PSAT
The Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test is a practice version of the SAT exam.
The Cottonwood School does not currently administer the PSAT for high school students. Students who wish to register for the PSAT will need to contact a local high school and make arrangements with the testing coordinator. You can use the School Search tool on the College Board website to find a local school offering the PST.
Students who are interested in taking the PSAT will need to start planning early. The College Board advises students to make arrangements with a local testing site 4 months before the test date. For more information:
● College Board Website
● Free PSAT Practice Resources
ACT & SAT
Students who wish to apply to 4-year colleges or universities may need to complete a standardized exam (SAT or ACT). Most colleges or universities will accept either score; however, your student should double check with the college admissions office to see if there is a preference.
The SAT and ACT will cover similar topics. The main differences between the two standardized tests are:
- The ACT includes a science section.
- The SAT includes a math section that does not permit the use of a calculator.
For a comprehensive comparison of the two tests, please review this Princeton Review resource.
Please review the Important Dates section of the handbook for a comprehensive list of registration deadlines and test dates.
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| ACT Registration Site ACT Practice Resources |
SAT Registration Site SAT Practice Tests |
College Board Codes
Students who plan to apply to a 4-year college or university will need to know their College Board Code. The codes are used to prevent confusion during the college admissions process and help ensure that test scores, transcripts, and student records go to the right places. College Board Codes are used for:
- College applications
- Financial aid applications
- Test registration
| The Cottonwood School College Board Code |
| 053639 |
Fee Waivers
Low-income students qualify for SAT and ACT fee waivers. If you believe your student qualifies for a SAT or ACT fee waiver, please contact your counselor when your student is ready to register for a test. Students will need updated household income information (NSLP form) in Pathways in order to qualify for a fee waiver. Students who qualify for a fee waiver are also eligible for college application fee waivers.
For more information on college application fee waivers, please review the College Board FAQs. Not every school accepts fee waivers; students can find a comprehensive list of colleges that accept fee waivers on the College Board site.
Accommodations
If your student has a 504 or IEP and will need testing accommodations for either the SAT or ACT, please notify the student’s Case Manager and High School Counselor immediately. Depending on the accommodation, testing accommodations may take a few weeks for the College Board to approve.
If your student will need testing accommodations, please follow the steps below:
1. Fill out the ACT Consent to Release Information Form or SAT Consent for Accommodations Request Form. If the family would like to have a school request accommodations on the student’s behalf, then we will need the family’s permission.
2. Share the completed release form with the case manager and send the ACT/SAT Testing Accommodations Request form to the Case Manager. Please have the student’s Case Manager fill out this form as soon as possible.
3. Please wait for a response from your high school administrator. You will receive an update once accommodations have been requested and approved by the College Board.