PSAT/SAT/ACT
SAT Exam
11th Grade Only SAT Administration Details: March 15, 2025
This administration is for 11th-grade students only (no exceptions will be made). Taking the SAT is not necessary for most SMUHSD students. However, some colleges still consider these assessments, and students may benefit from taking them for other purposes. The exam will cost $100/student. This fee, higher than the College Board’s national test fee ($60), covers staffing and facility costs for this specialized administration. If your student needs financial assistance, please indicate this on the registration form.
All SMUHSD 11th-grade students and families will be emailed a registration link for the exam in November 2024 and several more times throughout the winter. This is the only way a student can register for the exam. If you are an SMUHSD student or legal guardian, please search your email inbox for an email from the Assessment Department. The deadline for registering for the exam is February 9th, 2025, at 5 p.m.
Students requiring accommodations:
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Students with IEP/504 contracts may request special accommodations for testing directly from the College Board at the link here.
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Please note that the College Board takes 6-8 weeks to process special accommodations applications. The College Board makes all accommodations decisions
PSAT Exam
PSAT-10 Administration Details: March 15, 2025
This administration is for 10th-grade students only (no exceptions will be made). As indicated above, ultimately taking the SAT (for which this practice exam is preparation) is not necessary for most SMUHSD students. However, some colleges still consider these assessments, and students may benefit from National Merit Scholarship recognition when they take the PSAT/NMSQT in the fall of 2025 (when they are an 11th-grader). This exam is free to all SMUHSD 10th-grade students.
All SMUHSD 10th-grade students and families will be emailed a registration link for the exam in late November 2024 and several more times throughout the winter. This is the only way a student can register for the exam. If you are an SMUHSD student or legal guardian, please search your email inbox for an email from the Assessment Department. The deadline for registering for the exam is February 9, 2025, at 5 p.m.
Students requiring accommodations:
-
Students with an IEP/504 contracts may request special accommodations for testing directly from the College Board at the link here.
-
Please note that the College Board takes 6-8 weeks to process special accommodations applications. The College Board makes all accommodations decisions.
Recognition and Scholarship
Big Future: This program from the College Board recognizes students who score in the top 10% of all students and identify as one of the following groups:
- First-generation
- Black or African American
- Hispanic or Latino
- Indigenous or Native
- Attend school in a rural area or small town
Learn more about Big Future National Recognition Programs.
National Merit Scholarship: The national merit scholarship corporation offers scholarships to students who meet specific criteria, first and foremost is completion of the PSAT/NMSQT test which is administered to high school students in the Fall.
Learn more about the National Merit Scholarship Corporation.
Taking the Test(s) as a Requirement For College Admissions
- California Public colleges and universities do not require these tests for admission
- Many private universities, e.g. Stanford, do
- If you are considering applying to a college or university that requires the SAT, then you should sign up for the exam
Other Benefits
Kahn Academy: Students can link their PSAT scores to Kahn Academy to generate customized learning pathways specific to their needs.
SAT vs. ACT
The ACT is an assessment that tests students on their understanding of their high school curriculum and covers coursework in English, reading, math, and science. The SAT, on the other hand, has traditionally been considered more of an aptitude test that includes only English, reading, and math; it does not have a science section.