Standardized Testing - Lake Forest Academy
Source: http://www.lfanet.org/college-counseling/standardized-testing
Archived: 2026-04-23 17:14
Standardized Testing - Lake Forest Academy
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Standardized Testing
Guidelines for test prep courses with all the anxiety that, unfortunately, centers around the college application process and, by extension, around standardized testing, it is not surprising that families of seniors, juniors, and even sophomores have found it difficult to resist the lure of SAT/ACT prep courses.
Before investing in a test prep course (and, at the going rates, it is indeed an investment), parents and students would be wise to take calm and business-like stock of the situation. We offer the following remarks as guidelines in that assessment:
Certainly, the most cost-effective course is the ‘home’ program of reading, building and reviewing vocabulary lists, taking a steady series of practice tests, and using SAT software regularly on the home computer. For those students with self-discipline and motivation this approach works very well.
Consider carefully whether your child really needs a prep course. There are very real costs in terms of time and money. What will your child have to give up in order to make time for the course? Will he or she have to curtail an important extracurricular activity? Will school work begin to suffer? Will these sacrifices cut into your child’s enthusiasm about the prep course?
Be wary of prep courses that aggressively solicit your business. The best courses generate more than enough business through word of mouth.
Time the course so that it ends just before the test date.
Demand to know exactly what the course provides. How much of it is merely repetitive test-taking and how much of it involves verbal and mathematical skill-building, test instruction, and interpretation of test results?
If a course promises specific increases in test scores, get that promise in writing and hold the company to that promise.
Do not use a prep course for the first round of SAT’s. Save it for the second or third test session when a student’s test needs will be clearer and his or her motivation stronger.
Beware of test prep programs or tutors that try to talk you into their even more lucrative college counseling services.
Ask them what they provide that your school does not. Remember that the college counselor is the primary contact with the colleges; he or she writes the school recommendation, processes your child’s transcript, and works directly with your child’s teachers.
Remember that some test programs are better than others. Consult your college counselor if you are unsure about the quality of a program.
Finally remember that any test program can only be effective if a student is committed to it and enthusiastic about it. Do not force a prep course on your child.
SAT
SAT Test Date*
Registration Deadline
Deadline for Changes, Regular Cancellation, & Late Registration
Aug. 23, 2025
Aug. 8, 2025
Register
Aug. 12, 2025
Sept. 13, 2025
Aug. 29, 2025
Register
Sept. 2, 2025
Oct. 4, 2025
Sept. 19, 2025
Register
Sept. 23, 2025
Nov. 8, 2025
Oct. 24, 2025
Register
Oct. 28, 2025
Dec. 6, 2025
Nov. 21, 2025
Register
Nov. 25, 2025
Mar. 14, 2026
Feb. 27, 2026
Register
Mar. 3, 2026
May 2, 2026
Apr. 17, 2026
Register
Apr. 21, 2026
June 6, 2026
May 22, 2026
Register
May 26, 2026
ACT
ACT Test Date
Regular Registration Deadline
(Late Fee Applies After This Date)
Late Registration Deadline
Photo Upload & Standby Deadline
Sept. 6, 2025
Aug. 1, 2025
Aug. 19, 2025
Aug. 29, 2025
Oct. 18, 2025
Sept. 12, 2025
Sept. 30, 2025
Oct. 10, 2025
Dec. 13, 2025
Nov. 7, 2025
Nov. 24, 2025
Dec. 5, 2025
Feb. 14, 2026
Jan. 9, 2026
Jan. 23, 2026
Feb. 6, 2026
Apr. 11, 2026
Mar. 6, 2026
Mar. 24, 2026
Apr. 3, 2026
June 13, 2026
May 8, 2026
May 29, 2026
June 5, 2026
July 11, 2026
June 5, 2026
June 24, 2026
July 3, 2026
Important Information for Taking Standardized Tests
Please remember to bring a paper copy of your admission ticket, an acceptable ID with a photo, sharpened #2 pencils with erasers, a watch to pace yourself, and a permitted calculator with reliable batteries.
Staff members at the testing centers will be checking IDs and using rosters.
Students not listed on the rosters will not be admitted
.
If a student misses the late registration deadline, he or she must request standby testing online
before the test
.
No walk-ins are permitted on the test day.
For a checklist of items NOT to bring to test center, please review your admission ticket.
Please remember that you will be prompted to provide a photo ID, which must be clear and properly focused, at the testing site. You must present a photo ID and your admission ticket.
No walk-ins are permitted on the test day. However, online requests to be on the wait-list can be made up until five
days
before the test date. Changes to the testing location, test date, or test type must be made
two weeks
before the original test date.
Please bring sharpened #2 pencils with erasers, a permitted calculator with reliable batteries, and a CD player for any tests with listening. Check online to find out the guidelines for bringing snacks and drinks as well as cellphone usage.
Visit
www.sat.org/test-day
for more information.
Skip To Main Content
Standardized Testing
Guidelines for test prep courses with all the anxiety that, unfortunately, centers around the college application process and, by extension, around standardized testing, it is not surprising that families of seniors, juniors, and even sophomores have found it difficult to resist the lure of SAT/ACT prep courses.
Before investing in a test prep course (and, at the going rates, it is indeed an investment), parents and students would be wise to take calm and business-like stock of the situation. We offer the following remarks as guidelines in that assessment:
Certainly, the most cost-effective course is the ‘home’ program of reading, building and reviewing vocabulary lists, taking a steady series of practice tests, and using SAT software regularly on the home computer. For those students with self-discipline and motivation this approach works very well.
Consider carefully whether your child really needs a prep course. There are very real costs in terms of time and money. What will your child have to give up in order to make time for the course? Will he or she have to curtail an important extracurricular activity? Will school work begin to suffer? Will these sacrifices cut into your child’s enthusiasm about the prep course?
Be wary of prep courses that aggressively solicit your business. The best courses generate more than enough business through word of mouth.
Time the course so that it ends just before the test date.
Demand to know exactly what the course provides. How much of it is merely repetitive test-taking and how much of it involves verbal and mathematical skill-building, test instruction, and interpretation of test results?
If a course promises specific increases in test scores, get that promise in writing and hold the company to that promise.
Do not use a prep course for the first round of SAT’s. Save it for the second or third test session when a student’s test needs will be clearer and his or her motivation stronger.
Beware of test prep programs or tutors that try to talk you into their even more lucrative college counseling services.
Ask them what they provide that your school does not. Remember that the college counselor is the primary contact with the colleges; he or she writes the school recommendation, processes your child’s transcript, and works directly with your child’s teachers.
Remember that some test programs are better than others. Consult your college counselor if you are unsure about the quality of a program.
Finally remember that any test program can only be effective if a student is committed to it and enthusiastic about it. Do not force a prep course on your child.
SAT
SAT Test Date*
Registration Deadline
Deadline for Changes, Regular Cancellation, & Late Registration
Aug. 23, 2025
Aug. 8, 2025
Register
Aug. 12, 2025
Sept. 13, 2025
Aug. 29, 2025
Register
Sept. 2, 2025
Oct. 4, 2025
Sept. 19, 2025
Register
Sept. 23, 2025
Nov. 8, 2025
Oct. 24, 2025
Register
Oct. 28, 2025
Dec. 6, 2025
Nov. 21, 2025
Register
Nov. 25, 2025
Mar. 14, 2026
Feb. 27, 2026
Register
Mar. 3, 2026
May 2, 2026
Apr. 17, 2026
Register
Apr. 21, 2026
June 6, 2026
May 22, 2026
Register
May 26, 2026
ACT
ACT Test Date
Regular Registration Deadline
(Late Fee Applies After This Date)
Late Registration Deadline
Photo Upload & Standby Deadline
Sept. 6, 2025
Aug. 1, 2025
Aug. 19, 2025
Aug. 29, 2025
Oct. 18, 2025
Sept. 12, 2025
Sept. 30, 2025
Oct. 10, 2025
Dec. 13, 2025
Nov. 7, 2025
Nov. 24, 2025
Dec. 5, 2025
Feb. 14, 2026
Jan. 9, 2026
Jan. 23, 2026
Feb. 6, 2026
Apr. 11, 2026
Mar. 6, 2026
Mar. 24, 2026
Apr. 3, 2026
June 13, 2026
May 8, 2026
May 29, 2026
June 5, 2026
July 11, 2026
June 5, 2026
June 24, 2026
July 3, 2026
Important Information for Taking Standardized Tests
Please remember to bring a paper copy of your admission ticket, an acceptable ID with a photo, sharpened #2 pencils with erasers, a watch to pace yourself, and a permitted calculator with reliable batteries.
Staff members at the testing centers will be checking IDs and using rosters.
Students not listed on the rosters will not be admitted
.
If a student misses the late registration deadline, he or she must request standby testing online
before the test
.
No walk-ins are permitted on the test day.
For a checklist of items NOT to bring to test center, please review your admission ticket.
Please remember that you will be prompted to provide a photo ID, which must be clear and properly focused, at the testing site. You must present a photo ID and your admission ticket.
No walk-ins are permitted on the test day. However, online requests to be on the wait-list can be made up until five
days
before the test date. Changes to the testing location, test date, or test type must be made
two weeks
before the original test date.
Please bring sharpened #2 pencils with erasers, a permitted calculator with reliable batteries, and a CD player for any tests with listening. Check online to find out the guidelines for bringing snacks and drinks as well as cellphone usage.
Visit
www.sat.org/test-day
for more information.