College/AP Testing

Parents and students have many questions about standardized testing. This section will contain all the testing information including links to websites and dates and deadlines. Certainly, if you have any questions about any of the standardized testings we offer at LCHS or elsewhere, please do not hesitate to contact the School Counseling Office.

PSAT Information

The PSAT held at Lancaster Catholic will be on Wednesday, October 12th.

The PSAT is a practice for future standardized testing for college admissions. For juniors, it's important to take this as it is the qualifying test for scholarships and recognition from the National Merit Corporation and that may add up to $$ for college. For sophomores, there's nothing wrong with a little practice, and the reports that come back identify areas of strength and weakness. Students can then have tailor-made resources to develop their skills through Khan Academy--these are free online resources!!

While we realize this test may not be appropriate for every student, but for the majority of students, this is an excellent opportunity to practice and improve upon their skills. Additionally, we hope to offer the ASVAB for sophomores in January. This is a test indicating career aptitudes and it is very helpful in identifying areas of interest, possible college majors, and future careers.

Lancaster Catholic High School is offering the PSAT test to its students at no cost to families.

On test day, which is usually held during the middle Wednesday of the month of October, the students will report to their exam rooms (in many cases these will be their homerooms). The exam will start at 8:00 a.m. and end at approximately 12 noon. No lunch will be available on this day. Once students are dismissed they may go home or they can stay and ride their bus home at 3:00 p.m. (if they choose to stay, please pack a lunch!)

Please contact Mrs. Jill Grosh, [email protected] if you have questions or require financial assistance.

SAT Information

The Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) is an assessment aimed at predicting academic success in college. Most students take the test in their junior and/or senior years. The SAT tests your knowledge of reading, math, and writing. It is recommended that students take the SAT (or ACT, see below) one time during their junior year and at least once again in their senior year.

To register for the SAT, visit the CollegeBoard's SAT website.

Lancaster Catholic High School is not able to send SAT scores to colleges/universities. Score reports must be requested through a student's individual account on the College Board's SAT website.

Free SAT prep is offered through the Khan Academy's partnership with the College Board. Please visit the Khan Academy SAT website for more information.

Lancaster Catholic High School periodically offers SAT prep courses within the building through Acumen Test Prep. Acumen also offers classes locally. For more information, please visit the Acumen website.

ACT Information

The ACT is an achievement test aimed at measuring what a student has learned in school, as opposed to the SAT which measures aptitude, testing reasoning, and verbal abilities. Most students take the test in their junior and/or senior years.

The ACT has up to five components: English, Mathematics, Reading, Science, and an optional Writing section. It is recommended that students take the ACT (or SAT, see above) one time during their junior year and at least once again in their senior year.

Lancaster Catholic High School is not able to send ACT scores to colleges/universities. Score reports must be requested through a student's individual account on the ACT website.

To register for the ACT, visit the ACT website.

Advanced Placement (AP) Testing Information

Advanced Placement Courses (AP) are available across the curriculum at Lancaster Catholic High School. Instructors must be certified to teach these classes that receive the AP designation from the College Board. AP classes are college-level classes and therefore, rigorous and challenging. Students who are considering these classes must receive teacher permission before registering for them.

Students should check with their intended colleges regarding their policies on accepting AP scores.

All AP exams are administered at LCHS in the first two weeks of May each year according to the guidelines and schedules set forth by College Board. Students will be permitted to eat lunch directly before/after completing their exams, so it is strongly recommended that they pack their lunches on exam days, as they will resume their regular class schedule for that day. If you have a conflict with an exam or you cannot make your exam due to unforeseen circumstances during the regularly scheduled time, please contact the School Counseling Office.

AP Testing Protocol
Students are strongly encouraged but are NOT required, to take an AP exam for any of the AP Course(s) they are taking. Teachers of each respective course will provide their students with join codes so they may indicate their choice of AP exams they wish to take. This year, 2019-2020, College Board has changed its testing registration policies and all students must register for AP exams by November 15, 2019. Only students who are taking semester 2 classes may register until March without penalty. With this deadline in mind, all students must submit payment for the exam through www.TotalRegistration.net/AP/392100. If any student needs financial assistance to pay for these exams, please register for a fee waiver through this website. Approval will be forthcoming from Mrs. Grosh.

If a student desires to take an AP exam for a course that he/she is not currently enrolled in, the student must inform Mrs. Grosh, Director of School Counseling, no later than November 1, 2020.

AP Course Weighting
All students who elect to take the AP exam for a given course will receive AP weighting in that course and the AP exam will serve as their final exam. If a student elects not to take an AP exam, they will receive Honors weighting for that course and will be required to take a separate final exam. The exemption policy for final exams does not apply to AP courses.

AP Testing Payment
The School Counseling Office will no longer accept checks or cash for AP exam payments. With the new deadlines in mind, all students must submit payment for exams through www.TotalRegistration.net/AP/392100 no later than 8:00 AM on November 15, 2020.

A fee of $50.00 per exam will be due at registration. If any student qualifies for financial assistance to pay for these exams, please register for a fee waiver through this website. Approval will be forthcoming from Mrs. Grosh.