College tests, made clear
PSAT, SAT, ACT, AP, IB, CLEP and Regents: what each one is, when it happens, what it costs, and how to prepare for free.
- SUNY and CUNY do not require SAT or ACT scores right now (details on this page).
- The PSAT/NMSQT in grade 11 is the National Merit entry test.
- Free official prep: Khan Academy (SAT) and ACT's free resources.
- Fee waivers and accommodations exist: ask early.
📋 All the tests on one page
| Test | Usual grade | What it is for | Score range | Cost to student |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSAT 8/9 | 8 and 9 | Practice and a check-up. Given by schools. | 240-1440 | Set by your school |
| PSAT 10 | 10 | Practice, given by schools in spring. | Same scale as the SAT Suite | Set by your school |
| PSAT/NMSQT | 10 and 11 | Practice, and in grade 11 the entry test for National Merit. | 320-1520; Selection Index 48-228 | Set by your school |
| SAT | 11 and 12 | College admission (where used) and some scholarships. | 400-1600 | Fee waiver: 2 free SATs if eligible |
| ACT | 11 and 12 | College admission (where used) and some scholarships. Colleges accept SAT or ACT. | Composite 1-36 | Fee waiver: up to 2 free ACTs if eligible |
| AP Exams | 10 to 12 | College credit or placement, if the college accepts it. | 1-5 | $99 per exam (2027, U.S.); $37 College Board reduction for need |
| IB | 11 and 12 | Only at IB World Schools. Possible college credit. | See ibo.org | Ask your school |
| CLEP | Any age | Earn college credit by exam at colleges that accept it. | See clep.collegeboard.org | $97 per exam |
| Regents | 8 to 12 | New York high school diploma requirements. | See the Regents guide | Free |
🌟 PSAT tests and National Merit
- Schools register you for the PSAT 8/9, PSAT 10 and PSAT/NMSQT. Fall 2026 window: October 1-30, 2026. Spring 2027 window (PSAT 10, PSAT 8/9): March 1 - April 30, 2027.
- National Merit: entry to the competition comes from the PSAT/NMSQT. Almost all entrants are in grade 11. The 2026 PSAT/NMSQT is the entry test for the 2028 competition.
- Only the PSAT/NMSQT gives a Selection Index (48 to 228). The PSAT 10 and PSAT 8/9 do not.
- National Merit rules, cutoffs and awards are set by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (nationalmerit.org). Cutoffs change each year and by state: ask your counselor.
How the Selection Index is figured
Rule (College Board): double the Reading and Writing score, add the Math score, divide by 10.
Try it (runs only in this browser)
Selection Index: 180
💻 The digital SAT
How it works
Taken on the Bluebook app. Two sections: Reading and Writing (54 questions, 64 minutes) and Math (44 questions, 70 minutes). Total 2 hours 14 minutes plus a 10-minute break.
It adapts
Each section has two modules. How you do on module 1 sets how hard module 2 is.
Scores
Total 400-1600. Each section 200-800.
SAT weekend dates, 2026-27
| Test date | Register by | Late registration / changes by |
|---|---|---|
| Dec. 5, 2026 | Nov. 20, 2026 | Nov. 24, 2026 |
| March 6, 2027 | Feb. 19, 2027 | Feb. 23, 2027 |
| May 1, 2027 | Apr. 16, 2027 | April 20, 2027 |
| June 5, 2027 | May 21, 2027 | May 25, 2027 |
Many schools also give an SAT School Day during the school week. Ask your counselor.
🧪 The ACT (changed in 2025)
Science is optional
Since April 2025 (online) and September 2025 (paper), the science section is optional. Writing is optional too. Check whether your colleges want either.
Core sections
English (50 questions, 35 min), Math (45 questions, 50 min), Reading (36 questions, 40 min). Science, if chosen: 40 questions, 40 min.
Scores
Composite 1-36 is the average of English, Math and Reading. If you take science you also get a STEM score (science and math).
ACT national dates, 2026-27
| Test date | Regular registration deadline |
|---|---|
| December 12, 2026 | November 9, 2026 |
| February 27, 2027 | January 22, 2027 |
| April 10, 2027 | March 5, 2027 |
| June 12, 2027 | May 7, 2027 |
| July 10, 2027 | June 4, 2027 |
🎓 AP, IB and CLEP: college credit in high school
Advanced Placement
2027 exams: May 3-7 and May 10-14. Fee $99 per exam in the U.S.; students with significant financial need may get a $37 College Board reduction (New York may add help: ask your AP coordinator). Schools order exams in the fall; a late order costs $40 more. Each college decides what score earns credit.
International Baccalaureate
Offered only at authorized IB World Schools. Ask your district whether it has an IB Diploma Programme. Colleges set their own IB credit rules.
College-Level Examination Program
34 exams, $97 each. You study on your own. Use the CLEP college credit policy search before you test: each college sets its own rule.
College courses in high school
Long Island community colleges have high school programs (for example Nassau CC's High School Enrichment and Early Admission). Ask your school about college-credit courses.
🗽 Regents exams and diploma types
Regents exams are New York's high school exit exams. Diploma types (Local, Regents, Advanced Designation), credits and the coming changes are explained in our family guide: Regents exams and graduation in New York. Regents scores also matter for the NYS Scholarships for Academic Excellence (see Scholarships).
🔓 Test-optional: SUNY and CUNY today
| System | Policy (checked Nov 8, 2026) |
|---|---|
| SUNY | SUNY has temporarily suspended SAT/ACT requirements for its bachelor's colleges. You choose whether to send scores. Some programs, some merit scholarships and NCAA Division I sports may still need scores. No end date is posted. |
| CUNY | CUNY is test-optional for Fall 2023 through Spring 2027 admission: scores are not required and missing scores cannot be used to deny admission. Check cuny.edu for Fall 2027 and later. |
| Private and out-of-state colleges | Each college sets its own rule (required, optional or not considered). Check each college's admissions page every year. |
♿ Accommodations (IEP, 504 plan and English learners)
SAT, PSAT, AP
Work with your school's SSD coordinator, who requests through SSD Online. Review can take up to 7 weeks. Once approved, accommodations carry over to later College Board tests. 2027 AP Exams deadline: January 22, 2027.
The ACT
Register first and answer "Yes" to needing accommodations. Send the email to your school official, who submits the request. From the June 2026 test on, requests are due by the regular registration deadline.
EL supports
The ACT has a separate English learner supports policy. Ask your school which supports apply to each test.
💸 Fee waivers
| Waiver | Who (short version) | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| SAT fee waiver | U.S. students in grades 11-12 from families with limited income: for example, eligible for free or reduced-price school lunch, in a program like TRIO or Upward Bound, family receives public assistance, in foster care or public housing, or unhoused. | 2 free SATs, unlimited score reports, free CSS Profile at participating colleges, and waived application fees at participating colleges. |
| ACT fee waiver | Grades 11-12, testing in the U.S., meeting an economic-need sign such as the free or reduced-price lunch program. Ask your counselor. | Up to 2 free ACTs (including science and writing), free score reports, the Official ACT Self-Paced Course, and possible college application fee waivers. |
| AP fee reduction | Students with significant financial need. | $37 off each AP Exam from College Board; ask about extra state help. |
🗓️ A free 12-week prep plan
- Week 1: Baseline.Take one full official practice test in Bluebook (SAT) or ACT's free practice test. Write down your score and the 3 skill areas with the most misses.
- Weeks 2-4: Skills.30 minutes, 5 days a week, on Khan Academy's free Official Digital SAT Prep (thousands of questions, videos, hints) or ACT's free resources. Start with your 3 weakest areas.
- Week 5: Check.Second full practice test. Compare. Move to the next 3 areas.
- Weeks 6-9: Strategy.Pacing, smart guessing, the built-in Desmos graphing calculator (usable on the entire SAT Math section), reading graphs and tables. Our SAT · ACT · PSAT Prep course covers each of these.
- Weeks 10-11: Real conditions.Two more full timed tests on the device you will use. Review every miss: why was it wrong?
- Week 12: Rest and set up.Light review only. Install Bluebook and finish exam setup. Pack ID and admission ticket. Sleep.
🔗 Official sources (checked Nov 8, 2026)
- College Board, How the SAT is structured: satsuite.collegeboard.org; SAT score ranges: Understanding Scores (PDF)
- College Board, Parents Guide to the Digital SAT (Desmos calculator on the entire math section): satsuite.collegeboard.org (PDF)
- College Board, SAT dates and deadlines: satsuite.collegeboard.org
- College Board, PSAT test dates: satsuite.collegeboard.org; PSAT/NMSQT and PSAT 8/9 scores, Selection Index, National Merit entry: Understanding Scores for Educators (PDF); PSAT/NMSQT overview: counselors.collegeboard.org
- National Merit Scholarship Corporation: nationalmerit.org
- ACT, test enhancements (science optional; sections; composite): act.org; test dates: act.org
- College Board, 2027 AP Exam fees: apstudents.collegeboard.org
- College Board, Comparing CLEP and AP: clep.collegeboard.org
- International Baccalaureate, Diploma Programme: ibo.org
- SUNY, Testing requirements: suny.edu
- CUNY test-optional policy (Fall 2023 through Spring 2027), CUNY Baruch catalog: catalog.cuny.edu
- College Board accommodations, dates and deadlines: accommodations.collegeboard.org
- ACT, requesting accommodations: act.org
- College Board, SAT fee waiver eligibility: satsuite.collegeboard.org; benefits: satsuite.collegeboard.org
- ACT, fee waivers: act.org
- College Board, Official SAT practice on Khan Academy: satsuite.collegeboard.org; khanacademy.org/digital-sat
- Nassau Community College admissions (High School Enrichment, Early Admission): collegecatalog.ncc.edu