District 214 8th Grade Testing and Pre-Registration

Assessing Comprehension and Communication in English State-to-State for English Language Learners (ACCESS for ELLs) is a standard-based English Language Proficiency Test that tests students in the four language domains: Listening, Speaking, Reading, and Writing. All students in the EL Program must take this test.

Dates: January/February 2025

Locations: BGHS, EGHS, JHHS, PHS, RMHS, WHS, International Newcomer Academy, The Academy at Forest View, Vanguard, and Young Adult Program.

For more information about ACCESS, please visit the links below:

Illinois State Board of Education ACCESS Information

WIDA Consortium ACCESS Information

Starting in the 2024-2025 school year, the state required assessments will switch from the SAT to the ACT suite of Assessments. Once we learn more from the Illinois State Board of Education, we will post additional information.

---

ACT State Testing
Students must take the in-school Online ACT with Essay to receive a regular high school diploma, unless the student is eligible to take the alternative assessment or otherwise exempt from testing.

The ACT with Essay is a multiple-choice test, divided into four parts: English, Mathematics, Reading, Science Reasoning and Essay. The ACT scores range from 1 to 36 for each individual part as well as for the composite. The essay portion will be scored from 1-12. 

On April 8, 2025, a state-funded Online ACT with Essay will be administered to all juniors and is a graduation requirement.

Students who have an extended time accommodation per their IEP or 504 Plan may be required to test on both April 8 & April 9, depending on the type of accommodation.

For more detailed information about the Illinois state ACT graduation requirements, you can view Illinois Public Act 100-0222.

---

PreACT 8/9 and PreACT are assessments in ACT's Suite of Assessments. PreACT assessments offer 9th and 10th grade students an early opportunity with ACTs test items, provides a predicted ACT test score, and offers information to help students get the start they need to be colllege and career ready. The PreACT assessments help educators, students and parents identify areas of academic strength and opportunity. The digital PreACT state required assessments will help prepare students for the ACT assessment taken during their junior year. 

On April 9, 2025, a state-funded Online PreACT 8/9 will be administered to all Freshmen and Online PreACT will be administered to all Sophomores.

Students who have an extended time accommodation per their IEP or 504 Plan may be required to test on both April 8 & April 9, depending on the type of accommodation.

ACT measures educational development in the areas of English, mathematics, reading and science reasoning. This assessment measures skills necessary for success in post-secondary educational settings, including students’ reasoning abilities and knowledge of subject matter fields. The ACT scores range from 1 to 36 for each subject area and for the Composite score. The Essay will be scored from 1-12.

Starting in the 2024-2025 school year, the ACT with Essay will be part of the Illinois State Board of Education's required in-school Testing. District 214 also offers ACT National testing options found below.

---

Optional Saturday National ACT Testing

Although all Saturday ACT tests are optional, many post-secondary institutions require the ACT or the SAT. ACT offers an optional 30-minute writing test (ACT+). On Saturday test dates, high schools in District 214 will offer the Paper ACT during the 2024-2025 school year.

Student Population: Predominantly college-bound 11th and 12th grade students.

Register online for the ACT

Township High School District 214 is still finalizing the test dates we will offer with ACT. District 214 has requested to offer testing at the below high schools. If your student requires accommodations for testing under an IEP or 504 plan, contact the special education department in your school at the beginning of the school year.

Saturday National ACT Dates:

Test Date: September 14, 2024
Registration Deadline: August 9, 2024.
Location: WHS

Test Date: December 14, 2024
Registration Deadline: November 8, 2024
Location EGHS

Test Date: February 8, 2025
Registration Deadline: January 3, 2025
Location EGHS, PHS

More Information

ACT Home Page
ACT Accommodation Information
ACT Test Practice

Advanced Placement (AP) Exams are offered for students who have pursued college-level AP courses in the high schools in District 214. Certain score levels on exams may allow students to receive advanced placement and/or credit upon entering college. The AP exam is created by the College Board. Most AP Exams in 2025 will be digital exams. District 214 will offer AP Exams for the AP courses that we teach at each high school.

Student Population: Students enrolled in AP courses (optional).
Exam Fee: $99 per exam, $147 per exam for AP Seminar or AP Research
Dates: May 5 - 16, 2025
Times:
Morning Exams begin at 8:00 AM. Please arrive by 7:45 AM. 
Afternoon Exams begin at 12:00 PM. Please arrive by 11:45 AM. 
Locations: Most AP Exams will take place at the student's high school. Students may have to test at another school in District 214.
Registration: Online Registration and Payment for AP Exams will take place in October. Contact the Assessment Center at your high school for specific deadline dates. A $40 late fee will be charged for any students who did not meet the fall registration deadlines.

A $40 College Board cancellation fee will be charged for students who decide not to take the exam, later in the school year.

College Board's AP Exam Information

College Board's 2025 AP Exam Calendar
Contact your high school for paper registration forms, refund requests, and test-day general information.

ASVAB helps students to:

• Identify interests, skills, and work-related values
• Match their interests and skills with occupations
• Learn how to get information about careers
• Develop career decision-making skills
  

ASVAB Testing Details

The ASVAB is a free test that helps students identify their career interests and work-related values. ASVAB scores are used to determine if students are qualified to enlist in the military and to be assigned an appropriate job in the military. 

Test Date: The test date has not been set for the 2024-2025 school year.

Test Time: 8:30 AM – approximately 11:30 AM

This test is computer-based and self-paced. The test takes an average of 1.5 hours to test, but students will be allowed a max of 3 hours. Students should report back to school after testing.

Test Location: Wheeling High School, 900 S. Elmhurst Rd, Wheeling, IL 60090

ASVAB TEST REGISTRATION (Opens about a month before the test date.)

Contact the Assessment Center at your high school if you have questions.

For this administration, ASVAB results will not be sent to recruiters. Students will be responsible for submitting results.

More Information
ASVAB Program

Questions? Call the toll-free number of the U.S. Military Entrance Processing Command: 1-800-323-0513.

Starting in the 2024-2025 school year. 11th grade students are no longer required to participate in the Illinois Science Assessment (ISA) since the state required ACT exam has a science component.

For students who took the ISA in the past, the below information may be helpful in understanding your scores.

Understanding the Proficiency Level Scores

Digital PSAT/NMSQT, the National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test will be adaptive, so it can continue to measure the reading, writing, and math skills needed for college and career. Scores from the PSAT/NMSQT may qualify 11th grade students to be National Merit Scholars. The PSAT/NMSQT is administered during the school day and is optional.

Why take the PSAT/NMSQT?

We encourage high achieving juniors to take the PSAT/NMSQT because it identifies National Merit Scholars and enables students who score at the highest levels to qualify for college scholarships. It allows students to compare their academic skills with those of other college-bound students.

As explained in the PSAT/NMSQT Student Guide, this optional test has several purposes:

• Entrance into the National Merit competition for Junior students. In order to become a National Merit finalist, students must have a record of consistent high academic performance in all grades 9-11.
• Prediction of SAT college entrance exam scores.
• Measurement of critical reading, mathematics and writing skills important for success in many post-high school educational settings.

Test Date: October 8 (at EGHS and PHS)
                   October 9 (at JHHS and WHS)
                   October 10 (at BGHS and RMHS)

Location:  High School student attends

Cost:  $30

Registration:Infinite Campus School Store (August 16 - August 30) 

Infinite Campus Registration Instructions

If you have questions, contact the Assessment Center at your high school.

The SAT measures the knowledge and skills that research shows are essential for college and career readiness and success. The Digital SAT is adaptive, so it can continue to measure the same core Reading, writing and math knowledge skills more efficiently. The composite SAT score ranges from 400-1600. Each subsection’s score ranges from 200-800. More information about the Digital Exams can be found on College Board’s website:
https://satsuite.collegeboard.org/digital.

---

Optional Saturday National SAT Testing 

Student Population: Predominantly college-bound 11th and 12th grade students.

Register online for the National SAT

Township High School District 214 requested to offer testing at the below high schools. 

If your student requires accommodations for testing under an IEP or 504 plan, contact the special education department in your school at the beginning of the school year.

Although optional, the SAT or the ACT is required for admission by many post-secondary institutions.

Saturday National SAT Dates:
Test Date: August 24, 2024
Registration Deadline: August 9
Location(s): BGHS, PHS

Test Date: October 5, 2024
Registration Deadline: September 20, 2024
Location(s): JHHS

Test Date: December 7, 2024
Registration Deadline: November 22, 2024
Location(s): RMHS

Test Date: March 8, 2025
Registration Deadline: February 21, 2025
Location(s): WHS

Note: There are other SAT National dates available that District 214 high schools cannot host due to other school conflicts.

---

More Information

College Board's SAT Home Page

National SAT Fees

SAT Accommodation Information

College Board SAT Practice

District 214 Seal of Biliteracy

Varsity Tutor Test Prep Information