Some big news in college admissions testing last week. There are major changes to the ACT, both to its format (shorter) AND to its content (science is now optional). Note that the SAT underwent a separate overhaul a few months ago!
But before I get to those changes and what they could mean for your college admissions plan, I wanted to share a little healthy perspective first…
You’re reading this. Which tells me that you’re already doing more than most parents to be proactive about planning for college. Which is great!
And I’m guessing that your child is trying to do their part as well. They study, get good grades in rigorous classes and participate in extra-curricular activities.
But if there is one aspect of the college plan that causes more hand-wringing than any of the others, it’s the college admissions tests. And this year, both the ACT and the SAT are going through another redesign (the 2nd in less than a decade). There are more unknowns (and thus the sense that there are more things to worry about) than ever. There aren’t… I promise. In fact, if you understand these changes, they may offer greater opportunities for your child than ever.
So, how can you help your student stay calm and succeed in these unchartered waters? For starters, you’ll need to understand the changes and learn the answers to these questions:
- How do colleges really use these tests? In other words, how much will your child’s admission chances really depend on how they perform on them? How is this changing post-Covid? (Note – the answer may surprise you!)
- Which of the test(s) are right for your child? How do you know?
- WHEN should they be taken? How many times should s/he take those tests?
- How Optional really is ‘Optional’ to colleges?
- Does it matter when or in which order he takes them? Or, if s/he doesn’t take the optional parts?
- How can s/he prepare for them in a way that minimizes stress and maximizes performance?
To make it simple and easy, we’re holding a special, ‘Emergency’ Webinar on the Changes in Admissions Testing on August 7th at 7p ET. We’ll have an expert panel from the industry who will discuss the details about the new ACT (and SAT) format and its content. The webinar will not only give you the latest information, but we’ll also explain how the changes could affect YOU and your child.
The ACT changes will go into effect for some students, or those who take the online test, as early as the February, 2025 exam – for other students, or those taking the paper version in school, the new ACT will not be available until 2026. What this means is that there will likely be at least one admissions cycle during which colleges will be evaluating scores from two fundamentally different ACT tests.
Confusing? Yes.
Fair? Perhaps not so much.
To make matters more confusing, and as we’ve discussed in this column previously, we expect that the Test Optional trend will continue to reverse – more and more colleges will utilize, even prioritize, test scores in their evaluation of applicants. Given this shift, the implementation of new test formats will likely have far-reaching consequences, both for admissions AND for merit-based funding opportunities.
Simply put, changes in the testing landscape should both inform and alter your child’s college preparation and your family’s planning strategies.
So, while I understand that these changes can be confusing and that the process overall may feel overwhelming at the moment, I promise that it need not be. We’ll break it all down for you in our webinar next month. During this Free Emergency Test Strategy Session on Aug 7 at 7p ET, you’ll learn:
1. How Testing, Test Prep and Test Evaluation in College Admission Has Changed & Continues To Change Post Covid
2. What Test Preparation Strategies Will Be Most Effective in the New Digital and ‘Abbreviated’ Testing Environment
3. How You Can Best Utilize What’s Happening In Your Own Planning To Thrive Through The Changes
4. More (live questions will be taken)
If you’re the parent of a college-bound HS student entering 9th, 10th or 11th grade, I urge you to click the button below to save your seat! And as always, we’re here to help you help your child. If you have any questions about how the evolution of admissions tests will affect you – or the upcoming program we’re hosting on this topic…or any other college-related question, please feel free to contact me directly at peter@yourcollegeconcierge.com. I’ll be happy to answer your questions.
