The Preliminary SAT (PSAT)
The PSAT is an SAT practice test. The purpose is to help prepare students for the SAT and give a projection as to what their SAT is likely to be without any intervention. This is also the only test that will qualify a student to be National Merit Scholar when taken as a Junior. The test can be taken by any student however it is pegged to a typical student’s aptitude in the fall of their junior year. There is a $18 fee for this exam except for those who qualify for free/reduced lunch. The test will be given on Wednesday, October 11, 2017.
February 27, 2018 ACT Exam Update (Current Juniors Only) Click here to learn how to create an ACT online Account
Graduation Requirements
As a result in the legislative change to state required testing for graduation in May 2013, MPS changed its practice on how students are supported in meeting these requirements.
Starting with the class of 2013, Minneapolis Public School students can meet required state graduation testing by:
1. Passing the MBST/GRAD tests in Writing, Reading and Math. Students must meet the state determined cut scores on the GRAD to pass the test and meet the graduation requirement. OR
2. Taking the ACT with writing* OR
3. Taking the Accuplacer college placement test with the following components: Sentence Skills; College Math; and Reading Comprehension. OR
4. MPS will accept original, verifiable score reports from the following tests: ASVAB; WorkKeys; and Compass.
College Admissions Requirements
American College Test (ACT) or Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) [Click here for a comparison chart of the tests]
The ACT and the SAT are college entrance examinations. Either can be taken multiple times and colleges will accept a student’s best
score as the one used for admission. Most 4–year colleges and universities require students to take either one as part of their admissions process. Both exams are offered multiple times a year and you need to register in advance online. There is a fee to take them but students who qualify for free and reduced lunch may receive a waiver by seeing your counselor. The ACT can be taken at Washburn. Typically, we suggest students take the ACT or SAT for the first time in the spring of their junior year.
FAQ about the ACT for All Juniors:
Q. Is there a charge for this test?
A. No, it's free to all juniors.
Q. Do students need to pre-register on-line like the regular ACT exams?
A. No, student will not have to pre-register. There is some paper and pencil information that will have to be filled out prior to the exam but this will occur in the classroom several days before the test.
Q. Can these scores be used to apply to college?
A. Yes, this is the official ACT exam and may be used for college admissions. When students pre-register in class they should select four colleges to send their scores to since it's free at this stage. Sending scores to colleges after testing costs $12 per school. While we advise students to indicate colleges to send their scores to in advance, when they register, if your student would like to wait and see what the scores are first, it will be possible to go to actstudent.org and have the scores sent later.
Q. Will this ACT include the writing section?
A. Yes. This ACT will include the primary 4 sections plus Writing (English, Math, Reading, Science plus Writing).This test does include writing. We encourage students to retake the ACT again at least 2 or 3 times. Make sure you register for the April and/or June ACT at www.actstudent.org.
Q. Will accommodations be made available for students who would normally get them for the regular ACT?
A. Yes.
Q. Since this test is free on this date, will this count against the two fee waivers that a student already may qualify for?
A. No, if the student already qualifies for the two fee waivers, this will not count against those waivers.
Q. Is there a way students can prepare for the exam?
A. Yes, see the options listed below.
Students and families who are looking for small group tutoring have really enjoyed ACT Ready.
Also, the Washburn testing coordinator lists these test prep resources for students:
http://washburn.mpls.k12.mn.us/testing_resources
Academy of Holy Angels provides an extensive list of standardized test prep resources. You can view the list here:
https://www.academyofholyangels.org/academics/college-and-career-center/resources-for-preparing-for-standardized-tests.html
ACT/SAT Prep Guides
Independent Study with books found at your Library for free or $30 at a bookstore
The Preliminary SAT (PSAT)
The PSAT is an SAT practice test. The purpose is to help prepare students for the SAT and give a projection as to what their SAT is likely to be without any intervention. This is also the only test that will qualify a student to be National Merit Scholar when taken as a Junior. The test can be taken by any student however it is pegged to a typical student’s aptitude in the fall of their junior year. There is a $18 fee for this exam except for those who qualify for free/reduced lunch. The test will be given on Wednesday, November 2, 2016.
SAT II Subject Tests
Most colleges do not require these, however, dozens of the country’s most selective colleges require 2 subject tests. Check the admissions requirements of the schools you want to attend to see if you need to take these additional admissions exams, which are designed to show competency in different areas.
College Placement and College Credit
The Accuplacer Test
This test is used by all schools in the Minnesota State Colleges and University system. The purpose is to place students
in the appropriate college classes. This test is also used by these schools to determine if high school students are eligible to participate in Post-Secondary Enrollment Options (PSEO).
International Baccalaureate (IB)
Final scores in IB classes range from 1 to 7 and are calculated by combining the marks the student receives on internal assessments (taken within the course) and final exam scores (which are called “papers” by IB) that are held in May of each year.
The internal assessments constitute about 30% of the final score for the class and the final papers/exam accounts for the approximately 70 percent of the score.
Final scores are released in early July. Students who want to have their scores sent to particular colleges must contact the IB coordinator prior
to July 1. After that time, students may contact IB directly to have their scores sent to a college. Typically, college credit will be given with a minimum score of 4 in an HL course but it is imperative to check with colleges directly.
Advanced Placement (AP)
Students who are enrolled in AP Statistics and IB Physics are encouraged to take the exam and should sign up in the counseling office. Students in grades 9-12 who are interested in taking other AP exams may study on their own, sign up in the counseling office in the spring. For students with disabilities, please contact your counselor immediately.
Interested in taking an additional AP exam? Please inquire in the counseling office.
Typically, scores of 3, 4, or 5 will grant a student college credit but check with colleges directly.
Want to know more? Visit: http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/ap/subjects.html
As a result in the legislative change to state required testing for graduation in May 2013, MPS changed its practice on how students are supported in meeting these requirements.
Starting with the class of 2013, Minneapolis Public School students can meet required state graduation testing by:
1. Passing the MBST/GRAD tests in Writing, Reading and Math. Students must meet the state determined cut scores on the GRAD to pass the test and meet the graduation requirement. OR
2. Taking the ACT with writing* OR
3. Taking the Accuplacer college placement test with the following components: Sentence Skills; College Math; and Reading Comprehension. OR
4. MPS will accept original, verifiable score reports from the following tests: ASVAB; WorkKeys; and Compass.
College Admissions Requirements
American College Test (ACT) or Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) [Click here for a comparison chart of the tests]
The ACT and the SAT are college entrance examinations. Either can be taken multiple times and colleges will accept a student’s best
score as the one used for admission. Most 4–year colleges and universities require students to take either one as part of their admissions process. Both exams are offered multiple times a year and you need to register in advance online. There is a fee to take them but students who qualify for free and reduced lunch may receive a waiver by seeing your counselor. The ACT can be taken at Washburn. Typically, we suggest students take the ACT or SAT for the first time in the spring of their junior year.
FAQ about the ACT for All Juniors:
Q. Is there a charge for this test?
A. No, it's free to all juniors.
Q. Do students need to pre-register on-line like the regular ACT exams?
A. No, student will not have to pre-register. There is some paper and pencil information that will have to be filled out prior to the exam but this will occur in the classroom several days before the test.
Q. Can these scores be used to apply to college?
A. Yes, this is the official ACT exam and may be used for college admissions. When students pre-register in class they should select four colleges to send their scores to since it's free at this stage. Sending scores to colleges after testing costs $12 per school. While we advise students to indicate colleges to send their scores to in advance, when they register, if your student would like to wait and see what the scores are first, it will be possible to go to actstudent.org and have the scores sent later.
Q. Will this ACT include the writing section?
A. Yes. This ACT will include the primary 4 sections plus Writing (English, Math, Reading, Science plus Writing).This test does include writing. We encourage students to retake the ACT again at least 2 or 3 times. Make sure you register for the April and/or June ACT at www.actstudent.org.
Q. Will accommodations be made available for students who would normally get them for the regular ACT?
A. Yes.
Q. Since this test is free on this date, will this count against the two fee waivers that a student already may qualify for?
A. No, if the student already qualifies for the two fee waivers, this will not count against those waivers.
Q. Is there a way students can prepare for the exam?
A. Yes, see the options listed below.
Students and families who are looking for small group tutoring have really enjoyed ACT Ready.
Also, the Washburn testing coordinator lists these test prep resources for students:
http://washburn.mpls.k12.mn.us/testing_resources
Academy of Holy Angels provides an extensive list of standardized test prep resources. You can view the list here:
https://www.academyofholyangels.org/academics/college-and-career-center/resources-for-preparing-for-standardized-tests.html
ACT/SAT Prep Guides
Independent Study with books found at your Library for free or $30 at a bookstore
The Preliminary SAT (PSAT)
The PSAT is an SAT practice test. The purpose is to help prepare students for the SAT and give a projection as to what their SAT is likely to be without any intervention. This is also the only test that will qualify a student to be National Merit Scholar when taken as a Junior. The test can be taken by any student however it is pegged to a typical student’s aptitude in the fall of their junior year. There is a $18 fee for this exam except for those who qualify for free/reduced lunch. The test will be given on Wednesday, November 2, 2016.
SAT II Subject Tests
Most colleges do not require these, however, dozens of the country’s most selective colleges require 2 subject tests. Check the admissions requirements of the schools you want to attend to see if you need to take these additional admissions exams, which are designed to show competency in different areas.
College Placement and College Credit
The Accuplacer Test
This test is used by all schools in the Minnesota State Colleges and University system. The purpose is to place students
in the appropriate college classes. This test is also used by these schools to determine if high school students are eligible to participate in Post-Secondary Enrollment Options (PSEO).
International Baccalaureate (IB)
Final scores in IB classes range from 1 to 7 and are calculated by combining the marks the student receives on internal assessments (taken within the course) and final exam scores (which are called “papers” by IB) that are held in May of each year.
The internal assessments constitute about 30% of the final score for the class and the final papers/exam accounts for the approximately 70 percent of the score.
Final scores are released in early July. Students who want to have their scores sent to particular colleges must contact the IB coordinator prior
to July 1. After that time, students may contact IB directly to have their scores sent to a college. Typically, college credit will be given with a minimum score of 4 in an HL course but it is imperative to check with colleges directly.
Advanced Placement (AP)
Students who are enrolled in AP Statistics and IB Physics are encouraged to take the exam and should sign up in the counseling office. Students in grades 9-12 who are interested in taking other AP exams may study on their own, sign up in the counseling office in the spring. For students with disabilities, please contact your counselor immediately.
Interested in taking an additional AP exam? Please inquire in the counseling office.
Typically, scores of 3, 4, or 5 will grant a student college credit but check with colleges directly.
Want to know more? Visit: http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/ap/subjects.html