[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"detail-sidebar-cat-0-en-105":3,"doc-seo-267535-105":59,"doc-detail-267535-en":131},{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":6},0,"success",[7,13,18,23,28,33,38,43,48,51,55],{"id":8,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":10,"show_sort_weight":11,"slug":12},1,"Document","Story & Novel",90,"story-novel",{"id":14,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":15,"show_sort_weight":16,"slug":17},2,"Literature",80,"literature",{"id":19,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":20,"show_sort_weight":21,"slug":22},4,"Exam",70,"exam",{"id":24,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":25,"show_sort_weight":26,"slug":27},5,"Comic",60,"comic",{"id":29,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":30,"show_sort_weight":31,"slug":32},6,"Technology",50,"technology",{"id":34,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":35,"show_sort_weight":36,"slug":37},7,"Healthcare",40,"healthcare",{"id":39,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":40,"show_sort_weight":41,"slug":42},8,"Research & Report",30,"research-report",{"id":44,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":45,"show_sort_weight":46,"slug":47},9,"Religion & Spirituality",20,"religion-spirituality",{"id":46,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":49,"show_sort_weight":46,"slug":50},"World Cup","world-cup",{"id":52,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":53,"show_sort_weight":52,"slug":54},10,"Lifestyle","lifestyle",{"id":56,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":57,"show_sort_weight":24,"slug":58},19,"General","general",{"code":4,"msg":60,"data":61},"ok",{"site_id":62,"language":63,"slug":64,"title":65,"keywords":66,"description":67,"schema_data":68,"social_meta":124,"head_meta":126,"extra_data":128,"updated_unix":130},105,"en","a-guide-to-standardized-tests-act-sat-and-psat-timeline-and-comparison","A Guide to Standardized Tests - ACT SAT and PSAT Timeline and Comparison","","Guide outlines major standardized tests for U.S. high school students, including PLAN/ACT, PSAT/NMSQT, SAT I, SAT Subject Tests, AP Exams, and TOEFL. Explains what each exam measures, typical section structure and scoring ranges, whether scores are sent to colleges, and how guessing penalties differ. Provides a practical timeline for taking tests across sophomore, junior, and senior years, plus a structured SAT vs. ACT comparison and guidance on reporting scores, schools’ acceptance policies, and fee waivers.",{"@graph":69,"@context":123},[70,84,106],{"@type":71,"itemListElement":72},"BreadcrumbList",[73,77,79,82],{"item":74,"name":75,"@type":76,"position":8},"https://docshare.wps.com","Home","ListItem",{"item":78,"name":9,"@type":76,"position":14},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/",{"item":80,"name":20,"@type":76,"position":81},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/exam/",3,{"item":83,"name":65,"@type":76,"position":19},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/a-guide-to-standardized-tests-act-sat-and-psat-timeline-and-comparison/267535/",{"url":83,"name":65,"@type":85,"image":86,"author":91,"headline":65,"publisher":94,"fileFormat":97,"inLanguage":63,"description":67,"dateModified":98,"datePublished":99,"encodingFormat":97,"isAccessibleForFree":100,"interactionStatistic":101},"DigitalDocument",{"url":87,"@type":88,"width":89,"height":90},"https://docshare.wps.com/thumbnails/a-guide-to-standardized-tests-act-sat-and-psat-timeline-and-comparison/267535.png","ImageObject",300,407,{"name":92,"@type":93},"Arica Lee","Person",{"url":74,"name":95,"@type":96},"DocShare","Organization","application/pdf","2026-10-30","2026-09-14",true,{"@type":102,"interactionType":103,"userInteractionCount":105},"InteractionCounter",{"@type":104},"ViewAction",17,{"@type":107,"mainEntity":108},"FAQPage",[109,115,119],{"name":110,"@type":111,"acceptedAnswer":112},"What is the PLAN test, and how are its results used?","Question",{"text":113,"@type":114},"The PLAN is an introduction to the ACT given to sophomores in the fall. It includes study skills and career interest assessments; results are not sent to colleges and are used to describe interests, abilities, testing performance, and predict an ACT score range.","Answer",{"name":116,"@type":111,"acceptedAnswer":117},"What sections and scoring apply to the ACT?",{"text":118,"@type":114},"The ACT includes English, mathematics, science reasoning, and reading, with an optional writing section recommended for all students. Each section takes about 35–60 minutes, students receive four section scores plus a composite score, and scores range from 1–36. Writing is scored separately on a 2–12 scale, and there is no guessing penalty.",{"name":120,"@type":111,"acceptedAnswer":121},"How do SAT and ACT differ in components, penalties, and scoring approach?",{"text":122,"@type":114},"SAT has three components (Critical Reading, Mathematics, Writing) and includes a guessing penalty, while ACT can have up to five components (English, Mathematics, Reading, Science, plus optional Writing) and has no guessing penalty. SAT uses a 200–800 scale per area for a total of 2400; ACT scores range from 1–36 with writing scaled from 2–12. The guide also distinguishes SAT as an aptitude test and ACT as an achievement test.","https://schema.org",{"og:url":83,"og:type":125,"og:title":65,"og:site_name":95,"og:description":67},"article",{"robots":127,"canonical":83},"index,follow",{"doc_id":129,"site_id":62},267535,1789420763,{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":132},{"doc_id":129,"user_id":133,"nickname":92,"user_avatar":134,"doc_module":4,"category_id":19,"category_name":20,"doc_title":65,"doc_description":67,"doc_content":135,"file_id":136,"file_url":137,"file_type":138,"file_size":139,"view_count":105,"is_deleted":4,"is_public":8,"is_downloadable":8,"audit_status":8,"page_count":19,"language":140,"language_code":63,"site_id":62,"html_lang":63,"table_of_contents":141,"faqs":142,"seo_title":143,"seo_description":67,"update_tm":130,"read_time":52},8796096645457,"https://ap-avatar.wpscdn.com/avatar/800003749518d68ffe3?x-image-process=image/resize,m_fixed,w_180,h_180&k=1779345340919836971","A Guide to Standardized Tests  \nPLAN  \n• The PLAN is an introduction to the ACT. It is given to sophomores during the fall semester. The PLAN is similar to the actual ACT. It consists of study skills and career interest area assessments. The results from the PLAN are NOT sent to colleges. They are used to describe/summarize your interests, abilities, and testing performance, as well as predict your ACT score range.  \nACT  \n• [www.act.org](www.act.org)  \n• The American College Testing Program (ACT) consists of English, mathematics, science reasoning, and reading. There is also an optional writing section; we recommend all students take the ACT with writing. Each section is approximately 35-60 minutes in length. Students receive four separate scores plus a composite score. Scores range from 1-36. The writing portion of the test is scored separately and scaled from 2-12. There is no guessing penalty.  \nPSAT/NMSQT  \n• The Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship is a test given at Sullivan in October of the sophomore year. Juniors who wish to be considered for the National Merit Scholarship should speak with their counselor as soon as possible to sign up to take the PSAT in the fall of their junior year. The PSAT serves as a precursor to the SAT Reasoning Test. It also qualifies students for some meritbased scholarships. Scores are NOT sent to colleges.  \nSAT I  \n• [http://www.collegeboard.com](http://www.collegeboard.com)  \n• The Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) is a three-hour test that is divided into 7 sections--broken into critical reading, mathematical reasoning, and writing. Each of the three areas is scored from 200-800, resulting in a total score of 600-2400. There is a guessing penalty – only make educated guesses.  \nSAT Subject Tests  \n• [http://www.collegeboard.com](http://www.collegeboard.com)  \n• The SAT Subject Tests (formerly known as the SAT II Tests) measure how well you have mastered a variety of high school subjects. Students may register for up to three tests on one date. Each test is one hour in length. Tests are given in a variety of subject areas. You should take a specific SAT Subject Test soon after completing the related course.  \n• Some schools require SAT Subject Tests, some recommend, and some tell you that they are optional. Others still might change the language about SAT Subject Tests if a student has taken the ACT exam. The best thing to do is make a clear  \nlist of your colleges and write appropriate requirements next to each one. It is your responsibility to ensure that you have satisfied all of your college’s testing requirements.  \nAdvanced Placement (AP) Tests  \n• These are three-hour high school examinations based on a college level course that you’ve taken in high school. AP exams are administered in May. The scores are primarily used for college placement, credit, or advanced standing. The most highly selective colleges may also consider AP scores as part of the admission decision. Each college evaluates AP Placement differently – check with each college for their policies.  \nTOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language)  \n• The TOEFL is a test for students who have been speaking English for less than 5 years. This test is used to measure English proficiency. Some highly selective colleges may also require students to take the SAT Reasoning Test and submit scores for the mathematics component.  \nTimeline for taking standardized tests  \nThe PLAN is administered at Sullivan in the fall of a student’s sophomore year. The PSAT is likewise administered here in the fall of a student’s sophomore year. Sullivan recommends that students take their primary tests (SAT Reasoning Test and ACT) at least once in the second semester of their junior year and again in the fall of senior year, if necessary. The SAT Reasoning Test and SAT Subject Tests are often offered on the same day. If you need to take SAT Subject Tests for highly selective institutions, you may want to take them at the end of junior year","cbCaijYzBhUbqMCu","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCaijYzBhUbqMCu","pdf",31996,"English","# PLAN (ACT preview)\n## ACT structure and scoring\n# PSAT/NMSQT and SAT I overview\n## SAT Subject Tests requirements\n## AP Tests and TOEFL basics\n# Timeline for taking standardized tests\n# Comparing SAT Reasoning Test and ACT\n## SAT vs. ACT components and scoring\n# Reporting scores to colleges\n## Score sending rules and acceptance policy\n## Fee waivers for score reporting","[{\"question\":\"What is the PLAN test, and how are its results used?\",\"answer\":\"The PLAN is an introduction to the ACT given to sophomores in the fall. It includes study skills and career interest assessments; results are not sent to colleges and are used to describe interests, abilities, testing performance, and predict an ACT score range.\"},{\"question\":\"What sections and scoring apply to the ACT?\",\"answer\":\"The ACT includes English, mathematics, science reasoning, and reading, with an optional writing section recommended for all students. Each section takes about 35–60 minutes, students receive four section scores plus a composite score, and scores range from 1–36. Writing is scored separately on a 2–12 scale, and there is no guessing penalty.\"},{\"question\":\"How do SAT and ACT differ in components, penalties, and scoring approach?\",\"answer\":\"SAT has three components (Critical Reading, Mathematics, Writing) and includes a guessing penalty, while ACT can have up to five components (English, Mathematics, Reading, Science, plus optional Writing) and has no guessing penalty. SAT uses a 200–800 scale per area for a total of 2400; ACT scores range from 1–36 with writing scaled from 2–12. The guide also distinguishes SAT as an aptitude test and ACT as an achievement test.\"}]","A Guide to Standardized Tests - ACT SAT and PSAT Timeline and Comparison | PDF"]