve nervousness and anxiety. Parents have the option of administering the test to their child for free. They can also choose to drop their student off at our offices and we will administer the test to the student. Parents will receive a diagnostic score report from our testing software.
Starting Oct. 1, current and prospective college students can complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, known as the FAFSA, for their share of $150 billion in federal student aid — including grants, scholarships, loans and work-study — for the 2022-2023 school year.
Every year, college financing experts plead with students and their families to complete the FAFSA as soon as possible because schools often distribute student aid funds on a first-come, first-served basis according to the date the students complete the financial aid application. And every year, students miss out on billions.
“October 1 is incredibly important when it comes to paying for college because the FAFSA is the gateway to $150 billion in aid to help pay for higher education, including scholarships, grants, work-study and federal student loans,” says Ashley Boucher, who recently served as director of corporate communications for Sallie Mae. “But some of that aid is limited, some of it is first-come, first-serve, and so families want to be among the first in line to apply for their fair share of aid and that means preparing for this October 1st application date.”
Last year, FAFSA applications fell — even though financial need increased.
Discover Student Loans polled 1,500 parents with college-bound teens in early March 2020 and again in May 2020. They found that 48% of parents lost income as a result of the pandemic and 44% said they cannot afford to pay for as much of their child’s education as they had originally planned. As a result, 39% of those who in March said they did not plan to apply for federal aid, in May said they would.
Don’t miss out on financial aid – here’s how to get that money
During the 2020-2021 academic year, only 68% of students and their families submitted the FAFSA, down from 77% during the 2018-2019 academic year and 71% during the 2019-2020 academic year. Last year marks the lowest percentage ever recorded by Sallie Mae since the organization began its How America Pays for College report in 2008.
Lower-than-normal completion rates can be seen across a wide range of students. According to Sallie Mae’s report, 67% of low-income families, 70% of middle-income families and 66% of high-income families submitted the FAFSA.
Boucher says the decrease is “incredibly alarming” and “grounded in falsehoods.”
The most common reason families gave for not submitting the form was that they didn’t think they would qualify for any financial aid. But, there is no official income cutoff to apply for federal student aid.
Typically, “aid is available for anyone with a household income below $250,000 a year,” Charlie Javice, founder and CEO of Frank, an online FAFSA platform, previously explained to CNBC Make It. As a vast majority of Americans make less than $250,000, Javice says, being too rich to get aid “only applies to less than 5% of the U.S. population.”
“So it’s really important as FAFSA season comes up that people don’t forget that there is no such thing as being too rich to file FAFSA,” he says. “Everyone should be doing it.”
Other common reasons students gave Sallie Mae for not completing the FAFSA were that they missed the deadline, found the application too complicated and didn’t have enough time.
A recent survey of 1,000 undergraduate students by Student Loan Hero found that 85% of students don’t know that the FAFSA determines eligibility for free aid such as grants and work-study in addition to loans and 41% don’t know that filing the FAFSA early increases their chances of getting more financial aid.
“These misconceptions could be causing some students to ignore the FAFSA completely — one in five said they don’t plan to submit it this year. It’s a good idea for all students to submit the FAFSA, since it doesn’t have an income cutoff and can be used for more than just federal aid,” says Rebecca Safier, a student loan counselor for Student Loan Hero.
“One of the most dangerous misconceptions we discovered was that 43% of students believe you need to accept the full student loan amount you’re eligible for,” Safier says. “You don’t need to accept all (or any) of the student loans you’re offered, and in fact should try to minimize borrowing as much as possible so you don’t end up with burdensome debt after graduation.”
“Many families are still experiencing economic challenges as a result of a pandemic and we want to see more families keep their dollars in their wallet, and not pay more for college than they have to,” says Boucher. “Of course, that means starting with the FAFSA, but it doesn’t end there.”
Students can also lower their college costs by appealing the first financial aid offer they get from a college they want to attend.
According to Sallie Mae’s report, 29% of families who received a financial aid offer from a college appealed for more aid and 71% of those appeals were approved, leading to higher grant amounts in most cases.
Thanks to recent updates, the FAFSA application can be completed in as little as four minutes and CNBC Make It’s step-by-step guide for completing the FAFSA can help walk you through the process.
Click here to view our subject tutoring packages or here to check out our academic coaching service.
Continue to scroll down this page in order to view our test prep packages.
Vint Hill Educational Services offers test preparation for the ACT, SAT, PSAT, SSAT, ISEE, HSPT, and SAT Subject Tests. Each session is one-to-one for individualized support. The tutor will assign one to two hours of test prep homework after each session. The sessions are ninety minutes in length and test prep materials are included. The tutor will focus on the student's weakest areas of the test. In order to ensure improvement, the student will continue to take full-length practice tests throughout the course. The student will also learn tips and test-taking strategies.
TUTOR SELECTION PROCESS
We don't just assign any available tutor; we actually hand-pick the best tutor for your child. Before accepting the tutor, parents receive a tutor bio to review and approve. The tutor matching process consists of the following: subject area knowledge, tutor education, tutor personality, tutor background, student weaknesses, student schedule, and tutoring preference (in-home, public library, Panera Bread/Starbucks, or at our offices).
ACT OR SAT - WHICH TEST SHOULD YOU TAKE?
For ACT and SAT prep, the student should take a full-length practice ACT and SAT, in order to determine which test is best to prep for. Check out our ACT versus new SAT comparison chart for test differences. The goal is to find out which test is better for each individual student. What we've found, is that one-third are better suited for the ACT, one-third are better suited for the SAT, and the last third are comparable. We'll use our score concordance chart and let you know which test the student is scoring higher on.
GROUP MOCK TESTING
You can register here for one of our ACT or SAT practice tests.
TAKE A PRACTICE TEST AT HOME
We can email diagnostic full-length practice tests to take at home or at a library; for the ACT, SAT, PSAT, SSAT, ISEE, HSPT, and SAT Subject Tests. Parents will receive a free score report - view sample reports: ACT, SAT, SSAT, ISEE, and HSPT.
Upon purchase of a test prep package, the additional practice tests are included with the materials.
Confused about the tests and their structure? Learn more about the ACT, SAT, PSAT, SSAT, ISEE, and HSPT.
Did you know improving by just a single test point can be worth thousands of dollars in financial aid for your college education? The SAT'/ACT® test is important to your future—and can open up new opportunities for college and career.
If, after getting your scores, you’re thinking of retaking the SAT/ACT, consider these important questions and factors.
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) lets students receive aid that includes loans, work-study programs, and federal or state student grants.
Web (Online): fafsa.ed.gov/FAFSA/app/fafsa?locale=en_US
Print (PDF): studentaid.ed.gov/PDFfafsa
Mail (Post Office): 1-800-433-3243
Attending College From
July 1, 2016 – June 30, 2017: You can submit the FAFSA from January 1, 2016 – June 30, 2017 and use income tax data from 2015.
July 1, 2017 – June 30, 2018: You can submit the FAFSA from October 1, 2016 – June 30, 2018 and use income tax data from 2015.
July 1, 2018 – June 30, 2019: You can submit the FAFSA from October 1, 2017 – June 30, 2019 and use income tax data from 2016.
Additional Information
- You don’t have to apply to a school before listing it on your FAFSA.
- Choosing the renewal option allows you to carry over last year’s FAFSA information. Only the basics will carry over; thus, income and taxes will have to be re-entered.
- Even if your family’s income has changed, you still have to report the required year the FAFSA asks for.
- Some schools will make offers earlier than others. Be sure to read through all of the information. You should try and file as close to October 1st as possible. This is the first day in which you can file the FAFSA. You should also review your schools’ financial aid deadlines. You’ll have your bases covered if you file as early as possible.
- The FAFSA asks for current marital status. Meaning, what is your status while you’re filling it out. Depending upon the situation, a spouse’s income may need to be updated. It may need to be removed or added.
- Students may complete and submit a FAFSA as early as October 1st every year. The FAFSA was available on January 1st in previous years. Students have been able to file since October 1, 2016.
- Students can use income from an earlier tax year. Starting with the 2017-2018 FAFSA, students will use income from two years ago. Students will use 2015 income information instead of 2016 income information. As long as you can find your 2015 tax year data, the information should already be saved and ready to go!
- All 2016-2017 FAFSA applications must be submitted by midnight, June 30, 2017 (CT).
After You Apply
- Student Aid Report (SAR) - You’ll receive a student aid report from the U.S. Department of Education. This could come via email or postal mail. This report contains all of the data that you entered on the FAFSA. Review any errors and submit necessary corrections.
- Expected Family Contribution (EFC) - The student aid report will encompass an expected family contribution number. The number is representative of your family’s financial strength. It’s sent to the schools listed on your FAFSA as well as the state scholarship organization. The number is used to determine your financial aid.
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