ACT and SAT in the year of Covid-19
- Mary Ann Snyder
- May 7, 2020
- 3 min read
Updated: Jun 21, 2020
UPDATE: On June 18, ACT announced that section retesting has been postponed until 2021.
What to do about the 2020 ACT and SAT
This always tends to be a stressful time of year for high school juniors and their families, with grades and test scores. This year there is the added stress of Covid-19. Concerns about the spread of the virus have resulted in cancellations of the March, May, and June SAT, and the April ACT. Even without the virus, the changes to the re-take options for the ACT raised questions for many. Here are some thoughts about how to approach the test-taking process.
Use this time to prepare for the tests
The SAT has recently canceled the June test. Beginning in August, the College Board plans to offer the SAT every month through December, 2020. The ACT is currently scheduled for June 13. I’m certainly hoping that the test will happen as scheduled, but a lot depends on the country’s public health status. But whether they take a June or July or August or later test, students should use the time between now and then to prepare. If students are learning content as they prep, they will not forget everything if there is a delay in taking the test. And students will never have as much time for prep - whether it be by themselves, with friends, or with a tutor – as they have right now.
In order to keep test skills sharp, I’m seeing students who were preparing for the April ACT once a week, or once every couple weeks, for a shorter session, until a test date is certain. I’m planning to see students a week before the test in order to go over test taking strategies, and to review key concepts. There are many ways to structure prep according to students’ individual needs. Students who are ready for the test will only need a brief refresher before the actual exam.
The Illinois SAT
The free Illinois SAT administered to juniors throughout the state in April was canceled. However, some sources (local papers, school updates) indicate that the Illinois State Board of Education is working with the College Board to see that SAT may be offered later this fall to incoming seniors. Check with your school district for updates.
What is going on with the ACT?
There are significant changes in the ACT retest process coming in September. Previously, students who were not satisfied with their ACT scores were required to retake the entire test. Beginning in September, students will be able to choose the sections they want to retake, retaking only those sections rather than the whole test. This is very good news, particularly for anxious test takers, and anyone who dreads sitting through another 4-hour exam. It also seems to confirm that the trend toward super-scoring – using a student’s highest subject scores across multiple tests to create their test profile – is here to stay. (Note, in order to be eligible to retest, students must have taken a complete ACT. So, juniors should move forward with taking the complete test as soon as it is available.)
This is a challenging time for everyone. But the availability of multiple SAT test dates later this fall, and the opportunity to take an ACT section retest, if needed, is a bright spot in an otherwise confusing 2020 test season.
ACT September 2020 - New Options For the Act Test
SAT
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