GUIDELINES

For

If and When to do Testing

Last update: July 25, 2010 (information provided by Linda Lopez, educational consultant)

9th Graders      10th Graders     11th Graders     11th & 12th Graders       PLAN testing thru YEAH  

Homeschool Testing Codes     Special Notes on Testing Options

9th GRADERS
If you are a high school freshman, you can just relax. If you are not a 10th Grader, you must talk to Linda before you sign up.  No EXCEPTIONS! Contact her at  Lopezeducationalconsulting@gmail.com or through her website: www.homeschoolguidance.net

10th GRADERS
If you are a sophomore, you should consider taking the PLAN, which is a practice ACT made especially for 10th graders. This is a good way to find out what this college test is like, without the pressure. 

Two Options:

To sign up at your local high school, 

• visit the counseling office at your local public or private high school. It is not offered at all high schools, so call first. 
• Dates and fees vary from school to school. 
• Be sure to pick up a PLAN preparation booklet when you register - then read it carefully!  
• After you receive the PLAN scores, go back to the school and ask for the original test booklet so that you can compare test scores with the answers.  When you register for the test you might even mention that you will be back to pick up the test booklet to ensure that it is not discarded!

OR . . .

YEAH is also offering the PLAN test again this year.  

• Any homeschooled student may register.  
• The test will be given on four different sessions: 
  • Thursday, November 4, 2010: morning or afternoon 
  • Friday, November 5, 2010: morning or afternoon
  • You may choose from one of these four times to test.
• Please go to PLAN Test for more information and this year's dates and times.    
• Note that registrations are taken AFTER October 1st.  You will receive email confirmation of your registration.
• You will receive the test scores and original test booklet in the mail or via YEAH Academy family files (for those of you with families attending courses at The Academy)
• IMPORTANT NOTE: 10th grade students interested in enrolling in PSEO at any college (including and especially with the North Central University/YEAH partnership) will need standardized test scores to submit with their application.  Most colleges will accept the PLAN test, so students interested in PSEO in their 11th grade year should seriously consider signing up for this test. 

As a sophomore, you can take the PSAT, but it will not count as the National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. (see below)

11th GRADERS
All juniors going to college should take the PSAT, which is a pre-SAT. This is a good way to find out what this college test is like, without the pressure. 

• The PSAT can be used as a standardized test to be submitted with a PSEO application.
• The PSAT is also the National Merit Scholarship Qualifying test, and is the first step of the National Merit process. 
• There are only two test days for this test, and each high school chooses either Wednesday, October 14, 2009 or Saturday, October 17, 2009 to administer the test.  (Go to www.collegeboard.com for each year's dates).  
• You can only sign up at a public or private high school. (YEAH cannot administer this test.) 
• Public high schools are supposed to allow homeschoolers to take the test, but may not allow out-of-district students to sign up. (If you have any trouble, please let Linda know.) 
• There is a fee, which varies from school to school. 
• Be sure to pick up a PSAT preparation booklet when you register - then read it carefully!  
• After you receive the PSAT scores, go back to the school an ask for the original test booklet so that you can compare test questions with the answers.  When you register for the test, you might even mention that you will be back to pick up the test booklet to ensure that it is not discarded!
• NOTE: If you are planning to register for the PSAT, contact a school in September, a week or so after school starts. 

11th and 12th GRADERS
All students even considering college should take the ACT or SAT. 

• Most colleges require one or the other; all will allow you to send either test result. A student can take both, and then make the decision which test report to send with your college application.
• Community colleges in Minnesota are open-enrollment and so usually will not require either test.
• Unless you are planning on attending a very competitive college or entering a very competitive program (like the U of M's IT program), you can wait until the spring or summer of your Junior year to take the tests, leaving you time to re-take them if needed. 
• If you are a senior and have not taken a college test, sign up now. 
• You can register by phone, on-line (see below), or by mail (pick up a registration booklet at any high school or college). (www.act.org) 
• Tests are given at least every other month, but you must register at least 5 weeks for the test, so Register early!  
• Any of these tests should count for the annual test required of Minnesota homeschooled students.

ATTENTION: PLEASE USE THE HOME SCHOOL CODES WHEN YOU TEST 

• so that the scores are sent to you at your home address, 
• and not sent to the high school where you tested. 

PLAN: 979-999 - for all homeschoolers 

• NOTE: ACT changed their policy last year and PLAN test results were sent to the place where the student tested.  It is unclear whether this will be the case again this year.  If YEAH receives the scores, be assured that confidentiality will be kept and that the scores will be mailed to your home promptly.)\

PSAT: 992499  - for all Minnesota homeschoolers 

• PSAT: 995099  - for all Wisconsin homeschoolers

ACT: 969-999  -  for all homeschoolers

SAT: 970000 - for all homeschoolers

• Web sites are: 

  • www.collegeboard.com (PSAT, SAT, also CLEP and AP)

  • www.act.org (PLAN, ACT)

SPECIAL NOTES on Testing Options:

• NO ONE needs to give out their social security number when taking these tests.  Refusing to give it will make no difference in the testing or scholarship process.  (This also applies to PSEO  applicants.) 
• The career information part of the PLAN test is optional.  ACT assures us that this information is used only as a tool for individual student planning and is to be used by the school counselor (in our case, the parents).  When the home school code is used, results go only to the home.  
• 9th - 12th graders:
  • You might consider taking a free college entrance type test through test centers like Kaplan, Princeton Review, Huntington or Sylvan Learning Centers.  
  • These tests are for practice only and are not norm-referenced tests.  
  • They will NOT count for the annual required testing for homeschoolers and nor will they count for any program or college admissions.  
  • Still, they are helpful practice and give good information on a student's academic strength's and weaknesses.