Nick's positions
Nick's positions: where I stand on testing and admissions
The questions families ask most about the SAT, ACT, PSAT and college admissions, and the answer I give each time.
Does the 10th-grade PSAT count for National Merit?Only the PSAT/NMSQT your child takes in 11th grade counts toward National Merit; the 10th-grade PSAT is practice.Should my child prep just their weak section before an SAT or ACT retake?Prepare for the whole test every sitting, never just the weak section, so the score a college sees never looks lopsided.Should my child send an SAT or ACT score to a test-optional college?At a selective test-optional college, a score is nearly always good to have: it helps your odds and your merit scholarship chances.How long should my child prep before an SAT or ACT test date?Plan on 6 to 12 weeks of prep before any test date that counts, so your child can show all their potential.Should my child take the ACT writing test?Skip the ACT writing test unless a college on your child's list recommends it, and spend the time on the scored sections.Should my child retake the SAT or ACT if colleges superscore?Check whether your child's colleges superscore before you decide on a retake, and we usually send a school only two sittings.The UC is test-blind, so should my California child still take the SAT or ACT?The UC will not look at an SAT or ACT score today, but I still tell California families to test, because other colleges do.What is a good SAT or ACT score?There are no good or bad scores; there are only scores that will help you reach your goals.