As the coronavirus continues to spread globally, spring dates for college admission tests are continuously being postponed or rescheduled for safety precautions. High school seniors may also have an opportunity to take Advanced Placement exams from home to earn college credit.
The testing service that issues both the SAT and ACT tests reported that the April 4 ACT test has been rescheduled for June 13th while the May 2nd SAT test has been canceled.
“In response to the rapidly evolving situation around the coronavirus (COVID-19), the College Board is canceling the May 2, 2020, administration,” said the College Board website. “Makeup exams for the March 14 administration ( scheduled for March 28) are also canceled. Students will receive refunds.”
The purpose of the spring test dates is to give high school juniors a chance to have their test scores prepared when they apply for college the next fall. The absence of testing means some students will not have the chance to retake the test multiple times to receive a higher score.
“The class of 2021 will actually be the most affected class,” said Sara Harbenson, a former admissions dean who councils high school students on college admissions. “All of these students are stressed about how this impacts their college decision.”
The college board will provide students extra opportunities to take the SAT’s in order to make amends for the previous cancellations. The SAT administration will continue to monitor the safety and health of students and administrators to ensure no one is put at risk.
To help keep their college readiness skills intact while schools are closed, the College Board and Khan Academy will continue to provide free online resources, including full- length practice tests and personalized learning tools at khanacademy.org/sat.
COVID-19 Impacts California Universities Fall 2020 Undergraduate Admissions