{"id":1,"date":"2020-08-30T11:50:35","date_gmt":"2020-08-30T11:50:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nationaltestprep.org\/wordpress-resources-at-siteground\/"},"modified":"2024-03-27T15:05:15","modified_gmt":"2024-03-27T19:05:15","slug":"fill-out-common-app-testing-page","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nationaltestprep.org\/fill-out-common-app-testing-page\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Fill Out the Common App\u2019s Dreaded Testing Page"},"content":{"rendered":"
[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”0px||172px||false|” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.18.0″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” min_height=”4401.3px” custom_margin_tablet=”” custom_margin_phone=”” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|desktop” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.18.0″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” inline_fonts=”ABeeZee” global_colors_info=”{}”]Most of the Common App is easy to complete, but not its Testing section. So, we\u2019re going to provide you with step-by-step instructions on what to do and how to do it.<\/p>\n
Before proceeding, you should know that a growing number of colleges accept self-reported scores rather than official score reports when you apply, with official score reports required only<\/em> if you\u2019re accepted and decide to enroll there. Check each college\u2019s website to determine if you need to send an official score report when you apply.<\/p>\n
On the Common App Testing page, the first thing that you\u2019re asked is if you want to self-report scores, and if you don\u2019t, respond No<\/strong>, and you\u2019re done with that page. That gives the colleges a little more work to do, but that\u2019s okay.<\/p>\n
Regardless of whether you answers Yes or No for self-reporting scores, you must send official<\/em><\/strong> score reports from College Board and\/or ACT to all colleges that require an official<\/em> SAT or ACT score report<\/u> \u2013 and be sure to send each college the number of official scores that it requests (e.g., all your scores, your single best score set, your best score sets).<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
If you respond YES<\/strong> and self-report scores on the Common App, be sure that what you self-report is accurate.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Here\u2019s what the Common App will ask you to enter into the Testing page:<\/strong><\/h2>\n
<\/strong><\/p>\n
\n
Which scores you\u2019d like to self-report: SAT, ACT, SAT Subject, AP, IB, TOEFL, PTE, IELTS.<\/li>\n
How many scores of each type you wish to report, what those scores and test dates (MMDDYY) are, and how many additional times you plan to test and when (MMDDYY).<\/li>\n
For AP and IB scores, enter all of your passing scores, even if you\u2019re not happy with them, along with the test name and date (MMYY). Also list all future tests and dates (MMYY) you plan to take at the end of senior year.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Because you submit one application at a time, you can choose the appropriate self-reporting options for each college. If you want to self-report scores to some colleges, but not to others, do the following:<\/p>\n
<\/h3>\n
For a college to which you want to self-report, whether or not scores are required<\/em>:<\/strong><\/h3>\n
<\/strong><\/p>\n
\n
Respond YES<\/strong>, that you do want to report scores<\/li>\n
Indicate which tests you\u2019d like to report (SAT, ACT, SAT Subject Tests, AP, IB, TOEFL, PTE, IELTS)<\/li>\n
Enter the scores, test dates (MMDDYY), the number of future tests you plan to take, and the future test dates (MMDDYY)<\/li>\n
If you have good SAT Subject Test Scores (typically in the 700s), self-report them even the college doesn\u2019t require you to.<\/em><\/li>\n
Finish the application, and submit it to that college<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
If you don\u2019t want to self-report your SAT or ACT scores, but you do<\/em> want to report other scores, such as AP or IB, you must respond YES<\/strong>, you do <\/em>wish to self-report:<\/span><\/li>\n
Select only the tests whose scores you want to report, but don\u2019t select SAT or ACT. If you had selected one of those to complete a previous application, you can de-select it for the college application you\u2019re working on by clicking on the x next to that tests\u2019s name, as shown here<\/span><\/li>\n
Enter the number of tests to report, including tests you expect to take<\/span><\/li>\n
Enter the details for each test \u2013 date (MMYY), name of test, score<\/span><\/li>\n
If you select \u201cNo, I do not wish to self-report,\u201d then any scores you had previously entered are hidden for that school\u2019s application, but NOT erased. So, when you submit your application to a test-optional college, the admissions office won\u2019t see your scores. ATTENTION: You must also respond NO to the question “Please indicate if you are submitting scores”<\/em><\/strong> on that college\u2019s Questions<\/strong><\/span><\/li>\n
If you have competitive scores (at or above the mid-point of a college\u2019s mid-50% SAT or ACT range for accepted students), you should self-report them.<\/strong> Test-optional does not mean test-blind: if you submit scores, they\u2019ll be considered \u2013 and if they\u2019re especially good, they\u2019ll give you quite a boost! (If a college is test-blind, your scores will not be considered\u2026 but very few colleges are test-blind.)<\/span><\/li>\n
If you change the self-reporting option from \u201cNo\u201d back to \u201cYes,\u201d the scores you entered into a previously submitted application will reappear on the screen.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
<\/p>\n
Let\u2019s illustrate this with an example. Suppose Max has these scores:<\/strong><\/h4>\n
<\/strong><\/p>\n
\n
SAT: Total: 1370 | EBRW: 650 | Math: 720<\/li>\n
ACT: Composite: 31 | English 31 | Math 34 | Reading 29 | Science 30<\/li>\n
Max\u2019s composite ACT score of 31 is better than her SAT score, as her 1370 Total SAT score is \u201cequivalent\u201d to an ACT score of 30, so for the colleges to which she does<\/em> report scores, she\u2019ll share only her ACT score<\/li>\n
To keep things simple, let\u2019s assume that Max doesn\u2019t want to report AP, IB, SAT Subject Test, or any of her other scores<\/li>\n
Let\u2019s also assume that Max is applying to Duke, SMU, and University of Florida. Here are the testing policies for those three schools, with our instructions on what Max should enter on each of those college\u2019s Testing page and on its Questions page:<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
<\/p>\n
\n\n
\n
\u00a0<\/strong><\/td>\n
Duke<\/strong><\/td>\n
SMU<\/strong><\/td>\n
U Florida<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
Testing policy<\/td>\n
Test-optional for 2021<\/td>\n
Test-optional for 2021<\/td>\n
Testing required<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
College\u2019s mid-50% SAT score and ACT score ranges<\/td>\n
1450-1570<\/p>\n
33-35<\/td>\n
1280-1460<\/p>\n
29-33<\/td>\n
1280-1440<\/p>\n
27-32<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
Testing Page:<\/p>\n
Do you wish to self-report scores or future test dates for any of the following standardized tests: ACT, SAT\/SAT Subject, AP, IB, TOEFL, PTE Academic, and IELTS?<\/em><\/strong><\/td>\n
\n
NO<\/p>\n
(She\u2019s below the mid-50% range, and she\u2019s not testing again)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n
YES<\/p>\n
(She\u2019s in the middle of the mid-50% range, so she\u2019ll self-report ACT)<\/td>\n
YES<\/p>\n
(scores are required, so she\u2019ll self-report ACT)<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
Questions Page:<\/p>\n
Please indicate if you are submitting scores<\/em><\/strong><\/td>\n
NO<\/td>\n
YES<\/td>\n
This question isn\u2019t asked; UF requires<\/em> scores<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
<\/p>\n
One more example for Max \u2013 same SAT & ACT scores as above, but Max wants to share her AP scores and future AP test names.<\/p>\n
Only one row from above changes:<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\n\n
\n
\u00a0<\/strong><\/td>\n
Duke<\/strong><\/td>\n
SMU<\/strong><\/td>\n
U Florida<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
Testing Page:<\/p>\n
Do you wish to self-report scores or future test dates for any of the following standardized tests: ACT, SAT\/SAT Subject, AP, IB, TOEFL, PTE Academic, and IELTS?<\/em><\/strong><\/td>\n
YES<\/p>\n
(Select only AP Tests)<\/span><\/td>\n
YES<\/p>\n
(Select ACT and AP Tests)<\/td>\n
YES<\/p>\n
(Select ACT and AP Tests)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
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