Maryland's Largest School District
There are two college entrance exams, the ACT (American College Test) and the SAT (Scholastic Assessment Test), which are used for admission, placement, and scholarships. Most colleges accept scores from either the ACT or SAT. Check directly with each institution being considered for admission policies. Registration materials are available in the College/Career Information Center and online.
The PSAT is the only opportunity when high school juniors may be considered for the National Merit Scholarship Program, the National Achievement Scholarship Program, and the National Hispanic Scholar Awards Program. The PSAT also serves as an important practice test for the SAT Reasoning Test. It is administered only once during the school year and consists of two 25-minute critical reading sections, one 30-minute math section, and one 30-minute writing skills section.
This school year, Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) will expand administration of the SAT Suite of Assessments to include the PSAT 8/9 for all Grade 8 students and the PSAT 8/9 for all Grade 9 students. Grade 10 students will take the PSAT 10 assessment, and Grade 11 students will now take both the PSAT/NMSQT and the SAT School Day assessments. Administering this suite of assessments allows for a consistent measure of students’ reading, writing and math skills, provides information on student College and Career Readiness and provides valuable information that helps schools align their instructional support, interventions, and expansion of access to advanced coursework. All of these assessments will be at no cost to students as long as their current grade matches the first time ninth grade cohort.
Educational Purpose
Administering the SAT Suite of Assessments allows for a consistent measure of students’ reading, writing, and math skills, provides information on students' College and Career Readiness, and offers valuable insights that help schools align their instructional support, interventions, and expansion of access to advanced coursework.
Grade 8 – PSAT 8/9 (Administered in the Fall)
Grade 9 – PSAT 8/9 (Administered in the Spring)
Grades 10 -- PSAT 10 (Administered in the Spring)
Grades 11 – PSAT/NMSQT (Administered in the Fall)
Grade 11 SAT (Administered in the Spring)
| Test | Administration Date | First Time Ninth Grade (FTNG) Cohort |
| PSAT 8/9 for Grade 8 | October 14, 2026 | Current 8th Graders |
| PSAT/NMSQT 11 | October 14, 2026 | 2025 |
| PSAT 8/9 for Grade 9 | March 10, 2027 | 2027 |
| PSAT 10 | March 10, 2027 | 2026 |
| SAT School Day (Grade 11) | March 23, 2027 | 2025 |
The ACT is a set of four multiple choice tests covering English, mathematics, reading, and science. The ACT Plus Writing Test includes the four multiple choice tests plus the writing test.
There is a registration fee for the Assessment Plus Writing Test. To find out if the Writing Test is required, visit the website or call the admissions office of the college or university. Students may be eligible for an ACT Fee Waiver. Information about eligibility requirements and how to request a fee waiver are available in the College/Career Center.
Scores are generally available online within 2–4 weeks after the test. The service allows students to view their scores before the official score report arrives by mail. Scores are based on the number of correct answers; there is no penalty for guessing. Students should register online.
The SAT is composed of two sections: (1) the Reading and Writing section, and (2) the Math section. You have 64 minutes to complete the Reading and Writing section and 70 minutes to complete the Math section, for a total of 2 hours and 14 minutes.
Each section is divided into 2 equal-length modules, and there is a 10-minute break between the Reading and Writing section and the Math section. The first module of each section contains a broad mix of easy, medium, and hard questions. Based on how you perform on the first module, the second module of questions will either be more difficult or less difficult.
The Reading and Writing section presents short reading passages (or passage pairs) followed by a single multiple-choice question. Questions on the Reading and Writing section represent one of four content domains—Craft and Structure, Information and Ideas, Standard English Conventions, and Expression of Ideas. To help you budget your time, questions that test similar skills and knowledge are grouped together and arranged from easiest to hardest. The Reading and Writing section is divided into two modules, each of which includes questions from all four different domains.
The Math section focuses on the areas of math that play the biggest role in college and career success:
Algebra
Advanced Math
Problem-Solving and Data Analysis
Geometry and Trigonometry
Like the Reading and Writing section, the Math section is divided into two modules. Over the course of the Math section, you’ll answer multiple-choice and student-produced response questions that measure your fluency with, understanding of, and ability to apply the math concepts, skills, and practices that are most essential. Approximately 30% of the Math section's questions are set in context. These in-context ("word") questions require you to consider a science, social studies, or real-world scenario and apply your math skills and knowledge, along with an understanding of the context, to determine the answer to each.
The Duolingo English Test (DET) platform is an online, AI-driven language assessment portal designed for international students and professionals seeking English proficiency certification for university admissions, visas, or employment. Accessible 24/7 without an appointment, the site allows users to take a 60-minute, remotely proctored computer-adaptive exam for $70 USD, with results delivered within 48 hours and accepted by over 6,500 institutions worldwide. Beyond test administration via a secure lockdown browser, the website serves as an all-in-one hub where candidates can access free practice tests and test-readiness guides, check institutional acceptance lists, and send certified score reports—broken down into Literacy, Comprehension, Conversation, and Production subscores—to unlimited universities at no additional cost.
The TOEFL® test is the most widely accepted English-language test in the world. It measures the ability of nonnative speakers of English to use and understand English as it is spoken, written, and heard in academic settings. It is an internet-based test required by almost all U.S. colleges and universities for students whose principle language is not English. The test has four sections: Reading, Listening, Speaking and Writing and takes up to four hours to complete. The registration fee includes one examinee core record and four score reports sent to your designated institutions. The TOEFL should be taken in addition to the SAT Reasoning Test or ACT. You can take the Internet-based Test or the Paper-based Test, depending on which format is offered at your test center.
The Advanced Placement Program gives students the opportunity to take college-level courses with the possibility of earning college credit or advanced placement. Find course and exam information for 42 AP subjects areas available to students. The tests are administered in May. Visit the Advanced Placement program for test dates. There is a fee for each test. Students should discuss taking AP classes/tests with their parents, teachers and school counselor.
The CLEP provides students of any age with the opportunity to demonstrate college-level achievement through a program of exams in college-level introductory subjects. All exams are scored on a scale of 20-80 with the recommended credit-granting score of 50, which equals a grade of C and are kept on file for 20 years. There are 3,000 colleges that grant credit and/or advanced standing for CLEP exams. Check the College Board website to locate a testing center. There is a fee for each CLEP Exam.
Students with a documented disability may be eligible for accommodations on SAT, SAT Subject Tests, AP, PSAT, and ACT. To receive accommodations for testing, students must submit a written “request eligibility form” and be approved before testing. When testing at a center on a national date, students normally receive up to 50 percent extended time and can use a regular or large type test book. Students receiving accommodations more than 50 percent extended time or who CAN NOT test at a national center will be assigned to the appropriate Testing Center; check with your Counseling Office. A student who requires the use of a reader and/or writer must test at his/her home school. ETS Special Needs Hotline is 1-(609) 771-7137. Once a student receives his/her admission ticket with the notation "See your counselor for test date and time," he/she must do that immediately to find out where to report.
Reminder: It is the student's responsibility to meet with his/her counselor in early September to discuss testing arrangements.
Many MCPS high schools offer SAT Prep classes for credit during the school day for which a student receives a half credit for the semester. These courses are free but students must register for them during the normal course registration time.
MCPS is providing free online tools to prepare for the PSAT, SAT or ACT through the TCA Online Study Guides. These guides can be used anywhere, anytime to review skills, take practice quizzes and track your progress. A special section, FinalPrep, for the SAT and ACT is specifically designed for preparation the week before the test. FinalPrep reviews the structure, format, skills, and test-taking tips for testing.
