May 19, 2024

Strategies For The New World Of Test Optional Schools

As of 2024, about 80% of the nation’s colleges and universities are now test optional schools. This shift in expectations has caused some confusion and uncertainty for prospective students and their families.

Now, besides worrying about ACT or SAT testing itself, families must worry about making other big decisions: to test or not to test, and whether to report scores or withhold them from the application.

Applying To Test Optional Schools: The Flying Colors Point Of View

Even when applying to test optional schools, we maintain that test scores are best used as one piece of a college application portfolio. Test scores add further support for a student’s GPA and other qualifications. But, unlike a GPA, test scores can be improved in a relatively short period of time.

When there is a discrepancy between a student’s GPA and test scores, good test prep can help a student close that gap and improve scores to better reflect their academic abilities.

Strategies For The Test-Optional Environment

If your student will be applying to some test-optional schools, here are a few things you should know:

  • Test Optional Does NOT Mean Test Blind.
    • Test-optional schools let students decide whether they want to submit test scores with their application. When scores are submitted, they will be included in the application assessment process.
    • Test blind colleges will not consider test scores, even if submitted.
    • Click here to access a list of test-optional colleges.
  • Absolutely Send Your Scores If They Strengthen Your Application.
    • In general, if your ACT or SAT scores are in the bottom 25% for a college, your application will NOT get a boost by sending them.
    • If, however, your scores are in the school’s top 25%, by all means, send them as they’ll be a positive factor in your application.
    • Knowing your chosen schools’ typical test score ranges will help you with your decision.
  • Many Merit Scholarships Are Still Tied To Performance On The ACT And SAT Tests.
    • Many colleges and universities tie the provision of merit scholarships to a student’s ACT or SAT score. Here are some examples:
      • At Texas Christian University, for example, a 30 on the ACT will yield a $16,000 per year scholarship; a 34 will deliver a full four-year scholarship.
      • A 33 on the ACT or a 1450 on the SAT will produce a $10,000 per year scholarship at the University of Missouri.
      • For students targeting Iowa State, a 3.3 GPA and a 24+ on the ACT will net you $9,000 per year.
    • As you can see, even with scores in the mid- to upper-20s, students can reap some very attractive financial rewards.

Conclusion: Exam Scores Still Help, Even With Test Optional Schools

Despite what may feel like uncertain territory with the new test-optional admissions model, good grades supported by good test scores remain among the best ways to achieve success in the college application process – whether or not you’re applying to test optional schools.

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April 27, 2024

Five Important College Entrance Exam Registration Tips

What To Know BEFORE You Register For Your First ACT or SAT Test

Here are five tips to follow prior to your first college entrance exam registration!

1. Don’t Take A Real ACT Or SAT To Establish A Baseline Score.

Rather than take a real exam to get baseline results, start by taking a practice test with Flying Colors. We offer full-length proctored practice exams EVERY weekend, and you’ll receive scores in a few days…not in a few weeks.

Our practice exams are real tests administered under the same time constraints as an actual test day, and results are comparable to the real test environment. Practice testing lets your student maximize every testing opportunity rather than “wasting” a real test for data we can help you obtain.

When the actual exam registration time comes around, your student will be prepared and confident. Click here to register for a practice exam with us.

2. Summertime Is Ideal Test Prep Time.

Most students – whether rising juniors or seniors – benefit from doing exam prep during the summer, when their schedules are less busy. Shifting some of the test prep work they will do during the school year to the summer can help to ease a busy student’s schedule in the fall.

3. Test Scores Can Yield Scholarships. Wait, What?

It’s true. Not all, but many outstanding colleges and universities offer merit scholarships. Competitive test scores and GPAs can help students secure these coveted scholarships.

4. Double The Odds.

If your student has completed exam registration for an in-school ACT in March or April, we recommend signing your student up for the April national ACT as well. Especially if they are doing test prep, this gives your student the opportunity to get two shots at reaching their best score potential.

Because over 400 schools now superscore the ACT, students will also have twice the number of chances to improve their individual section scores and boost their superscore.

5. Taking The July ACT? Sign Up EARLY.

If your student intends to take the July ACT, do not wait until the June deadline for your exam registration. Relatively few testing sites offer the July ACT, so the Twin Cities sites typically reach capacity quickly. In fact, in recent years, students have had to travel to Duluth, Rochester, Hudson and northern Iowa to find a place with open seats in July.

Ready To Prep For Your Exam? Get Started With Flying Colors.

As Minnesota’s leader in college entrance exam test preparation and tutoring, Flying Colors is ready to help your student shine to their full potential.  To get in touch with us, please email [email protected], and we’ll follow up within one day.

February 20, 2024

Test Optional No Longer: Darmouth, MIT, Georgetown and Purdue.

Dartmouth To (Again) Require ACT And SAT Scores For The Enrolling Class Of 2025

Do test scores predict college success? New data from Dartmouth College says “yes”. Therefore, on February 5th, 2024, Dartmouth announced it would once again require applicants to submit ACT or SAT test scores beginning with the enrolling class of 2025.

Following The Data

In doing so, Dartmouth joins MIT, Georgetown, Purdue and several other schools that have reinstated testing requirements. But Dartmouth isn’t just following a trend. They’re following their data.

Last summer, the new president of Dartmouth, Sian Beilock, asked a team of professors to do an internal study of the relationship between standardized testing and success in college. According to the New York Times, who reported on the study:

“Test scores were a better predictor than high school grades — or student essays and teacher recommendations — of how well students would fare at Dartmouth.”

Don’t Test Scores Give The Upper Hand To Higher-Income Populations?

Surprisingly, the Dartmouth data suggested that some lower-income students were actually put at a disadvantage with the test optional policy.

Colleges can access applicants’ scores after the admissions process is finished, so the Dartmouth researchers looked at the test scores of students who had not submitted them. What they found was that many lower-income students assumed their scores were not competitive and did not submit them. The truth? The admissions office would have seen their scores as evidence of their ability to overcome a challenge – and succeed at Dartmouth.

Test Score Evaluation Can Be Subjective

So, it turns out something that seems, on face value, to be an objective measure of ability is viewed with a degree of subjectivity and context – at least by some admissions offices.

Dartmouth’s Dean of Admissions, Lee Coffin, indicates that the admissions committee judges an applicant’s environment partly by evaluating his or her test score in relation to average scores at the student’s high school. So, a mid-range score from a student at a lower performing school would, in this case, be treated as a better score than that same mid-range result for a student at a top-tier high school.

Colleges Requiring Test Scores Vs. Test Optional Colleges: What Does It Mean For You?

It is unclear how many schools will follow Dartmouth’s lead and reinstate required reporting, but Flying Colors believes it is important to be aware of new developments regarding testing so that you can prepare accordingly.

Furthermore, given the possibility that scores can be evaluated in context, all high school students should assess how test scores may impact their application portfolio and make informed decisions if they are given the choice to report.

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December 9, 2023

Understanding The New Digital SAT vs. Paper SAT

Add the SAT to the never-ending list of things transitioning to a digital format.

As of March 9, 2024, the College Board replaced its paper SAT test with a new, digital version after completing a successful launch of the digital PSAT in October of 2023. In this article we explore what a student can expect with the digital SAT vs paper SAT.

The Digital SAT vs. Paper SAT: Screen Time A Parent Can Approve Of

The SAT’s switch to a digital exam will help eliminate several noted shortcomings of paper-based SAT tests including testing fatigue, exam security, and flexibility of scheduling. In addition to negating these concerns, there are other positive aspects of the digital format:

  1. Adaptive testing. Considered cutting-edge assessment technology, computer-adaptive tests are designed to adjust their level of difficulty as the test progresses, based on the responses provided.

The idea is for the questions presented to match the knowledge level of the test taker. The benefit? It is thought that this testing format provides a more precise measure of an individual student’s ability vs. “one-size-fits-all” standardized tests.

  1. Shorter testing sessions. Computer-adaptive testing results in a shorter testing session with a smaller number of questions, since only those questions considered appropriate for the student are offered.

That’s a win against lengthy testing sessions that can lead to fatigue and stress. The SAT will go from 3 hours to just over 2 when the new version rolls out.

  1. Quicker results. With computerized tests, the scoring is also computerized, which means test results are available more quickly than with paper + pencil tests. Faster results = quicker application submission = less anxiety and stress.

The Digital SAT vs Paper SAT: What To Expect

  • Test Locations and Permitted Devices: The current practice of testing at a school or testing center will continue, and students should be able to use a variety of devices.
    • Depending on your location, devices may be provided; check with your testing site to confirm.
    • The testing application will include a calculator (which students will be permitted to use in the math section), as well as other navigational tools.
  • Changes To The Test Structure: While the test subjects–math, reading, and writing–will stay the same, the test structure will change.
    • Subject sections will be broken into two modules; the first made up of standard questions for all students, and the second containing questions tailored to the student’s knowledge level demonstrated in module 1 responses.
    • Testing duration will be 64 minutes (two 32-minute modules) for reading & writing, and 70 minutes for math (two 35-minute modules).
    • Those familiar with the current SAT content will notice that the digital SAT combines reading and writing into one section.
    • Reading passages will be significantly shorter, with 25–150 words as opposed to the current 600–700 words, and there will be only one question per passage.

Student Accommodations

The College Board will provide testing to students with accommodations in the digital, adaptive format. For accommodations that cannot be provided digitally, such as Braille, students will be offered the longer, paper test.

Stay Tuned For More Updates

We’ll continue to provide insights on the new digital SAT vs paper SAT experiences, as well as test prep opportunities and ACT updates in this space. Be sure to sign up for our newsletter or check back regularly to stay up to date.

Other Prep Tools Available

There is also an app from the College Board called Bluebook, which offers full-length practice testing.

Note: It appears to us that practice test #1 in Bluebook is significantly easier than the others and may not provide students with an accurate representation of the new digital SAT. It may be wise to simply skip test #1.

Ready, Set, Go!

Our instructors are well-versed in digital testing and the new digital SAT content. We have a licensed library of digital SAT exams in addition to other College Board exams for review and practice. We’d love to be part of your test preparation; please click here to schedule a consultation.

October 29, 2023

Merit Scholarships: A Good Score Can Help Your Student Win Big

In this era of test-optional admissions, parents and students often wonder if taking an ACT or SAT is worth it. But a solid ACT or SAT score can not only demonstrate a student’s ability to perform at a college level – it can also bring opportunities for merit scholarships.

Merit Scholarships: Show Me The Money!

While some of the nation’s most selective schools don’t award merit scholarships, many outstanding colleges and universities do. And among those schools that do offer merit scholarships, a surprising percentage of their students qualify for non-need-based aid.

Competitive test scores and GPAs can help students secure these coveted scholarships at any number of great schools. But don’t just take our word for it – here are just two real-life examples of our students’ results:

  • One student moved his score from a 26 to a 30 in just ten lessons and earned a $20,000 merit scholarship at the University of St. Thomas, a 17-fold return on the family’s investment in prep.
  • Another student earned a merit scholarship to Colorado College based, in large part, on her five-point improvement to a 33 on her ACT. Her parents estimated a 20-fold return on their test prep investment.

Test Prep Pays Off

While every situation is unique, you can see that there is potential for test prep to pay off in the most literal way.

Below is a table listing 30+ colleges and universities and the various merit scholarships offered based largely (or exclusively) on ACT or SAT scores. Explore the opportunities!

School Scores Required or Recommended Score Range or Cutoff Score Scholarship Amount
Any 4 year college Required ACT: 28; SAT: 1240 $5,000 per semester
Any 4 year college Recommended ACT: 27; SAT: 1300 Varies annually
Arizona State University, Northern Arizona University, or University of Arizona Required Varies annually Full cost of tuition/fees/room board (valued at $130,000)
Auburn University Required ACT: 33; SAT: 1450 $16,500 annually
Bryant University Recommended Varies, but 27+ (ACT) and 1250+ (SAT) are typical $5,000-35,000
Butler University Recommended $15,000-24,000 annually
College of Saint Mary Recommended ACT: 23 $20,000 annually
Colorado Christian University Required ACT: 30; SAT: 1410 Full tuition ($35,436 annually)
Colorado Mesa University Recommended ACT: 29; SAT: 1340 $6,000 (out-of-state residents) $9,000 (in-state residents)
Emory University Recommended
Florida A&M University Required ACT: 32 (at least 32 in Math); SAT: 1440 (at least 700 in Math) Full Tuition ($5,785 in-state/$17,725 out-of-state) annually
Georgia Institute of Technology Required SAT: 1500 Up to Full tuition ($31,370) annually
Morehouse College Required ACT: 26; SAT: 1200 Varies, but up to Full Tuition ($27,098)
Niagara University Recommended SAT: 1250 $24,000
Northwestern University Recommended N/A Varies based on student contribution, but scholarship is needs based
Notre Dame University Recommended $25,000 annually
Oklahoma State University Required 99.5 percentile or higher (around 34 ACT/1520 SAT) $3,500-6,000
Ole Miss Required ACT: 29; SAT: 1340 $2,500
Ottawa University (Arizona) Required ACT: 27; SAT: 1260 Full tuition ($31,900)
Salve Regina University Recommended Varies annually $14,000-25,000
Sam Houston State University Required ACT: 29; SAT: 1320 $10,000 annually
Santa Clara University Recommended ACT: 30; SAT: 1400 Full tuition ($58,587)
Seton Hall University Required ACT: 23; SAT: 1170 $1,000
Texas A&M University Required
Texas Christian University Recommended ACT: 30-34; SAT: 1360-1500 $12,000-full tuition ($57,130)
Texas State University Recommended ACT: 32; SAT: 1420 $12,000 annually
Tuskegee University Required ACT: 28-32+; SAT: 1300-1420+ Full Tuition/room/board/book stipend ($26,478)
UMass Dartmouth Required ACT: 32; SAT: 1450 Tuition/Fees ($30,992)
University of Alabama Required ACT: 32; SAT: 1420 $16,900-37,260
University of Denver Recommended Varies annually $10,000-33,000
University of Florida Required ACT: 29; SAT: 1340 Full tuition ($6,380)
University of Illinois-Chicago Recommended ACT: 33; SAT: 1450 Up to $7,500
University of Louisville Required ACT: 26; SAT: 1230 Up to full tuition ($12,324)
University of Missouri Required ACT: 32; SAT: 1420 Full tuition ($17,722) + one time $16,000 award
University of Missouri Required ACT: 29 Math/25 English $2,000
University of Southern California Required National Merit Finalist Half Tuition (approx $31,734)
Vanderbilt University Recommended Full tuition + one summer stipend ($58,130 minimum)
Washington University at St. Louis Recommended “Top ranges” of SAT/ACT $5,000
West Liberty University Required ACT: 30; SAT: 1400 Full tuition, fees, room and board ($29,170)

Get Started On Your Exam Prep Now With Help From Flying Colors

If you’d like to learn more about how Flying Colors can help your student realize their best scores on the ACT or SAT, schedule a call with one of our expert Education Directors by clicking here.