Click here to view the Standardized Testing Presentation, recorded on January 13, 2021.
In October, as part of the Harvard-Westlake School Testing Program, all sophomores and juniors take the PSAT. No advance registration is necessary on the student’s part.
The PSAT is an exam designed to measure verbal, writing, and mathematical abilities generally associated with academic achievement in college. It is intended to offer students a preview of the SAT, which is commonly used by colleges in their assessment of candidates. Although the PSAT is shorter than the SAT, the basic format and the level of difficulty of both tests are identical.
In November all sophomores will take PLAN, a preliminary version of the ACT. The PLAN is designed to measure verbal, reading, scientific, and mathematical abilities. It is intended to offer students a preview of the ACT, which is one of the standardized tests that can be used by colleges in their assessment of candidates. The PLAN is shorter than the ACT, but the basic format is the same. The PLAN’s level of difficulty is specifically geared toward sophomores in High School.
Many students take the SAT as part of their standardized testing profile for college admissions. An SAT is divided into three focus areas:
To learn more about the SAT or to register, click on www.collegeboard.org.
The ACT is an increasingly popular alternative to the SAT and is accepted at every college in the county in lieu of the SAT. The ACT includes four sections: English, math, reading and science. Most colleges prefer that you also include the writing section, so we recommend that you take the ACT with writing. To learn more about the ACT or to register, click on www.act.org.
Formerly called the Achievement Tests or SAT 2’s, SAT Subject Tests are hour-long, curriculum-based exams that measure students' knowledge and skills in particular subject areas, and their ability to apply that knowledge. They are closely linked to the high school curriculum and have a proven track record of providing colleges with a highly reliable, objective assessment of student readiness for college-level work. For more information on which subject tests are offered or to register, click on www.collegeboard.org.
We recommend that our students take the SAT or ACT and at least two SAT Subject Tests. The Upper School Deans work with students to produce an individual testing calendar based on academic preparation and readiness. In preparation for these exams, we also require all sophomores to take the PLAN and all sophomores and juniors to take the PSAT.
We encourage you to register for the tests as soon as possible. Harvard-Westlake School is a popular SAT and ACT test-site that is open to the entire community. Since registration is done through external companies, Harvard-Westlake students are not given preference. The sooner you register, the more likely it is you will have a spot at Harvard-Westlake.
Harvard-Westlake's school code (CEEB): 052-159
Harvard-Westlake’s Test Center Code for SAT: 05-514
Harvard-Westlake’s Test Center Code for ACT: 229850
For more information on standardized testing, please consult the Harvard-Westlake College Counseling Handbook.