Testing
Specific testing information is listed by test/assessment name in alphabetical order below.
ACT
What: The ACT is a college entrance exam accepted by all colleges/universities in the US. Some of these colleges/universities require the writing component. Check with your prospective college/university. The ACT tests over English, math, reading, and science. A score of 36 is the highest score a student can earn on the ACT. A student can take the ACT up to 12 times.
IMPORTANT: while some colleges/universities have become "test optional" many scholarships still require an ACT score.
Who: Seniors, Juniors, and sophomores taking Trig/Pre-Calculus wanting to take Calculus
When: Saturday dates in September*, October, December, February, April, June*, and July* every year
***Dates not offered at BVHS
Cost: Yes, there is a cost. Check the website for more information. If your family qualifies for free or reduced lunch through the BVSD please reach out to your school counselor for information regarding fee waivers.
IMPORTANT: while some colleges/universities have become "test optional" many scholarships still require an ACT score.
Who: Seniors, Juniors, and sophomores taking Trig/Pre-Calculus wanting to take Calculus
When: Saturday dates in September*, October, December, February, April, June*, and July* every year
***Dates not offered at BVHS
Cost: Yes, there is a cost. Check the website for more information. If your family qualifies for free or reduced lunch through the BVSD please reach out to your school counselor for information regarding fee waivers.
Visit the website to register, check dates/deadlines, and costs.
BVHS Code
420-140 |
BVHS Test Center Code
200990 |
ACT will now provide an automatically calculated ACT Superscore to all students who have taken the ACT more than once from September 2016 to current day. Log in to MyACT to view and send scores. ACT Superscores must be calculated by ACT. They are not calculated by the student, their high school, or college. Note: The SD Opportunity Scholarship now accepts an ACT Superscore. If a student qualifies for the Opportunity Scholarship based on their superscore, they must pay the fee to send their superscore to BVHS.
Steps to order ACT Superscores:
1. Student logs in to the ACT website
2. Scroll down until you see "Superscore"
3. Select "Send the Superscore"
4. Select where you want to send the superscore (college/university, high school, NCAA or NAIA, etc.)
5. Add to cart and pay the fee
Your high school and college will not automatically receive your superscore. You must pay the fee to have the score sent. BVHS recommends narrowing down your college search to 2-3 before sending your superscore. Questions regarding how a superscore will impact financial aid should be directed to the college/university financial aid office.
1. Student logs in to the ACT website
2. Scroll down until you see "Superscore"
3. Select "Send the Superscore"
4. Select where you want to send the superscore (college/university, high school, NCAA or NAIA, etc.)
5. Add to cart and pay the fee
Your high school and college will not automatically receive your superscore. You must pay the fee to have the score sent. BVHS recommends narrowing down your college search to 2-3 before sending your superscore. Questions regarding how a superscore will impact financial aid should be directed to the college/university financial aid office.
STUDY FOR THE ACT by using free study guides from your school counselor, visiting the website, SDMyLife Method Test Prep (on the left), and registering for Community Education's ACT Prep Class.
ACT Prep options are linked below.
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Download using the app store.
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What do i bring on test day? |
Required: Photo ID
Recommended: Admission Ticket, calculator, and non-mechanical pencils. |
ACT Benchmark scores
A benchmark score is the minimum score needed on an ACT subject-area test to indicate a 50% chance of obtaining a B or higher or about a 75% chance of obtaining a C or higher in the corresponding credit-bearing college courses.
College Course/Course Area
English Composition
Algebra Social Sciences Biology |
ACT Subject
English
Mathematics Reading Science |
Benchmark Score
18
22 22 23 |
AP Exams
What: AP Exams are ordered in October. Students enrolled in AP courses (AP World History, AP Chemistry, AP Art, etc.) are highly encouraged to take the AP Exam. However, students do not need to be enrolled in an AP course to take an AP Exam. Students in Rising Scholars classes who plan to attend a college that accepts AP may wish to take the corresponding subject's AP Exam. All students need to do is pay for the AP Exam. Listen to the announcements for more information.
Who: Students in an AP class at BVHS or students wanting to take an AP exam
When: May, check the website for specific dates
Cost: Yes, there is a cost. View the order form for more information. If your family qualifies for free or reduced lunch through the BVSD please reach out to your school counselor for information regarding fee waivers.
Who: Students in an AP class at BVHS or students wanting to take an AP exam
When: May, check the website for specific dates
Cost: Yes, there is a cost. View the order form for more information. If your family qualifies for free or reduced lunch through the BVSD please reach out to your school counselor for information regarding fee waivers.
Planning to attend a SD College/University? Above is a link on what AP score you need and what class/credits it transfers to. Questions? Contact the college/university you plan to attend.
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TIPS: 1. When completing information for AP Exams on test day, do NOT use your k12 email address. After you graduate, you will no longer have access which will make retrieving your scores difficult. 2. Write down your AP ID number or keep your AP packet assigned to you. This is what you will need to get your AP scores. 3. Colleges/Universities want AP Exam scores directly from College Board. They will not accept score reports BVHS sends to them.
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ASVAB
What: The ASVAB is the military entrance exam and a great test for students to take if they have no idea what career to pursue. Any student who plans to join the US Military must take the ASVAB. All branches of the US Military requires the ASVAB. Students are recommended to take the ASVAB as juniors and/or seniors. There are 8 subtests: 1. general science, 2. antithetic reasoning, 3. word knowledge, 4. paragraph comprehension, 5. mathematical knowledge, 6. electronic information, 7. auto and shop info, and 8. mechanical comprehension.
***You can re-take the ASVAB every 30 days
***Scores are good for 2 years
***The most recent score is accepted (not the highest)
Who: Seniors and Juniors
When: BVHS offers the ASVAB in November and February
Cost: There is no cost, this assessment is FREE!
***You can re-take the ASVAB every 30 days
***Scores are good for 2 years
***The most recent score is accepted (not the highest)
Who: Seniors and Juniors
When: BVHS offers the ASVAB in November and February
Cost: There is no cost, this assessment is FREE!
ASVAB and ACT
The ASVAB can help predict a student's ACT Composite score range.
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Talk to your school counselor about taking the ASVAB.
AFQT Military Entrance Score
31 Except Navy: 29 Guarantees you benefits: 50 ***THESE MAY CHANGE*** |
NCRC
What: The National Career Readiness Certificate (NCRC) in partnership between the SD Department of Education and the Department of Labor and Regulation, the NCRC is available free of charge. The goal of the project is to help prepare students for careers in the 21st century workplace and give students the opportunity to demonstrate their current workplace skills while earning a national credential. After taking the test students are encouraged to put their certificate level in their resume and on any job application.
The NCRC is a portable credential that verifies your level of workplace employability skills. The NCRC will assess students on applied math, locating information, and reading for information. The assessment is multiple choice and is an online assessment. Students have 55 minutes per assessment. The NCRC tests over BVHS is offering the test to seniors in English 12 and Applied English 12. Any senior at BVHS is welcome to take the test. Listen to the announcements to register.
Who: BVHS Seniors
When: April every year
Cost: The NCRC is offered for free through an agreement between the SD Department of Education & SD Department of Labor
The NCRC is a portable credential that verifies your level of workplace employability skills. The NCRC will assess students on applied math, locating information, and reading for information. The assessment is multiple choice and is an online assessment. Students have 55 minutes per assessment. The NCRC tests over BVHS is offering the test to seniors in English 12 and Applied English 12. Any senior at BVHS is welcome to take the test. Listen to the announcements to register.
Who: BVHS Seniors
When: April every year
Cost: The NCRC is offered for free through an agreement between the SD Department of Education & SD Department of Labor
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PreAcT
What: The PreACT gives students practice with taking the ACT. Aligned to the ACT 1-36 score scale, PreACT (scored 1-35) provides predicted score ranges for the ACT Subject and Composite scores. PreACT also provides a STEM score. Students receive career suggestions based on student goals and interests based on answers to the Student Profile and Interest Inventory.
Students will receive their test booklet with their test scores. This is a great resource to use when studying for the ACT junior year. Students are encouraged to look up the questions they got wrong and reach out to a teacher for help.
Who: BVHS Sophomores
When: April
Cost: The Brandon Valley School District is proud to offer this assessment to all sophomore students for free.
Students will receive their test booklet with their test scores. This is a great resource to use when studying for the ACT junior year. Students are encouraged to look up the questions they got wrong and reach out to a teacher for help.
Who: BVHS Sophomores
When: April
Cost: The Brandon Valley School District is proud to offer this assessment to all sophomore students for free.
preact 8/9
What: The PreACT 8/9 gives students an early measure of college and career readiness while providing performance predictions and instructional support. Students receive career suggestions based on student goals and interests. The PreACT 8/9 can also help students know what courses they are ready for in high school.
Who: BVHS Freshmen
When: April
Cost: The Brandon Valley School District is proud to offer this assessment to all freshmen students for free.
Who: BVHS Freshmen
When: April
Cost: The Brandon Valley School District is proud to offer this assessment to all freshmen students for free.
psat
What: PSAT/NMSQT is the pre-SAT and National Merit Qualifying Test. The PSAT is offered in October during periods 1-6 (eat 6th). There is a cost to take the PSAT. Any student in grade 10 and 11 can take the PSAT once per year. Sophomores take it for practice and juniors can take it to qualify for National Merit.
Who: Sophomores (for practice) and Juniors (to qualify for National Merit)
When: October, see calendar at the top
Cost: Yes, there is a cost. Check the BVHS announcements for more information. If your family qualifies for free or reduced lunch through the BVSD please reach out to your school counselor for information regarding fee waivers.
Who: Sophomores (for practice) and Juniors (to qualify for National Merit)
When: October, see calendar at the top
Cost: Yes, there is a cost. Check the BVHS announcements for more information. If your family qualifies for free or reduced lunch through the BVSD please reach out to your school counselor for information regarding fee waivers.
South dakota's nmsqt semifinalist cutoff score for
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sat
What: SAT is a college entrance exam. SAT tests over critical reading, math, and writing. SAT's score range is 400-1600, with 1600 being the highest score. The SAT is popular with schools outside of the midwest.
Who: Seniors and Juniors
When: Visit the website for more information
Cost: Yes, there is a cost. Check the website for more information. If your family qualifies for free or reduced lunch through the BVSD please reach out to your school counselor for information regarding fee waivers.
Who: Seniors and Juniors
When: Visit the website for more information
Cost: Yes, there is a cost. Check the website for more information. If your family qualifies for free or reduced lunch through the BVSD please reach out to your school counselor for information regarding fee waivers.
Visit the website to register, check dates/deadlines, and costs.
BVHS Code
420-140 BVHS is not a location for SAT. Students will need to search for a location on the SAT website. |
STUDY FOR THE SAT by using free study guides by visiting the SAT website. Study options are also linked in the logos below. Simply click to be directed to the website.
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SD assessments
SD Assessments for ELA, Math, and Science are required by the South Dakota Department of Education. SDDOE requires all students in the state of SD to take these assessments in the spring of their junior year. How students do does not impact their grades at BVHS, however, we do ask juniors to try their best. The SDDOE and SDBOR have an agreement that any student who earns a 3 or 4 on their SD Assessments in ELA and Math have met the benchmark for college readiness whether they reach the benchmark scores on the ACT or not. SD Assessment scores may help students meet requirements established by the SD Board of Regents for entrance to any SD Public College/University.
TEAS
The TEAS test is an admission requirement option for some 2-year programs, including Vet. Tech. at Southeast Technical College. You take this test at the College if it's a requirement.
DOES YOUR FAMILY QUALIFY FOR FREE OR REDUCED LUNCH?
IF SO, TALK TO YOUR SCHOOL COUNSELOR ABOUT FEE WAIVERS FOR ACT, SAT, PSAT, AP EXAMS, ETC.
IF SO, TALK TO YOUR SCHOOL COUNSELOR ABOUT FEE WAIVERS FOR ACT, SAT, PSAT, AP EXAMS, ETC.
Questions about testing? contact mrs. murdy.
Remember that your test score is a snapshot. It is just one piece of the puzzle for college admissions.