College Entrance Tests
Most colleges and universities require some kind of standardized test for admission. The SAT I is preferred by most colleges in Virginia and along the east coast. Some also require SAT II Subject tests (three can be taken at one sitting, usually Math and two other areas. Foreign language is a good alternate choice and may be used for class placement).
The ACT is required by the military academies and most mid-western US colleges. Some schools will take ACT scores in lieu of SAT IIs. Most admission offices state a preferred test but will accept either.
The typical Fuqua student takes at least one SAT in the spring of the Junior year, and one or two in the Senior year. SAT IIs can be taken in Junior or Senior year. Since most colleges take the highest score in each area (even if they are on separate tests), it is definitely wise to take this test more than once. ACTs are often used as the extra push for students who want a higher score or who feel they are not good testers. Since these two tests are different, scores can vary dramatically.
It is very important that registration materials be completed well ahead of the published deadline to assure your preferred test site. It is both disappointing and expensive to procrastinate. The online registration is the preferred method.
The value of Test Prep Classes is debatable. Most classes cover basic concepts and go over sample questions to create a test familiarity. For the student who has strong motivation and organizational skills, the same information is readily available in any good prep manual found in a book store. The average student, however, is unwilling to devote the necessary time to this task, so prep classes have flourished. Be warned: the expense of the class does not guarantee the quality of the course material, and no course should promise an increase of scores. One family paid over $600.00 for a class and their child's test scores dropped 100 points! Verbal scores seem to go up proportionately with the amount of time a student spends reading.
SAT tests are given on a Saturday morning in Farmville in November, December, January, March (or April), May, and June at either Prince Edward County High School or Longwood College. The ACT is administered at Fuqua School on a Saturday in October and April. Check the registration materials available in the Guidance Resource Room or on the web sites for additional times and test locations.
Get plenty of sleep for several nights before the test. Make sure that your calculator has a fresh battery and that your pencils are sharp. Arrive at the site with plenty of time to spare (just in case) with your admission ticket and a proper ID. Take a deep breath and give it your best.
To register online:
