The testing landscape continues to evolve, leading to confusion and frustration for college applicants and their families. And while many of the changes since the pandemic are designed to improve accessibility, the changes also have led to confusion for current high school students.

This summary begins to explain why students might be unsure of when to test, how to prepare, and if one test might be better for them. 
✅ The College Board made the PSAT a fully digital test in 2023 preceding the transition to a digital SAT format for all students in 2024. The PSAT and SAT are now delivered on a digital platform called “Bluebook” that is compatible with Macs and PCs. (Bluebook will only work on Chromebooks on school networks.) The platform contains encrypted questions and tracks progress to ensure that if a student loses connectivity or power, they won’t lose their work. The online format also reduces the possibility of leaked questions. 
✅ In the new digital format, the SAT was reduced from three to two hours. And calculators are now permitted for the entire math section. There is a built-in Desmos graphing calculator on the test app–Bluebook–that students should practice with before test day.
✅ The new PSAT and SAT tests employ multistage adaptive testing. Each test section (Reading/Writing and Math) is divided into two equal-length, separately timed parts. Student performance in the first module determines the questions they receive in the second module. 
✅ The ACT began offering some students the choice to take the ACT online or on paper in 2023. 
✅ The ACT began beta-testing a new online test in June 2024. In fall 2024, students can choose paper or online when they register for the ACT. Students registering for an online test could see the paper version formatted for the screen or an entirely new online test.  
In July 2024, the ACT announced changes coming to their test over the next two years.
✅ Science will become optional and change from 35 minutes to 40 minutes with 40 questions. This small change will be a game changer for students who struggle to finish the science section in 35 minutes.
✅ We do not yet know when/if colleges may request the science section after the ACT makes it optional. 
✅ Writing will remain an optional section, but it is rarely our recommendation that a student take the ACT writing test. 
✅ Beginning in April 2025, students who choose to test online will experience a shorter test with more time to respond to each question. 
✅ Beginning in September 2025, all students who test on a national test date (Saturday/Sunday)–online or on paper–will experience a shorter test with more time to respond to each question. 
✅ School district ACT tests will not have the new online and shorter test options until spring 2026. 

Is one test better than another? 
The ACT leads the market in our area of southwest Ohio with most high schools offering the ACT as their state-sponsored test. In college admissions, however, there is no preference for the ACT or SAT–both are accepted and considered equally. Still, some students might opt to try both the ACT and the SAT, and many students will experience at least one Preliminary SAT (PSAT) at their high school. At Class 101-Dayton, we assist our students in determining which test and format is best for them. 

Do I need a test score to apply to college? 
Unfortunately, there is not a simple answer to this question. It depends on your college list, GPA and high school transcript, major interest and area of study, and your college preferences for honors, accelerated, or other specialized programs. Some students should send their test scores to every college they apply to, and some students should apply to all of their colleges “test optional.” And still other students will send their scores to some schools but apply test-optional to others. This decision is about more than the score. It is also important to understand the differences between “test optional,” “test required,” “test preferred,” and “test blind.”

Do all juniors have to take the state sponsored ACT or SAT in their high school?
Ohio law has changed. Beginning in spring 2025 for the Class of 2026, a parent or guardian can opt their student out of taking the state-funded ACT or SAT. School districts are still required to offer one state-funded test (ACT or SAT) at no cost to all eleventh grade students. 

What is the PSAT?
Some think the PSAT is simply a practice test—an indicator of where a student may score on the SAT. Most don’t know that the PSAT is the qualifying test for the National Merit Scholarship Program for juniors. The PSAT is a digital test that is delivered by a student’s high school in the fall. In 2024 ,the PSAT/NMSQT can be offered on weekdays during the testing window of October 1-31 as well as Saturday, October 12 and Saturday, October 26. 

Are you taking the Digital PSAT in October 2024? 
At our Class 101 location, the fall PSAT review class is by invitation only. If you think you want to experience the PSAT to preview the digital SAT, or if you want to strive for National Merit Scholarship Recognition in the top 3% of scores on the PSAT, let’s talk about PSAT Class! Our 2024 PSAT Class will meet on September 8, 15, 22, and 29 from 3 to 5 p.m. Please email [email protected] for more information.

Class 101-Dayton will stay ahead of the changes coming to testing as we design the best prep and resources for our students. Reach out to us at 937-705-5113 to learn more. 

Upcoming Class 101 Test Prep Dates
All Class 101-Dayton college planning students can access our prep classes as well as individual test prep. 

Class 101 ACT Classes for Juniors for the October 26 ACT 
Monday nights: September 9, 16, 23, 30, October 7, 14, and 21 from 6 to 8 p.m.
The deadline to register for the October 26 ACT is September 20. 

Class 101 ACT Classes for Juniors for the February 8 ACT and in school ACTs 
Monday nights: January 6, 13, 20, 27, and February 3 from 6 to 8 p.m.
Classes for the in school tests may continue on Monday nights in February once students know their high school test dates. 
The deadline to register for the national February 8 ACT test date is January 3.

Class 101 PSAT Classes for Juniors 
Sunday afternoons: September 8, 15, 22, and 29 from 3 to 5 p.m.
High schools register their students for the PSAT; talk to your high school counselor if you have questions about your PSAT registration. 

Watch for our Summer 2025 ACT Power Camp Dates for the June and July tests to be announced in early 2025.