Testing

MAP® Growth™ measures what students know and informs teachers about what they’re ready to learn next. By dynamically adjusting to each student’s responses, MAP Growth creates a personalized assessment experience that accurately measures performance. Timely, easy-to-use reports help teachers teach, students learn, and administrators lead. 

The Preliminary SAT, also known as the PSAT/NMSQT(National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test) is a practice version for the SAT exam. You can only take the PSAT once per year and many students take the test in both 10th and 11th grade. If you earn a high score on the PSAT your junior year, you could qualify to receive a National Merit Scholarship--180 million dollars in merit scholarships are awarded to students each year. The PSAT is 2 hours and 45 minutes long and tests your skills in reading, writing, and math. Unlike SAT, the highest score possible on the PSAT is 1520. Accommodations are determined by both the student’s Educational Neuropsychological evaluation and the Mill Springs Academy Academic Plan. Accommodations must be requested when registering for the test. Mill Springs Academy is a special testing site so if your accommodations require special testing you will be able to take the test at Mill Springs Academy.

The SAT is an entrance exam used by most colleges and universities to make admission decisions. The SAT is a multiple-choice, pencil and paper test created and administered by the College Board. The purpose of the SAT is to measure a high school student’s readiness for college and to provide colleges with one common data point that can be used to compare applicants. College admission officers will review your standardized test scores alongside your high school GPA, the classes you took in high school, letters of recommendation from teachers and mentors, extracurricular activities, admission interviews, and personal essays.

2023-24 National Testing Dates

PreACT® offers sophomores an early experience with ACT test items, provides a predicted ACT test score, and offers a wealth of information to help students get the start they need to be college ready. Accommodations are determined by both the student’s Educational Neuropsychological evaluation and the Mill Springs Academy Academic Plan. Accommodations must be requested when registering for the test. Mill Springs Academy is a special testing site so if your accommodations require special testing you will be able to take the test at Mill Springs Academy.

The ACT is an entrance exam used by most colleges and universities to make admission decisions. It is a multiple-choice, pencil, and paper test administered by ACT, Inc. The purpose of the ACT test is to measure a high school student's readiness for college and provide colleges with one common data point that can be used to compare all applicants. College admission officers will review your standardized test scores alongside your high school GPA, the classes you took in high school, letters of recommendation from teachers and mentors, extracurricular activities, admission interviews, and personal essays.

ACT Testing at MSA
MSA 11th graders sign up for the ACT during Sarah McKnight's Junior Transitions class in their second semester (typically after they have had enough math to do well on the math section). 

With that said, some parents and students may decide to test earlier, and we can help with registrations - but please be aware that there are deadlines.

Each student will create an account, sign up, and then Lisa Imsand (MSA testing coordinator) will submit all the paperwork for accommodations.  ACT will determine what accommodations are approved based on documentation - we won't know what they approve until we receive their decision. MSA is not in charge of deciding the student's accommodations; that is up to the testing agency.

ACT Testing Windows
Once you have registered for ACT testing and accommodations have been approved, we will schedule your test within a two-week testing window.

Proctors will be obtained and appointed once all information has been received from the testing agency.

We try to schedule testing during your student’s Junior Transitions class, which would be Monday/Wednesday or Tuesday/Thursday. Depending on accommodations and proctor availability, he/she may miss some classes. 

Students will test 1 section per day over multiple days (4).

MSA ACT Testing Dates
Testing Windows:

• October 2022: October 22 through November 4 - Late Registration Deadline - September 30
• February 2023: February 11 through 17 - Late Registration Deadline -January 20
• April 2023: April 15 through April 28 - Late Registration Deadline - March 24
• June 2023: June 10 through 23 - Late Registration Deadline - May 19

A student photo must be uploaded, and the ACT has a deadline for uploading the photo based on the test date.

To register before the 11^th grade year, please contact counselor Sarah McKnight smcknight@millsprings.org or testing coordinator Lisa Imsand limsand@millsprings.org.

2023-24 National Testing Dates