Students who are planning to apply to a 4-year university may be required to take the SAT or ACT. Most colleges will accept either the SAT or ACT (i.e. do not have a preference), but it is important for students to research each college's entrance requirements and admissions website carefully before registering. 

Many College Entrance Exams have become OPTIONAL. What does Test-Optional really mean? To better understand, watch this video from a Cornell admissions representative.

• Please visit FairTest for an updated list of colleges that are test optional or test blind.  

How to Choose Between SAT or ACT (Signet Education)

It is important to note that when registering for the SAT or ACT, you may be asked to input Bainbridge High School's ACT/CEEB/SCHOOL CODE: 481580. BHS is not a testing site, so students should register well in advance to ensure a close testing location. 

Students will need to create an account through College Board and/or ACT to sign up, access their score(s), and to send test scores electronically to colleges. 

• Register for the SAT through College Board
• Register for the ACT through ACT student

Test Dates (For all major standardized tests)  

The PSAT is a preliminary version of the SAT to help students prepare. A great score on the PSAT can also open doors to National Merit Scholarships and other awards in a student's 11th grade year. BHS hosts this test in October of every year.

If your student is interested in practicing for the PSAT, please refer to College Board, Kaplan, and/or Khan Academy's resources and practice exams. 

• How to Make Sense of the PSAT Score Report (with credit to Signet Education)
• Understanding Your PSAT Score Report-  From Method Test Prep 

Test Prep Resources 

Test Prep courses, tutors, and online resources are available to aid your student in preparing for the ACT or SAT exams.  

Three Stages of Taking a College Entrance Exam (from ACT)  

College Board offers free SAT prep through Khan Academy. 

Advanced Placement is a program of college-level courses offered at high schools. These courses can help students gain skills and study habits to be successful in college. A student may also earn college credit when they take an AP exam at the end of the course AND earn a score of at least three on a scale of one to five. Colleges and universities consider a score of three (3) an indicator of a students' ability to do successful college work. However, not all colleges and universities will accept an AP score for college credit. It is important to note individual college and university credit policies.

**Advanced Placement Course Fee: There is a fee for AP Exam, determined by The College Board each year.  BHS has scholarship funds available to students to cover this fee as needed. Please refer to the BHS Fee Waivers/Scholarship webpage for more information. Students enrolled in an AP class are required to take the Advanced Placement examination in May. 

NOTE: Bainbridge Island School District only offers AP exams for AP classes we teach at BHS/EHHS. BISD does not accept requests for AP exam registration from students who live beyond the BISD geographical boundaries unless the student attends a BISD school.  Proof of residency in the district is required for AP exam registration by private school and home school students.

Questions? Please contact AP Testing Coordinator, Nicole Wescott, at nwescott@bisd303.org.  

AP Testing Schedule

College Board prescribes the test dates and Bainbridge High School is not allowed to deviate from their schedule. 

Students should arrive 10-15 minutes before their scheduled test time (i.e. arrive at 7:45 for an 8:00 AM start). For a list of what to bring, what not to bring, and test expectations please read through AP student tips carefully. 

College Board's Regulations for Late Testing

IMPORTANT:  In July, students will get their AP scores online in their College Board account. Students will receive an email from College Board letting them know how and when to access scores online.