What to Do After Test Day: A Plan for Students and Tutors
“Congratulations, you have finished the test!” Now what?! When test day is over, there are still a number of important steps for both students and test-prep professionals to take. Read on (and take notes) to be sure that you and your clients have ticked off every box on the respective post-test checklists.
What Students Can Do in the Days Following ACT®/SAT® Test Day
As test-prep professionals, we push the importance of pretest prep because we typically keep our eye on the end game: test day. However, as crucial as pretest prep is, we can’t lose sight of the significance of what is left to be done once test day has passed.
For students, there are 4 paramount steps that must be taken, some of which are time-sensitive:
1. Order additional score reports (if needed).
The ACT® and College Board include 4 free score reports for every test taker, every time they take the exam. Typically, students choose their top 4 schools to receive their score reports either at the time of registration or 9 days after test day (after the 9 days, there is a $12 fee). However, if a student chooses to purchase additional score reports, they will have to pay out of pocket: $16 for each additional ACT® score and $12 for each additional SAT® score.
In most cases, it is advisable to not select any schools to receive scores before testing. Students can take advantage of the free window to add schools to their recipients list once they have had a chance to self-assess their test performance. Even without a score report in hand, if a student feels they did particularly poorly on a test, it may be best not to blindly send score reports on to admissions offices.
NOTE: For students who have applied and qualified for fee waivers, the ACT® and the College Board permit an unlimited number of score reports sent to the colleges of the student’s choosing.
2. Make a decision about submitting test scores to test-optional schools.
In a previous post, we discussed the benefits of students choosing to be test optimal in a test-optional time. We advised tutors to encourage clients to always submit a good score regardless of what a “good score” sums up to be for their target school. If students are satisfied with their scores, there is no reason why they shouldn’t submit them. “Test optional,” “test flexible,” or “test blind” schools will all give a submitted test score the consideration it deserves. You never know, it may just be the reason why that student’s application stands apart from the rest.
To determine what each prospective school considers a “good” score, students can look up each school through the National Center for Education Statistics's College Navigator or the US Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
3. Find out how prospective schools will use submitted test scores.
Colleges and universities use test scores for more than just admissions. Test scores are also used for:
Placement in programs and courses
Financial aid
Academic awards and scholarships
To find out how each prospective school will use submitted test scores, advise students to check out each prospective school’s official website or contact the schools directly.
4. Review the score report and decide whether or not to retest.
Once students receive their score reports (ACT® score reports are issued 2 to 8 weeks after testing and SAT® score reports are issued 2 to 4 weeks after testing), it is time for them to sit down with their tutor to review their score report and consider their test day performance. This step is pivotal in determining whether or not the student chooses to submit the score that they’ve received or decides to retest.
What Tutors Can Do in the Days Following ACT®/SAT® Test Day
Following up with your clients after test day is critical for test-prep professionals. This is when tutors should take the opportunity to touch base with students post-test to find out how test day went, prepare them for their pending score reports, remind them of the above-mentioned steps that they will need to take, and keep the channel of communication open.
To ensure that there aren’t any missed opportunities, schedule follow-ups with your clients that revolve around those important ACT® and SAT® dates: test day and score report day. Here are the 3 main steps that tutors should take to support their clients post-test day.
1. Send a message on test day.
Reach out to your clients via email to check in on them post-test. Keep the conversation short and simple while leaving content and test specifics out of it. This is a great time to remind them of what they have left to do on their own checklist (e.g., order additional score reports, if needed) as well as schedule a meeting to review their score reports once issued.
2. Reach out before score reports are released.
Touch base with your clients prior to score report day to remind them of how they can access their ACT® and SAT® score reports online. This is a prime opportunity to schedule a session to review their score report once it is in, if you have not already done so.
3. Schedule a meeting to review the score report.
Meet with your clients - preferably in-person - to review their score report. Both the ACT® and SAT® score reports deconstruct the exam into test sections to better analyze test performance and pinpoint the student’s strengths and weaknesses. Helping your students to interpret their score will help them better understand their performance as more than just a composite score. This will also provide an opportunity to help them better determine if they want to retest.
Not every student will decide to retest. However, for those unhappy with their performance and see the potential for improvement and a better score, this is an ideal time to begin mapping out their new test-prep plan. The score report should be the foundation for working towards to improvement on the next attempt.
No matter the outcome of test day, it’s vital for test-prep professionals to show our clients support both pre- and post-test day. To help boost your test prep and better support your clients, schedule a free demo to learn more about Clear Choice Prep’s 100% custom-branded test-prep software, curriculum, and materials.