Testing

ACT
The ACT (or PSAE) must be taken to graduate!! All juniors will take the PSAE in the spring of their junior year.

Click here for the ACT site with Test Dates and for online registration. See your counselor for more information and for paper registration forms.

There are also a variety of online test prep services that may help you improve your score, including NUMBER2.COM and Peterson's Guide info site.  It is never too early to start studying!

SAT
The SAT is not required to graduate and is not required by many colleges for acceptance. However, be sure to check with schools of interest when deciding if taking the SAT is beneficial for you.

For more information about which tests are offered, dates, fees and the registration process, go to the College Board Website. Registration can be done online, or with paper registration forms available in the counseling office.

Test Preparation: At Elmwood Park High School, we DO NOT offer an SAT Prep class, but there are a variety of test prep services online, including: NUMBER2.COM, and Peterson's Guide.

PSAT: The PSAT is the "Pre-Scholastic Aptitude Test" (Pre-SAT) and is also referred to as the NMSQT (National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test). The test is designed to be taken by Juniors in the Fall of their Junior year. In addition to being a good practice test for the ACT and the SAT, the PSAT is used to qualify students as National Merit semifinalists and finalists, which may make those students eligible to receive merit-based scholarships from colleges or other private scholarship sources.  

Test Date: October 14, 2009
Registration: All interested Juniors should see Mrs. Kaminski in the Guidance office to sign up by the deadline. Bring a check for $13.00 made payable to Elmwood Park High School. For more information, please see your counselor.
Students will receive their scores in the mail. Those who qualify for National Merit recognition (at any level) will be automatically submitted to ISAC (the Illinois Student Assistance Commission) which is the administrator in Illinois for all National Merit recognition.  

NEW!!! Students who take the PSAT/NMSQT will receive a free personalized PSAT/NMSQT college planning kit online at www.collegeboard.com/quickstart Using a unique access code that will be printed on the score report, students will be able to access scores, customized study plans, practice tests, personalized lists of majors and careers, personalized lists of colleges based on the student’s location and preferred major, and access to MyRoad, an interactive majors, college, and career exploration program. 

EXPLORE: The EXPLORE test helps 9th grade students build high school course plans that will prepare them for college and work and introduces them to career options that are relevant to them. The results can show students areas where they need extra help or additional courses and give suggestions for improving their skills. The results can let students know if they are on track for college.

Registration: All 9th grade students are automatically registered to take the EXPLORE test and are required to take it in April. There is no registration fee. Students will receive their results in the mail sometime in October.

Test Date: April 28 - 29, 2010

PLAN: The PLAN Test is the "Pre-ACT" test. The test is designed to be taken by Sophomores in the Spring of their Sophomore year. The PLAN test is great practice for the Prairie State test, which is given in the Junior year to all students, and includes the ACT. In addition, the PLAN gives students additional input into their career plans in relation to their current academic achievement.

Test Date: April 28 - 29, 2010

Registration: All Sophomores will be automatically registered for the PLAN test and are required to take it in April. There is no registration fee. Students will receive their scores in the mail sometime in October.  

Prairie State Exams: Elmwood Park High School is required to administer the Prairie State Exam in April, along with all other schools in Illinois. The results are used to measure the overall school progress toward the State's academic goals and standards. The first day of the test includes a full standard version of the ACT Test. Students can use ACT scores when applying to colleges and are encouraged to take the ACT more than once. Colleges always accept a student's highest score. Taking ACT is a graduation requirement!

Test Dates: April 28-29, 2010

Registration: All Juniors will be automatically registered for the test and are required to take it. There is no registration fee. Students who are absent will be informed of a make-up date and are required to take the make-up.

AP Exams: Advanced Placement Exams are given in selected areas of study to give opportunity for students to demonstrate superior achievement in those subject areas. The tests are aligned with the curriculum and content of the AP classes which are offered as high school classes. Elmwood Park High School offers AP classes in some (but not all) subject areas for which an AP Test is available. Students can report their scores to any college they choose. Colleges determine, based on their own criteria, whether to issue college credit based on a student's score on a particular test. Students who are in AP classes are encouraged to confer with their teacher and their prospective college(s) as to the advisability of taking an AP Test.

Individual tests are administered during the first 2 weeks of May. Test dates are set by the College Board, and are NOT changeable. See your counselor for schedules or additional information.
2010 AP Test Dates:
Statistics: Tuesday, May 4, 2010, 12:00 pm
Calculus AB: Wednesday, May 5, 2010, 8:00 am
English Literature: Thursday, May 6, 2010, 8:00 am
US History: Friday, May 7, 2010, 8:00 am
Physics B: Monday, May 10, 2010, 12:00 pm

Registration: Registration forms are provided to all students, and are available in the Counseling office in January. Registration forms must be turned in to the Counseling office in February (specific deadlines will be announced). There is a registration fee of $60.00 per test. 

Testing Tips:
 
 

The Day Before

• Gather up everything you're going to need for the next morning. You don't want to be stuck frantically searching for your Admission Ticket just before you rush out the door. You'll need the following items:

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  • Acceptable photo ID
  • Your SAT Admission Ticket
  • Two sharpened No. 2 pencils (pens and mechanical pencils are not allowed)
  • A calculator with fresh batteries
  • A hand-held CD player with fresh batteries, if you are taking a Language Test with Listening

• Write down the directions to the test center. Make sure you know how to get to your test center and how long it'll take you to get there.
• Check to see if your test center is open. Especially if there is bad weather in your area, tune into your local media (like you do for school closing announcements) or visit www.collegeboard.com on the Friday before the test to make sure your test center is open.
• Be well-rested and ready to go. Get a good night's sleep the night before the test.
• Set two alarms-one in your room and one in someone else's room, in case you hit the snooze button one time too many.

The Morning of the Test

• Eat breakfast. You'll be at the test center for four hours and you're likely to get hungry.
• Bring snacks. During one of the breaks, you can eat or drink any snacks you have brought with you. A healthy snack will go a long way toward keeping you alert during the entire test.
• Arrive at your test center no later than 7:45 a.m. Don't risk getting locked out because you're 30 seconds late. Give yourself plenty of time to get to get there. Consider traffic, weather conditions, flat tires, and anything else that could slow you down.
•  Leave your cell phone at home. Don't run the risk of having your phone ring or vibrate during testing. It could cost you your scores! If you are seen using a cell phone or any other prohibited electronic device while in the test center, or if the device makes noise or vibrates, you may be dismissed immediately, your scores may be canceled, and the device may be confiscated.This policy also applies to any other prohibited digital and/or electronic devices such as Blackberries, pagers, PDAs, cameras or other photographic equipment, or separate timers of any kind. We strongly advise you not to bring them.

During the Test

• Use breaks to eat or drink any snacks you have brought with you. You will have several breaks during the test. Use them to relax and eat a snack so you can stay focused.
• Work only on the section you are supposed to be working on. You're not allowed to go back to a section once that section has ended. You also can't start the next section if you finish a section early.
• Do easier questions first. You earn just as many points for easy questions as you do for hard ones.
• Make sure you use a No. 2 pencil on the answer sheet. It is very important that you fill in the entire circle darkly and completely. If you change your response, erase it as completely as possible. It is very important that you follow these instructions when filling out your answer sheet.
• Use all of your time. Students around you may close up their test books and rest their heads on their desks, but you know better. Go back to review problems you weren't quite sure about the first time. Or, if you skipped any hard problems use the time to try to work them out.
• Stay positive and focused. Keep your mind on your work, not your score.
• Try not to worry about whether you "nailed it" or "blew it." Know you did your best-and celebrate. You deserve it.