Standardized Testing Requirements for the UCs
Test Score Submission Requirement and Deadline
Testing Requirement Change in 2012
Preparing for the SAT Reasoning and ACT plus Writing Assessment
The UCs accept both SAT Reasoning and ACT plus Writing Assessment scores. You can get an idea of how well you will do on these exams by taking the PSAT and PLAN in 10th grade. The UC campuses will only consider your top combined score from one test date (no "superscore") and they don't really care how many times you take the exams (although most private schools frown on excessive test taking, so plan accordingly). If you took both the SAT and ACT, the UCs use a conversion scale to compare the SAT and ACT scores and take the highest one. Even though the College Board has implemented Score Choice, the UCs are requesting students to send ALL of their test scores.
The UCs also require two SAT Subject Tests in two different subject areas: English (literature), history/social studies, Math Level 2, science, and languages (other than English). Take the tests on which you expect to score very well. You can take as many tests in as many subject areas as you want (same caution about applying to private colleges); the UCs will only look at the top two scores in two different subject areas. The UCs do NOT expect you to take the subject test related to your major except when you are applying to Engineering; you are stuck with Math Level 2 and whatever science test (Biology, Chemistry, or Physics) that is closest to your intended major.
Test Score Submission Requirement and Deadline
For both SAT and ACT, you only need to send ONE official score report to ANY of the UC campuses you applied. The scores are shared between the campuses and you do not need to send separate score reports to each UC campus. The score report must reach the UC campus before the end of December.
If you are taking the December test, you should list the UC campus as a score recipient when you register for the test (your registration fee includes 4 reports) so the score will be sent with the December batch of scores. If you wait until your December scores become available, you will have to request Rush Reporting (SAT) or Priority Reporting (ACT) for the score to get to the UC campus on time. Keep in mind that a low test score does not impact your chance of admission, but a missing test score will.
For SAT, you can update the score recipient by logging into MySAT. You have until 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on the Monday one week after your scheduled test date to make the update. Source: Sending Your Scores FAQs
For ACT, you can update the score recipient by logging into student Web account. You have until 12:00 noon Central Time on the Thursday immediately following your scheduled test date to make the update. Source: Registering for the ACT FAQs
Testing Requirement Change in 2012
This only applies to those of you who are graduating high school in 2012 or later. The UCs will no longer require the SAT Subject Tests starting with the fall 2012 application cycle. However, if you are interested in applying to engineering majors, Math Level 2 and a science are still strongly recommended.
You will still be able to use SAT Subject Tests to clear a-g subjects; see Options for Satisfying the Subject Requirement for details.
Preparing for the SAT Reasoning and ACT plus Writing Assessment
You should definitely prepare before you attempt either the SAT Reasoning or ACT plus Writing Assessment. It's rare for students to do well without some form of preparation. To get started, I would recommend browsing through test prep books and choose a couple of books that you feel are a good fit with your learning style. If you didn't get a chance to take PSAT and PLAN, definitely try the practice tests for SAT and ACT to get an idea of how well you can expect to perform on the two tests. I don't recommend paying money for a test prep course until you have tried both the SAT and ACT plus Writing Assessment (practice test or the real thing). Students tend to do well on one test or the other, but rarely both. So before you empty your wallet to prepare for the SAT, make sure you try the ACT plus Writing Assessment. Maybe you won't need to break the bank after all.
How exactly are the two standardized tests different? NPR takes a stab at answering Should You Take the SAT or the ACT? Personally, I think the biggest difference is that ACT doesn't penalize you for wrong answers ("I'm out of time! C, C, C, C, C") while SAT deducts 1/4 point for each wrong answer.
Free and Low Cost Self-Preparation Resources
FREE! Ivy West, a leading provider of one-on-one, in-home, in-person test preparation, is offering free practice tests (SAT and/or ACT) to you! If you are interested in getting the free practice tests, just send me an email at
FREE! Check out College Board SAT Preparation Center for Official SAT Practice Questions and the Official SAT Practice Test.
FREE! Check out INeedAPencil.com for online SAT preparation. The site provides 60 lessons, 2 practice tests, and a variety of support tools.
FREE! Check out Number2.com for online SAT and ACT test preparation courses.
FREE! or Low Cost - Check out ACT Test Prep for practice test questions and preparation materials; some materials are free (clearly labeled "free") while others are for purchase.
FREE! or Low Cost - Prepare for the SAT by going straight to the source: The Official SAT Study Guide, 2nd edition by College Board offers a description of the test, test taking strategies, and practice tests with the answer keys. Find a copy at your local library (free) or purchase a copy (low cost).
FREE! or Low Cost - Prepare for the ACT by going straight to the source: The Real ACT Prep Guide: The Only Official Prep Guide From The Makers Of The ACT by ACT offers a description of the test, test taking strategies, and 3 real ACT tests with the answer keys. Find a copy at your local library (free) or purchase a copy (low cost).
Test Prep Courses
Ivy West, a leading provider of one-on-one, in-home, in-person test preparation, is offering you a 10% discount on their test prep programs! You get higher quality preparation, but with a bigger price tag. For cost conscious folks (and who isn't these days), Ivy West will provide small group tutoring if you can gather up a few friends. This can lower the price significantly while retaining good one-on-one interaction. If you are interested in signing up for a test prep program, just send me an email at
The Wall Street Journal claims in a May 20, 2009 article, SAT Coaching Found to Boost Scores - Barely, that test prep courses are not as beneficial as the test prep companies would lead you to believe. The article suggested that Revolution Prep may have provided more difficult mock tests in order to show a dramatic test score improvement. I had received separate feedback from a parent who had a similar suspicion regarding the mock tests offered by Revolution Prep. However, the same parent also rated Revolution Prep as having "a decent program, especially for the price" (April 23, 2009; thanks to Marlene for sharing).
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