TESTING INFORMATION
ACT
Register at: www.actstudent.org with St. James Academy.
To find SJA as a testing site:
- Use Zip Code 66227 or Test Center Code 238920
- Use code 171720 to send test results to SJA
WHEN SHOULD MY STUDENT TAKE THE ACT?
- It is recommended for students to take the ACT at least three times and at least once by June of their junior year.
- Before taking the ACT, we recommend that you complete Geometry, Biology, Chemistry, Algebra I and completed or enrolled in Algebra II.
- If you are not happy with your Junior spring or summer ACT score, you can still take the test in the fall of Senior year. Many students take the test multiple times; the September and October testing dates are particularly popular. If you’re considering taking the December test during Senior year, make sure your college(s) accept the results of the test; for some, the December results may be released too late to be considered.
SAT
Register at www.collegeboard.org with St James Academy school code 171720 (to send results to SJA)
DATES & DEADLINES
See more details and future dates on the College Board’s SAT Test Dates & Deadline page.
PSAT & NATIONAL MERIT SCHOLARSHIP
WHAT IS THE PSAT/NMSQT AND THE NATIONAL MERIT SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM?
In October of each year, 1.5 million high school Juniors will sit for the official PSAT/NMSQT test, administered by College Board. Taking the PSAT/NMSQT as a Junior is the first step of the nearly 18-month qualifying process for the National Merit Scholarship Program.
SJA Juniors who choose to take the PSAT/NMSQT are automatically entered into the National Merit Scholarship Competition. SJA also offers an optional Practice PSAT/NMSQT for Sophomores in October.
The following April, high schools are notified if any of their Juniors are among the top scoring 50,000 (about 3%) nationwide advancing forward in the competition.
In the fall of Senior year, around two-thirds of these identified students will be named National Merit Commended students, a wonderful honor. Although Commended students do not qualify for scholarships directly from the National Merit competition, the designation may qualify them for corporate or private scholarships, looks great on students’ resumes, and can be listed on college admission and scholarship applications.
The remaining 16,000 students or so—those whose scores put them in the top 99th percentile in their state—are identified at National Merit Semifinalists. Semifinalists can apply to become Finalists by completing some additional requirements, including taking an SAT test. The National Merit Finalists are named in February of Senior year.
Separately, the College Board also recognizes academically outstanding Hispanic/Latino U.S. juniors through the National Hispanic Recognition Program (NHRP). Every year, the NHRP recognizes about 5,000 of the 250,000 Hispanic/Latino Juniors who take the test. The College Board’s NHRP program is an academic honor that can be included on college and scholarship applications. It’s not a scholarship, but colleges do use this program to identify academically exceptional Hispanic/Latino students.
STANDARDIZED TESTING PREP
The best preparation for standardized college admission tests is engaging in a rigorous curriculum on a daily basis. Classes throughout the SJA curriculum prepare students by either introducing them to relevant content or practicing skills necessary to be successful on the ACT or SAT. Each grade level is also given deliberate opportunities to prepare for these tests.
- Students are introduced to ACT question types and test-taking strategies in English, Math, and Science classes throughout the year.
- Students are given actual ACT test questions to practice and gain reasoning skills in all of their core courses.
- Freshmen, Sophomores and most Juniors take a full-length practice ACT every October. Each student is given a detailed score report. Juniors may choose to take the PSAT, instead of a practice ACT, to compete in the National Merit Scholarship Program.
- Sophomores are given the opportunity to take an optional PSAT practice test at SJA, with scoring and results provided.
- Juniors may take College Explorations, a school day course that uses the Princeton Review ACT Prep curriculum to help students prepare for the ACT as well as gives them the opportunity to explore colleges and careers.
Students are encouraged to take the ACT several times throughout their Junior year as well as in early fall Senior year. Our prep program is designed to help our students feel confident and prepared to do their best as they check off this part of the college admission process.
TEST PREP RESOURCES/TUTORS
See the list of some companies and individuals that offer test prep services in the Kansas City area. (For ACT, SAT, PSAT, AP, etc.) Please keep in mind that this list is provided for informational purposes only. St. James Academy does not specifically endorse these or any other private companies or tutors.
