When should my high school student take the PSAT, SAT, or ACT?  This question comes up quite often in the high school department.  We recommend the following:

The PSAT should be taken in the 11^th grade, especially by Track I students.  Certain scholarships are awarded based on the 11^th grade PSAT scores.  Students may also take the PSAT in the 8^th and 10^th grades for practice.  You must register for the PSAT through a local school.    This test is given only in October of each school year, but check with the school the preceding spring for directions on registering. 

All Track I students should take the SAT or ACT in the spring of the junior year.   It is vitally important for two reasons: 1) it makes students eligible to apply for scholarships, and 2) it gives students the opportunity to practice taking the test(s) so that they have time to improve their scores during the senior year.

The SAT or ACT should be taken again in the fall of the senior year.  Seniors could take it again in the spring if they would like another opportunity to raise their scores.

You can register for the SAT on-line at www.collegeboard.com or by calling 1-800-728-7267.  You can register for the ACT on-line at www.act.org or by calling 1-800-525-6926.  Please use the SCAIHS High School code 411104 when registering for either test.  You will need to search under Cayce, South Carolina to find our code on the website.

You may also stop by the SCAIHS office to pick up SAT and ACT test registration materials.  If you would like these materials sent to you, please send a written request along with a check made payable to SCAIHS for $2.00 to cover the cost of postage and handling.