Testing (AP, IB, SAT/ACT)

Advanced Placement (AP) courses give you a chance to experience college-level curriculum and potentially earn college credit. Regardless of whether or not you get college credit, these courses are a great opportunity to show colleges your willingness to challenge yourself academically and prepare yourself for what classes in college may feel like.

To earn college credit, you have to take the AP exam for a course. Several weeks after you take the exam, you will receive a numbered score from 1 (lowest) to 5 (highest). Whether or not your score can qualify for college credit will vary based on the university, course, and score.

AP courses are run through the College Board so the exams are administered on a certain day and time in May of each year. It is very difficult to take an AP exam outside of the assigned dates and times. The schedule for AP testing for the 2023-2024 academic year is shown below.

To take an AP exam, you must register in advance. The final deadline to register for AP exams for Seattle Public Schools is Monday, November 6th at 5 p.m. There is a registration fee of $118 per exam. If you qualify for free or reduced lunch, you can get an exam fee reduction ($20 per exam) or waiver by working with your school’s AP coordinator.

Test Schedule:

International Baccalaureate (IB) courses give you a chance to experience college-level curriculum and potentially earn college credit. Regardless of whether or not you get college credit, these courses are a great opportunity to show colleges your willingness to challenge yourself academically and prepare yourself for what classes in college may feel like.

To earn college credit, you have to take the IB exam for a course. If you are an IB Diploma student, you are required to take three standard level (SL) exams and three higher level (HL) exams. Otherwise, juniors in 1-year standard level (SL) courses and seniors in any standard or higher level (HL) can take the exam for a course. Several weeks after you take the exam, you will receive a numbered score from 1 (lowest) to 7 (highest). Whether or not your score can qualify for college credit will vary based on the university, course, and score.

IB exams contain two parts: an internal assessment (IA) and an external assessment (EA). The IA can happen at any point throughout a course and is completed and evaluated within your class by your high school teacher. The EA is a separate exam administered on a certain day and time in May of each year. It is very difficult to take an IB exam outside of the assigned dates and times. The schedule for IB testing for the 2023-2024 academic year is shown below.

To take an IB exam, you must register in advance by filling out this form. The deadline to register for IB exams for is Friday, October 20th. There is a registration fee of $119 per exam. If you change your exam registration between November 15th and January 15th, there is an additional $38 fee. If you qualify for free or reduced lunch, you can get an exam fee waiver by working with your school’s IB coordinator.

Test Schedule:

Most schools do not require the SAT or ACT. If you are applying to schools that require one of these tests, you want to take it for yourself, or your want to use your score to fulfil a graduation requirement see the info below.

• In-SchoolTest Days:
  • SPS: October 11th, 2023 for all 12th graders
  • Tukwila: No school day SAT
• Registration for SAT (to take outside of the school day test)
• Fee Waivers:
  • If you are taking the SAT during the school day test, the fee is automatically waived.
  • If you are taking the SAT outside of the school day tests, email uwmsub@uw.edu to get a fee waiver.
• Sending Scores:
  • During the school day tests, you can request to send your score to up to 4 colleges or scholarship programs.
  • If you are taking the SAT outside of the school day & qualify for free or reduced lunch, you can send your scores to an unlimited number of places. For information on how to do this, check with your school counselor.
• Using SAT Scores to Fulfil Graduation Pathways:
  • ELA pathway = ELA SAT score of 410 or higher
  • Math pathway = Math SAT score of 430 or higher
• Prep Resources:
  • Khan Academy SAT Courses
  • CollegeBoard Practice Tests
  • What to Bring on SAT Test Day

• In-SchoolTest Days:
  • SPS: No school day ACT
  • Tukwila: No school day ACT
• Registration for ACT (to take outside of the school day test)
• Fee Waivers:
  • If you are taking the ACT outside of the school day tests, email uwmsub@uw.edu to get a fee waiver.
• Sending Scores:
  • If you get an ACT fee waiver, that also qualifies you to send your scores to your high school and up to 6 colleges for free.
• Using ACT Scores to Fulfil Graduation Pathways:
  • ELA pathway = ELA ACT score of 14 or higher
  • Math pathway = Math ACT score of 16 or higher
• Prep Resources:
  • ACT Test Prep
  • What to Bring on ACT Test Day