by
Imed Bouchrika
The SAT and ACT are deemed to be positively correlated to socioeconomic status. (Sackett et al., 2009). As such, critiques argue that such tests are “wealth tests” rather than measures of achievements. (Dixon-Román, 2019) This issue begs the question–how much does it cost to take the SAT and ACT, and is there a way to reduce such costs?
One may wonder: if the SAT and ACT are costly, why take them? Indeed, especially since the onset of the pandemic, over 1,800 accredited colleges and universities have gone test-optional or test-blind, not requiring applicants for fall 2022 admission to submit SAT and ACT scores. (FairTestb, 2021) Still, the SAT and ACT may still be useful for landing scholarships.
For students considering taking the SAT and ACT, here are the fees associated with them as well as some suggested means to mitigate the costs.
The ACT composite score fell from 20.7 to 20.6 this year, the lowest in 10 years. Meanwhile, the SAT scores also declined to 1,051 from 1,059. (Jaschik, 2021) Along with the significant declines in the average scores for the SAT and ACT, the fees remain a concern for students. Here are details on SAT cost vs. ACT cost.
The registration test for the SAT is $55. This fee is non-refundable. For international students, there will be non-U.S. regional fees on top of this registration fee. The added regional fees are as follows.
Palau, The Marshall Islands, and the Federated States of Micronesia are exempted from international processing fees due to their Compact of Free Association with the U.S.
Students may use PayPal, credit cards, check, or money orders to pay for their requests. Avoid sending cash as it will not be accepted.
Meanwhile, the full ACT (no writing) costs $168.50; with writing, it costs $188.50. Should a student decide to change tests, say, from no writing to writing, there is a fee of $40.00. The writing test fee may be refunded on written request if a student is absent on the test day or switches to ACT no writing before testing begins.
While the ACT is available internationally, the fee will not be different.
Payments may be done through direct deposit or using a credit card.
Source: American College Testing, 2019
There are going to be instances when students will have to cancel their registration, request additional score reports, or perhaps expedite results. All these are possible but with additional fees.
The following are the charges for SAT.
The following are the additional fees for the ACT.
Students can save money by applying for SAT or ACT fee waivers. Not everyone will be eligible, but those who are may enjoy other services with the waiving of fees.
The proportion of low-income students who used fee waivers fell from 17% in 2020 to 7% in 2021. (Jaschik, 2021) Regardless, the SAT fee waiver remains a viable means to reduce, if not entirely eliminate, the cost of taking the SAT.
Students who meet the following are eligible for SAT fee waivers.
Eligible students may seek the help of their school counselor or a representative of an authorized community-based organization to get a fee waiver. Homeschooled students may contact a local high school counselor to get waivers. They simply must provide proof of eligibility, such as tax records or proof of enrollment in an aid program like those listed above.
In a report covering tests from 2014 to 2019, over a quarter of students who registered for the ACT using a fee waiver did not test as scheduled, and over half of those students did not test within three years. (ACT, 2021) The fee waiver, nevertheless, remains a reasonable means to reduce the cost of taking the ACT. To become eligible for an ACT fee waiver, students must meet ALL the following requirements.
Please note that a fee waiver is not available to students who are not economically disadvantaged.
Students who are eligible for an ACT fee waiver may go to their school counselor to confirm their eligibility. If they are so, they may receive up to four fee waivers to take to the ACT test for free.
Source: National Center for Sciences and Engineering Statistics
The coverage of SAT and ACT fee waivers is not limited to registration fees. The SAT, for one, covers the following services.
Meanwhile, the ACT fee waiver covers the following.
Take note that waivers may NOT be used to pay for any additional fees, products, or services.
As previously stated, students can only receive two SAT waivers. This means any additional testing will be charged at full price. Meanwhile, to get a waiver, students must also register on time. The waiver is not valid for students who are waitlisted for a test date.
Finally, if there are any additional fees or costs associated with the specific test date or exam that students wish to take, they will need to be paid separately as such fees are not covered by the waiver.
Several states will pay for public school students’ SAT and ACT tests. According to the College Board, as reported by Ross and Moody (2021), the following 15 states will cover the cost of an SAT test for certain students in 2020-2021, along with the District of Columbia:
The ACT has a higher number of states offering fee waivers. According to an ACT spokesperson, as cited by Ross and Moody (2021), 24 states fund ACT testing. The ACT is required in 15 states and is optional in nine others. The ACT is free for students in the following states:
Students may be concerned about the cost of taking the SAT or ACT (or both). Prep classes and tutoring for the SAT and ACT are additional costs. The average cost for SAT tutor, for instance, is about $70. That can be a lot of money. But you can save money on the SAT and ACT and still do well. Here are some cost-saving tips.
As shown in the previous section, The College Board and the ACT are aware that low-income families struggle to afford costly exams. As such, both offer fee waivers. A fee waiver application can save students hundreds of dollars. Both tests offer free registration and score reports with a fee waiver.
Students can get a fee waiver through their school counselor, not through the organizations conducting the exams. It could take time, so students better start applying early.
The late registration fee is around half the test cost, causing a 50% increase in the test cost if students register late. If students know when they will take the test, registering months ahead of time would be ideal.
The SAT and ACT both provide free score reports to schools of choice. It is best for students to specify schools before registering because, after the test dates, they can no longer specify colleges to receive their scores.
Meanwhile, students may choose not to specify a college for the free score report if they are unsure that they will improve and if they want to ensure the college receives only their best scores. Otherwise, sending the score to colleges on their list is ideal.
Some schools allow students to self-report their SAT and ACT scores on their applications, with official SAT/ACT score reports required only if accepted. It is best for students to check for the schools they are sending their applications to if self-reporting is accepted.
Of course, students must not lie about their scores on the application. Academically dishonest students are generally not welcomed into higher education institutions, so admission will most likely be rescinded.
Many states and schools offer scholarships based on SAT/ACT scores. Students can recoup the test fee by doing well on the test. It is best to check which scholarships consider SAT and ACT scores for qualification.
Scholarships for low-income students are available for SAT or ACT scores of 1200 or 25, respectively. Scholarships worth $10,000 or more are available to students with higher SAT or ACT scores. But many prestigious scholarships also require a minimum GPA. (Smith, 2021)
While some scholarships are test-optional or test-blind, many colleges and universities do use the SAT or ACT scores to award merit-based scholarships. In some cases, a mix of test scores and GPA is required. (Smith, 2021)
Nevertheless, with the post-pandemic actions taken by some institutions regarding college tests, do note that some colleges and universities that use “test-optional” admissions no longer require the SAT or ACT. Others, including private scholarships, require scores even if they do not require them for admission. It is best to look into the requirements of colleges and universities as well as other scholarship programs regarding ACT or SAT scores.
High School GPAs (HSGPA) are frequently perceived as inconsistent indicators of college readiness, whereas test scores (e.g., ACT and SAT scores) are seen as comparable. (Allensworth & Clark, 2020)
Allensworth and Clark (2020) examined variation in high school HSGPAs and ACT scores as indicators of college readiness in their study titled “High School GPAs and ACT Scores as Predictors of College Completion: Examining Assumptions About Consistency Across High Schools” published in Educational Researcher. They found “The relationship of HSGPAs with college graduation is strong and consistent and larger than school effects.” On the contrary, “The relationship of ACT scores with college graduation is weak and smaller than high school effects.”
On the same note, another study cited by Cooper (2021) shows that while both GPA and the SAT/ACT predict completion, the link between high school GPA and graduation rates is the strongest. The expected graduation rate for a student with a high SAT score (over 1100) but a mediocre high school GPA (between 2.67 and 3.0) is 39%. Conversely, students with low SAT scores but high GPAs graduate at a rate of 62%.
Regardless of these findings and the recent decision of U.S. accredited colleges and universities to go test-optional or test-blind, some students still take the ACT or SAT seriously, with about 1.3 million students taking the ACT in 2021 and 1.5 million students taking the SAT in the same year. Here are some quick facts about the SAT and ACT.
Just for the sake of breaking students’ intense study, here are some fun facts from Roxie the Raptor (2020) about the SAT and ACT.
If the schools where students are applying to are “test optional,” they can choose to take one or both exams. Others may feel that a high test score can strengthen their application. However, the registration fees and fees apart from the cost of preparing for the test could be utterly high and must be factored in when deciding.
Also, before deciding which test to take, students must consider the test formats and what they will be evaluated on for each test. Knowing such details and applying some tips and strategies to prepare for the examinations could help students decide which test best showcases their strengths.
Ultimately, students must check if the college or university, or even the scholarship, they are targeting still requires the ACT or SAT. This consideration would be vital in decision-making.
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