SAT, ACT & AP Testing

During freshmen year, we allow our students to transition from middle to upper school by adjusting to the workload and exploring their interests without the stress of the college process. Small discussions around college admissions begin in May during course selection for sophomore year. Freshman families can attend the virtual grade 9 class introduction to college counseling and testing readiness. 

In grade 10, students can take both an informal practice SAT and ACT at Holton. After experiencing both, students will begin determining which test they prefer. Every college will accept either with equal consideration. In April, Holton hosts a post-testing discussion where a testing expert alongside the college counseling team meet with the 10th grade families on an online forum to discuss the next steps of the testing process. Students have the option of completing a self evaluation and will then meet with our testing coordinator to develop their own testing plan. This might involve buying test prep books, using online resources, finding individual tutoring, joining group classes, and other activities. 

Students will continue their testing plan. All students are recommended to take the official PSAT in October which allows them to qualify for National Merit. During the winter, students will begin meeting with our college counselors who will further advise them on this timeline, including when additional tests should be taken, different preparation methods, and when they feel they have tested sufficiently. While every student has their own plan and might begin their testing process earlier, we strongly recommend that students begin their testing during late winter or early spring.

We offer both an SAT and ACT for our seniors in October, and we strongly encourage that the testing process should finish by this time. 

• Registration Links

  • SAT Registration 
  • ACT Registration 
  • ACT/SAT Concordance Table  

• Holton’s courses do not teach the AP exams. However, juniors and seniors may wish to prepare on their own for AP exams in order to earn college credit or to strengthen their applications to international universities.

• Students who wish to have an AP exam ordered for them must work with Holton’s AP Coordinator. Information about deadlines and the process will be shared early in the school year.

• AP Ordering Deadline: Mid-November (set by College Board)

• AP Exams: First two weeks of May, take place at Holton