How Testing is Changing During COVID
Many parents and students are wondering how high school and college entrance testing will be affected in the coming months due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We have resources and links that will help you to navigate this process.
ISEE : ERB is announcing a new AT HOME remote proctoring testing solution for students entering grades 5-12. Developed by Prometric, the remote system will create a secure exam experience and schools will receive a valid and reliable test score. For more information on how this option works and when it will be available visit https://www.erblearn.org/node/16617.
HSPT: Though there does not appear to be any change to the way the HSPT is taken, Scholastic Testing Service, Inc does have this notice on their site: "STS remains committed to supporting your educational assessment responsibilities and will continue to ensure continuity of services as the needs of your schools and students evolve. As official guidance and updates occur, we will advise our school-partners of any impact to operations." You can find more information for HSPT testing during COVID by calling 1.800.642.6787 or going to their website at www.ststesting.com. Zoeller and Associates recommends calling or emailing your schools of choice for more information regarding any testing cancellations.
SSAT: Registration for 2020-2021 tests begin on August 1 with testing dates starting September 12, 2020. The EMA has a COVID updates page with information and Frequently Asked Questions at https://go.enrollment.org/alerts.
ACT : As of today, and barring any changes in recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control or federal/state regulations, the ACT website maintains that the ACT test will be administered on June 13, 2020 at approved testing centers. ACT will begin notifying students during the week of May 26th of testing center closures and cancellations, along with instructions for rescheduling test dates for affected students. Parents and students are encouraged to check the ACT website regularly for updates: https://www.act.org/content/act/en/covid19.html.
SAT : Collegeboard, which administers and scores the SAT College Admissions test, SAT Subject tests, and Advanced Placement (AP) tests, has already canceled the June 6, 2020 SAT and SAT Subject tests. At the end of May, students who have already registered for the June 6th date, will be able to reschedule their test for a later date in 2020-21. Currently, College Board plans to return to monthly administration of the SAT starting August 29, 2020 and continuing until the end of the year. Obviously, any changes in recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control or federal/state regulations could result in changes to College Board's proposed schedule. Parents and students are encouraged to check College Board's website regularly for updates: https://pages.collegeboard.org/sat-covid-19-updates.
In addition, College Board has moved administration of its Advanced Placement (AP) tests online, allowing students already enrolled in AP classes to complete their scheduled courses along with their other high school classes. Find information about the exam schedule and an online demonstration at: https://apcoronavirusupdates.collegeboard.org/students.
University of California : The Board of Trustees for the University of California system voted on May 21, 2020 to phase out the SAT and ACT as part of their admission process. This is in addition to an earlier decision to make the admissions tests optional for students applying to UC schools this year, as the pandemic disrupted the college testing process. According to a May 21, 2020 New York Times article, "On Thursday, the California system's governing board voted unanimously to extend that optional period for another year, and then not consider scores for two years when determining whether to accept in-state applicants, using standardized tests only to award scholarships, determine course placement and assess out-of-state students." By 2025, the UC school system plans to eliminate consideration of the SAT or ACT entirely for both in and out of state students. This decision could have a tremendous impact on the future of college admissions tests for universities across the country. You can access the entire article here: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/21/us/university-california-sat-act.html.
As always, Zoeller & Associates is here for you. We can help you or your student prepare for these tests during this difficult and uncertain time. Please contact us to start prepping.
626-797-3719