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The College Board announced that it would discontinue the optional essay test and subject tests. The reasons cited were to reduce the demands on students and adapt to the changing needs of students and colleges.
College admissions boards across the nation are dropping standardized test scores as a requirement. Some notable campuses plan to drop them for good. Where does this leave the next class of applicants?
One of the most common topics students ask about is their AP course load. For many students, AP classes are a badge of honor. “How many AP’s are you taking? Which ones? What scores did you get?” Questions like these abound before every school year, and after it ends for summer. Similar pressure to achieve surrounds IB and Honors courses. This leaves students and parents to wonder, how many AP classes are enough to be accepted to a good college? For some, the question is: will it ever be enough?
Want to understand how to optimize your high school course selection and get on track for your intended major in college? Wondering whether taking that extra AP class will even be worth it for you? Maybe you’re just unsure of how fall 2020 will impact your AP classes and tests, or what to do to prepare. It’s a common area of confusion for many students, and for good reason. Why take an academically rigorous, college-level course, if you aren’t sure how it will help you?
It’s AP season, so we talked to one of our wonderful counselors, Jennifer Liepin, about her own advice on AP tests. Read her thoughts below about: why you should take AP classes, how they help with college applications, how to prepare for the test, and what you should do if you don’t do well.
You find yourself faced with the question: to take or not to take? Is it even worth my time and effort if some colleges no longer require it? Can I juggle the work that I need to put in to prepare, as well as the added pressure of studying online? Let’s dive in, and answer all those questions and more.
Coronavirus is certainly creating havoc and it seems no sector is immune to its effects, college admissions included. With the interruptions it has created for standardized testing resulting in the cancellation of SAT and ACT test dates, some colleges have decided to make the upcoming admission cycle test-optional. Colleges have become mindful that students are already under intense pressure with the closure of school and that standardized testing has created unnecessary anxiety. The move to test-optional will add to the growing number of test-optional colleges already out there and the ongoing debate on the efficacy of standardized testing in college admissions.
The key to succeeding on test day?
Sure, there are certain academic standards you’ll need to know and intellectual skills you can perfect with practice over time. But if you’re down to the wire and looking for some quick and dirty tips for how to boost your scores quickly, here are three easy fixes to improve your results.
Taking the SAT or the ACT can be one of the most stressful parts of the college application process. Receiving the test scores themselves can be just as nerve-racking.
The SAT/ACT is a daunting eventuality for any university-bound student. While some students have begun their college preparation even before getting to high school, other than keeping good grades, a standardized test is the first big step towards college admittance.
