College Admission Testing
The majority of colleges in the United States require that students take either the SAT or the ACT test as a requirement for admissions decisions. These tests are used to assess a student's academic readiness for college material.
Below are descriptions of the typical admissions tests that a high school student should understand.
Please select each tab below to read about each test.
Test Prep
Preparing for the SAT and ACT
Students are encouraged to use the resources available to prepare themselves before taking the college entrance exams in grades 11 and 12.
Penn State York also offers preparation courses multiple times a year. For more information contact Penn State York's Continuing Education Office (717-771-4107 or http://york.psu.edu/community/youth/sat-prep) or stop in the Counseling Office to pick up their brochures. There have also been occasions that York College has offered prep courses, but information could not be found online about these offerings at the time of this post.
Students are strongly encouraged to use the preparation tools found on these websites (all of which should be FREE):
- sat.org
- act.org
- educationplanner.org
- march2success.com
- khanacademy.com
- onlinecollegeplan.com/sat-act-prep-guide/
Please note that Central York offers an SAT Prep course during the school year (as a seminar, typically in both semesters) and as a summer camp. Information about seminar classes is distributed early each semester through the You Got It messages from administration. Summer camp information is typically available by May at https://centralyork.revtrak.net/summer-camps-high-school/.
SAT
The SAT takes approximately 3 hours (plus an optional 50-minute essay).
The SAT consists of Math and Evidenced Based Reading & Writing portions, both of which report a score out of 800 points.
The SAT is offered with writing or without writing. Students should research which version their prospective colleges prefer and register accordingly.
Students can find all test dates/locations and should register online at sat.collegeboard.org. Paper registration forms are also available in the Counseling Office.
When registering, students should enter Central York High School's code (395430), so that we will receive test results.
Students whose families are economically disadvantaged are encouraged to see their counselor about receiving a Fee Waiver to use instead of paying the registration fee for the SAT.
Major changes were made to the SAT in spring 2016. For details, visit deliveringopportunity.org and collegereadiness.collegeboard.org. For an outsider's perspective on the changes, visit http://www.princetonreview.com/college/sat-changes. Another interesting article about the new SAT can be found at http://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/01/education/edlife/everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-new-sat.html?_r=1.
Students who receive testing accommodations in school due to their IEP or 504 plan can apply for similar accommodations on the PSAT, SAT and ACT tests. Learn more at these links:
PSAT
The PSAT is recommended for all college-bound students to take in grade 11. Students in grade 10 may also register for the PSAT.
Students sign up for the PSAT in the Counseling Office in late September.
The PSAT is given in mid-October at CYHS and students receive their results (and a detailed explanation) from their counselor, usually in December.
The PSAT is formatted like the SAT. For more details, go to collegereadiness.collegeboard.org.
Students who receive testing accommodations in school due to their IEP or 504 plan can apply for similar accommodations on the PSAT, SAT and ACT tests. Learn more at these links:
ACT
The ACT is a college admissions test that can be taken instead of -- or in addition to -- the SAT. Colleges do NOT have a preference for the SAT or the ACT. Either test is just fine for college admissions.
Students can find all test dates/locations and should register online at actstudent.org. Paper registration forms are also available in the Counseling Office.
When registering, students should enter Central York High School's code (395430), so that we will receive test results.
The ACT is offered with writing or without writing. Students should research which version their prospective colleges prefer and register accordingly.
Students whose families are economically disadvantaged are encouraged to see their counselor about receiving a Fee Waiver to use instead of paying the registration fee for the ACT.
Students who receive testing accommodations in school due to their IEP or 504 plan can apply for similar accommodations on the PSAT, SAT and ACT tests. Learn more at these links: