School Counseling » SAT & ACT Information

SAT & ACT Information

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When you take the SAT is a personal decision based on what timing is best for you.  This may or may not be the same as when your friends and classmates are taking it.
  • Historically, Bishop Feehan students have ideally chosen to take a combination of the SAT and/or ACT upwards of 2-3 times. More recently, as many institutions have shifted to a Test-Optional Policy, many Bishop Feehan students have opted to not take a standardized test at all, or have only taken it once.
  • In general, Bishop Feehan recommends that you wait to take the SAT until you are a junior and have completed the majority of your Algebra II curriculum AND have also completed, or are in at least the second half of, your SAT Prep course (i.e., you completed the math section and are taking English now, or vice versa).
  • N.B.: During the winter of your junior year, prior to registering for any SAT or ACT, be sure to look ahead at your own personal calendar and the school calendar of events for potential conflicts on the weekend of a test offering. There are often scheduling conflicts that arise with such as the Junior-Senior Prom, Track & Field meets, Service Opportunities, etc. If you have an unavoidable conflict, you may need to take a standardized test at an earlier or later date than you had originally planned.
  • The AUGUST administration of the SAT may be ideal for:
    • Students going into their senior year who wish to take the SAT again before the time constraints of school and college applications begin in earnest
    • Students going into their junior year who have completed Algebra II, have completed SAT Prep over the summer or in Semester 2 of their sophomore year, and are generally highly successful in H1 math and English courses
  • The OCTOBER or NOVEMBER administration of the SAT may be ideal for:
    • Senior students who wish to take the SAT one more time (and who may have benefitted from 1-2 additional months of school instruction) to improve their score for college applications
    • Junior students who are among the very top of their class.  These students have completed Algebra II, have completed SAT Prep over the summer or in semester 2 of their sophomore year, and are highly successful in H1 and/or AP level math and English courses.
  • The DECEMBER administration of the SAT may be ideal for:
    • Senior students as this is often considered their “last chance” to take the SAT.
    • Junior students who are among the top of their class.  These students have completed Algebra II, have completed SAT Prep over the summer or in semester 2 of their sophomore year, and are highly successful in H1 and/or AP level math and English courses.
  • The MARCH administration of the SAT may be ideal for:
    • Junior students who have completed their Algebra II curriculum, have completed SAT Prep in Semester 1 of junior year, and are generally successful in their math and English courses.
    • Juniors who are currently taking Algebra II and know that they cannot test in May or June.
  • The MAY administration of the SAT may be ideal for:
    • All Junior Students
  • The JUNE administration of the SAT may be ideal for:
    • All Junior Students