Standardized Testing
ACT or SAT?
How to choose between taking the ACT and SAT tests:
Colleges accept both the ACT and SAT for admissions purposes. Some students prefer one test over the other and sit for both exams to see which score will serve them better for admissions and scholarship purposes. Wheaton Academy is a test center for both the ACT (October and April) and SAT (June) examinations.
While we recommend students take both practice ACTs and SATs (also available online), we lean towards recommending that students take the SAT.
While both the ACT and PSAT focus on the classroom skills and knowledge your student needs to be successful in college, the PSAT suite of tests provides advantages to students and families as they prepare for the college admissions process. College Board has made available outstanding resources for students to learn from previous PSAT/SAT tests. By creating a College Board account, students can load their personal SAT scores and review how they did on each test question. In addition to reviewing the test questions and the correct answers, SAT includes the rationale for why the correct answer is the best answer. Students can then strengthen essential skills and knowledge for the PSAT/SAT with free personalized practice on Khan Academy®.
For students who have been approved for extended time on either the ACT or SAT, testing is handled differently by ACT and Collegeboard (SAT). For ACT, most students granted extra time are allowed to take sub-sections of the exam over multiple days. However, students granted extra time on the SAT must sit for the entire examination at one time on a given exam date. Given the potential fatigue factor of sitting for an SAT for 5-6 hours, students with extra time may decide to focus on the ACT since it can be broken up over multiple dates.
ACT 2019-20 Test Dates
| ACT Test Date | Registration Deadline | Late Registration Deadline | ACT Score Release |
| June 8, 2019 | May 3, 2019 | May 4-20, 2019 | June 18 – August 2, 2019 |
| July 13, 2019* | June 14, 2019 | June 15-24, 2019 | July 23 – August 26, 2019 |
| Sept 14, 2019 | Aug 16, 2019 | Sept 1, 2019 | Sept 24; Oct 10, 2019 |
| Oct 26, 2019 | Sept 27, 2019 | Oct 13, 2019 | Nov 12; Nov 26, 2019 |
| Dec 14, 2019 | Nov 8, 2019 | Nov 25, 2019 | Dec 24, 2019; Jan 7, 2020 |
| Feb 8, 2020 | Jan 10, 2020 | Jan 17, 2020 | Feb 18; Mar 3, 2020 |
| Apr 4, 2020 | Feb 29, 2020 | Mar 16, 2020 | Apr 14; Apr 28, 2020 |
| June 13, 2020 | May 8, 2020 | May 25, 2020 | June 23; July 7, 2020 |
| July 18, 2020 | June 19, 2020 | June 29, 2020 | July 28; Aug 11, 2020 |
These ACT test dates only apply to the US, US territories, Puerto Rico, and Canada.
SAT/PSAT 2019 Information
The PSAT is administered nationally each year in mid-October. For 2019 at Wheaton Academy, it will be offered on Wednesday morning, October 16th. The test will be administered to all freshmen through juniors, but for juniors, it is the qualifying test for the National Merit program. A junior must take the PSAT on this date in order to be a candidate for the National Merit program. All freshmen, sophomores, and juniors are registered for the exam by Wheaton Academy