Testing

Registering

Students register for the ACT at actstudent.org. When registering for the ACT, please keep in mind that it can take about 30 minutes. The first step in the registration process is creating a username and password. Make sure you use a personal email and write this information down for future reference. Byron's CEEB code is 240365. It is important that the student register for the test as there are questions that only the student will be able to answer. It may also be helpful to have a transcript handy to answer the questions about classes taken and grades earned. If you have questions regarding registration you can contact ACT at 319-337-1270. 

Sending Your Scores

You can request ACT scores be sent by going to actstudent.org to request official scores be sent (there will be a fee). If you have questions regarding score reports please call ACT at 319-337-1313.

Test Dates/Fees

ACT test dates, registration deadlines and fees can be found here.

Registering

Students register for the SAT at https://satsuite.collegeboard.org/sat/registration.  Before you register make sure you have a photo ready to upload that meets the requirements and a form of payment.

Sending Your Scores

You can request SAT scores be sent by going to collegeboard.org to request official scores be sent (there will be a fee). If you have questions regarding score reports please call SAT 866-756-7346. The CollegeBoard offers a feature called "Score Choice." Score Choice gives you the option to choose which scores (by test date for the SAT and by individual test for SAT Subject Tests™) you send to colleges, in accordance with an institution's stated score-use practice.

Byron High School will administer the PSAT/NMSQT exam annually in October for any sophomore or junior interested in signing up. This is an OPTIONAL exam. Juniors who take it and score well have the opportunity to qualify for the National Merit Scholarship Program. The exam will be administered during the school day during Blocks 1 and 2. The PSAT/NMSQT is offered by the College Board in a digital only format. Additional information regarding exam day details will be shared in late September. 

Sign up for the PSAT occurs in the spring. There is no option to sign up in the fall. The cost of the exam is $20. 

Following are some common questions to help you determine if your student should take this exam this fall.

What is the PSAT/NMSQT exam?

Every October, about 1.6 million juniors across the country take the PSAT/NMSQT exam. High School juniors take this exam in hopes of qualifying as a National Merit Semi-finalist in this national scholarship competition.  

The basic entry requirements for National Merit Semifinalists include:

• earning a PSAT score in the top 1% of all test takers nationally.
• attending high school in the U.S. and being enrolled as a high school junior and making progress towards graduation.
• having plans to enroll in a full-time college starting the fall following high school graduation. In other words, you can’t postpone college to spend a year abroad, work full-time, and so on. 
   

Is the PSAT/NMSQT a practice exam for the SAT?

No. The PSAT/NMSQT is not a practice SAT exam for students. This exam is the qualifying exam for the highly competitive National Merit Scholarship Program. 

What is the cut score to qualify for the National Merit Scholarship Program?

The cut score varies each year, however, the top 1% (usually about 13,000-16,000 students nationally) are identified as National Merit Semifinalists. Semifinalists may go on to apply for Finalist status and potentially win scholarship money. In 2022, the national cut-score was 207 and the cut-score for the state of MN was 216. In 2022, approximately 270 Minnesota students were named as semi-finalists.

The top 3-4% of scores are named Commended Scholars. They are not able to move forward in the scholarship competition. 

Do I have to take the SAT if I am identified as a Semi-Finalist?

Yes, if you want to move on in the competition.

How should I prepare for the PSAT/NMSQT exam?  

There are several test preparation companies that have invested many hours into a comprehensive understanding of the College Board’s transition to the digital PSAT/NMSQT. 

One overview that provides quite a bit of insight is available at Compass Prep. College Board also has a dedicated page [refer to the PSAT/NMSQT heading] with additional information and practice links. Khan Academy has also released an initial set of practice materials.

Will I be able to use my accommodations on the PSAT/NMSQT?

Yes! All accommodations that have been approved by the College Board will be embedded into the student’s digital exam. This includes extended timing, stop the clock breaks, audio, and enhanced visuals. Students should be advised that they will NOT be able to change or refuse accommodations on the day of the exam. This means, if you are approved for time and one half, and finish a section before time is called, you will need to sit until the time runs out on that section before moving on.  This is also true for students who have been approved for double time. If you no longer wish to use an approved accommodation, you should meet with your counselor or case manager ASAP to put in a change request to the College Board.

Accommodation requests are due by the beginning of August. Please work with your counselor to make sure you have the accommodations you need on file with the College Board.

How long will the exam take?

The digital exam is shorter than the paper/pencil version of the test. The exam time is 2 hours.  In addition, plan for an additional 30 minutes for administration related tasks (seating, distribution and collection of materials, etc).