School Counselor ACT and SAT Prep Newsletter: What Families Need Before Test Day

Standardized test planning is one of the areas where early, clear communication from the school counselor makes the most difference. Families who receive a well-timed newsletter know when to register, how to prepare, and how to access resources that reduce both cost and anxiety. Families who do not miss deadlines, pay fees they did not need to pay, and arrive on test day less prepared than they could have been.

Name the Test Dates and Registration Deadlines

List the next two or three SAT and ACT dates with their registration deadlines. Include both regular and late deadlines where applicable. Registration closes earlier than most families expect, and late fees are real money. A newsletter that shows families the actual calendar removes the most common source of missed testing opportunities.

Explain the Difference Between the SAT and ACT

Many families do not know that students can take either test and that most colleges accept both. Some students perform significantly better on one than the other. Suggest that students who have not taken either take a free practice test for each and compare their comfort level before committing to a test and date.

Name Free and Low-Cost Preparation Resources

Khan Academy offers official SAT prep in partnership with College Board, free of charge. ACT has its own free practice materials. Public libraries often have test prep books available for checkout. Community organizations sometimes offer prep courses at reduced cost. Name the resources with links or contacts. Families who know where to look use these resources. Families who are told only that resources exist often do not.

Cover Testing Accommodations for Students With Plans

Students with IEPs or 504 plans may be eligible for extended time, separate testing rooms, or other accommodations on the SAT and ACT. The process for requesting these accommodations has a specific timeline and requires documentation. Families should contact the counselor well in advance of the desired test date to start the process. This is often overlooked until it is too late.

Tell Families How to Help Without Adding Pressure

The most useful thing a family can do on the night before a test is make sure their child gets a full night of sleep and a real breakfast in the morning. What does not help is last-minute quizzing, expressing anxiety about the outcome, or emphasizing what is at stake. A brief, direct note about this gives families something to do that actually supports the student rather than the opposite.