Community High School

*In order to register for the ACT, you will need to know Community High School’s code: 144-350*

Students should check with the colleges they are considering or go to www.actstudent.org for a list of colleges that have provided information to ACT about their policies – whether they require, recommend or do not need results from the ACT Writing Test.

Students should plan to take the ACT during the second half of their junior year or early in their senior year. Make sure to check the application deadlines of the colleges he/she is considering and plan ahead. Scores are mailed within 4 to 7 weeks after each test date.

ACT Registration

There are two ways to register for the ACT. You may complete the registration process online or via paper.

To register online, go to www.actstudent.org, choose “Sign up now” and follow the directions. To register online, you must pay by Visa or MasterCard. Signing up online for the ACT is easier and costs the same as using the paper registration form.

To obtain a paper registration packet, students should come to the Counseling Office.

***You must use the mail-in registration form if you cannot pay by credit card***

Sending ACT Scores to Colleges

ACT will send a student’s scores (for no additional fee) to 4 colleges. In order to have a student’s scores sent without an additional fee, they must indicate in order of preference the codes for their college choices with their initial registration.

Additional Score Reports

All requests after testing for reports to any recipient (e.g. high school, college) must be submitted to ACT Records and paid for as ASRs. The fee for this service is $10.00 per school.

After a student has tested, they may submit this request. Scores are available for additional score reporting only after they have been added to the computer files and include all scores for the student’s test option. Requests may be submitted online at www.actstudent.org (Visa or MasterCard required), by mail (request forms can be downloaded from ACT’s website or are available in the Counseling Office) or by telephone at 319-337-1313 (an additional $13.00 service charge is applicable when ordering by this method; Visa, MasterCard or electronic checking required).

ACT Preparation

Community High School will be offering an ACT review course. More information regarding this course will be sent to all junior students during first semester.

*In order to register for the SAT, you will need to know Community High School’s code: 144-350*

The SAT Reasoning Test assesses how well students analyze and solve problems – skills learned in school that are needed in college. The test also provides an independent measure of a student’s college readiness that is standardized across all students, schools and communities, providing a common and objective scale for comparison.

The SAT consists of ten sections: 3 Critical Reading, 3 Math, 3 Writing (incl. the Essay) and 1 Experimental (not scored).

Students should plan to take the SAT Reasoning Test during the second half of their junior year or early in their senior year. Make sure to check the application deadlines of the colleges he/she is considering and plan ahead. Most, but not all, scores will be reported several weeks after the test date.

SAT Subject Tests

The SAT Subject Tests (formerly SAT II: Subject Tests) are designed to measure students’ knowledge and skills in particular subject areas, as well as their ability to apply that knowledge. The tests are independent of any particular textbook or method of instruction, and many colleges use them for admission, for course placement and to advise students about course selection.

Visit www.collegeboard.com or review the registration booklets (available in the Counseling Office) for more information about specific Subject Tests.

SAT Registration

There are two ways to register for the SAT. You may complete the registration process online or via paper.

The simplest and quickest way to register is to go to www.collegeboard.com and use a personal account (called a “My Organizer” account). To register online, you must pay by Visa, MasterCard, American Express or Discover. The fee for the SAT Reasoning Test is $49.00 and each subject test costs $22.

To obtain a paper registration booklet, students should come to the Counseling Office.

***Please note: You must use a paper registration booklet if you cannot pay by credit card***

Sending SAT Scores to Colleges

Each time a student registers for a test, they can order score reports to be sent to four colleges or scholarship programs at no cost. These reports are free when ordered before test day or within nine days after test day.

After a student has tested, they may submit this request. The fee for this service is $10.50 per school. Scores are available for additional score reporting only after they have been added to the computer files.

Requests may be submitted online at www.collegeboard.com (using the SAT Score Sender service; Visa, MasterCard, American Express or Discover required), by mail (request forms can be downloaded from the College Board’s website or are available in the Counseling Office) or by telephone at 866-756-7346. Students should make their request five weeks before the date they want their report to arrive.

The College Board will send a cumulative report of all scores that are available and reportable at the time a student’s request is received. Students cannot send only their latest or highest SAT scores, or separate scores for critical reading, mathematics or writing sections, or only SAT, or only Subject Test scores.

Community High School does not offer SAT preparation courses. There are a number of free online resources to help students prepare for the SAT, including (but not limited to):

www.collegeboard.com/srp (SAT Preparation Center – with directions and sample questions to familiarize students with the test format and a full-length official practice test)

Other methods of test preparation are available. Please contact your student’s counselor for information on additional resources.

Prairie State Exam (PSAE)

Mrs. Maura Bridges, PSAE Coordinator
(630) 876-6307

The PSAE is a required test, administered to ALL juniors in the state of Illinois during the regular school day. The results are used to measure overall school progress towards the state’s academic goals and standards, as well as to determine Community High School’s “No Child Left Behind” status.

Day one of the test is the ACT Assessment plus Writing, while day two tests the students on ISBE tests (science) and ACT WorkKeys tests (reading for information, applied mathematics and science).

PSAE exam scores are maintained in a student’s record as required by state law. ALL STUDENTS MUST HAVE AN ACT ASSESSMENT SCORE (EITHER PSAE ACT OR NATIONAL DATE) AS PART OF THEIR RECORD IN ORDER TO OBTAIN A STANDARD HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA.

The ACT Assessment plus Writing is given as part of this test (day one) free of charge! The Composite score from this test is accepted by all colleges, as well as the NCAA. Students should have their scores reported to the NCAA or college(s) in which they are interested.

All juniors will complete registration packets and all other necessary information in school a few weeks before the exam dates. There are no additional forms or payments that need to be completed or sent.

The College Board’s Advanced Placement Program enables students to pursue college-level courses while still in high school. Thirty-seven courses in a wide variety subject areas are offered. Based on their performance on rigorous AP exams, students can earn credit, advanced placement or both for college.

Community High School offers Advanced Placement courses in the following subjects:

AP exams are aligned with the curriculum and content of the AP classes offered here at Community High School. Students who enroll in AP courses are encouraged to consult with their teacher(s) and their prospective college(s) as to the advisability of taking an AP exam.

Individual tests will be administered during the second and third weeks of May (May 7-11, 2012; May 14-18, 2012). Test dates are set by the College Board and are NOT changeable. Visit http://apcentral.collegeboard.com for a complete schedule of 2012 AP exams.

The fee for each AP exam is $87.00. There are additional fees added during late registration dates, as noted below.

Registration forms will be provided to all AP teachers and detailed information will be mailed to all students enrolled in AP courses in mid-February. Registration forms must be turned in to the Counseling Office according to the following deadlines:

The PSAT/NMSQT measures critical reading, math problem-solving and writing skills developed over many years, both in and out of school. Students will not have to recall facts from literature, history or science, or complete math formulas, as this test measures their reasoning and critical thinking skills.

The fee for the 2011 PSAT/NMSQT is $20.00. The College Board makes fee waivers available to schools for juniors from low-income families who cannot afford the test fee. Students should talk to Mrs. Holubetz for more information about fee waivers

Test Date

Community High School is offering the PSAT to juniors on Saturday, October 15, 2011. If you are interested in taking the test on this date, registration forms will be given to all juniors during the week of September 12th. They will also be available in the Counseling Department starting September 12th. Registration forms and payment of $20.00 are due by September 23, 2011.