As you plan your teen’s high school timeline, some of you will want to schedule the PSAT, SAT, CLT, or ACT. Here is a quick chart outlining when each exam is generally taken for traditional college admissions.
PRO TIP: For those who don’t want to participate in standardized testing, that’s ok! College admissions tests are optional tests, so you don’t have to take them unless you target a college that requires them for admissions. A large percentage of students attend colleges and universities without ever taking an admissions test. Don’t assume that all students have to take an exam. The National Center for Fair and Open Testing maintains a database of over 2,000 bachelor-degree-granting colleges that do not require standardized exams for admission, are “test-optional” or “test flexible.”
College Exam Overview by Grade Level (Timeline)
🧭 Overview
College admissions exams help colleges evaluate students’ academic readiness. While many schools are now test-optional, scores can still be important for admissions, merit scholarships, and course placement. Some exams also serve as early diagnostics and scholarship qualifiers. Be persistent and polite: Some schools don’t often work with homeschoolers. If one says no, call another.
Use official homeschool codes during SAT/ACT registration so scores are not sent to a nonexistent school.
🧪 College Exam Overview by Grade Level
8th–9th Grade: Early Insight & Readiness
🟦 PSAT 8/9
- Purpose: Establishes a baseline for college readiness and prepares students for the SAT suite
- When to Take: Fall or spring of 8th or 9th grade
- Where: Offered at some high schools or through district testing programs
- Register: Homeschoolers must contact a local public or private high school offering the exam. Ask to register as a homeschooled student. Deadlines are early (especially for PSAT/NMSQT in October). Call in August to secure a spot.
- Cost: Around $14 (varies by school)
🟨 CLT 8 (Classic Learning Test 8)
- Purpose: Diagnostic exam focused on reading, grammar, and math; aligned with classical education
- When to Take: Offered year-round
- Where: Online at home with a parent proctor
- Register: CLTExam.com
- Cost: $59
10th Grade: Practice & Planning
🟦 PSAT 10
- Purpose: Practice test for PSAT/NMSQT and SAT; insight into academic strengths
- When to Take: Spring of 10th grade
- Where: Administered by high schools
- Register: Homeschoolers must contact a local public or private high school offering the exam. Ask to register as a homeschooled student. Deadlines are early (especially for PSAT/NMSQT in October). Call in August to secure a spot.
- Cost: Around $18 (may be covered by the school)
🟨 CLT 10
- Purpose: Practice for the CLT; qualifies for $10,000 scholarships (11th-grade version)
- When to Take: Spring of 10th grade
- Where: Online at home with a proctor
- Register: CLTExam.com
- Cost: $69
11th Grade: Admissions & Scholarships
🟦 PSAT/NMSQT
- Purpose: Practice for SAT and entry to National Merit Scholarship competition
- When to Take: October of 11th grade
- Where: At high school
- Register: Homeschoolers must contact a local public or private high school offering the exam. Ask to register as a homeschooled student. Deadlines are early (especially for PSAT/NMSQT in October). Call in August to secure a spot.
- Cost: ~$18 (schools often cover)
🟩 SAT
- Purpose: Used for college admissions and scholarships
- When to Take: Spring of 11th grade (March, May, June)
- Where: Local high schools or test centers
- Register: collegeboard.org Choose a local test center (usually a high school or college). Use your homeschool code: 970000 (if no state-specific code is given).
- Cost: $60 (fee waivers available)
🟥 ACT
- Purpose: College admissions and course placement
- When to Take: Spring of 11th grade
- Where: Local testing centers
- Register: act.org Select a nearby test center. Use the homeschool high school code: 969999.
- Cost: $68 (without writing), $93 (with writing)
🟨 CLT
- Purpose: College admissions for participating schools; used as an SAT/ACT alternative at over 250 colleges
- When to Take: Year-round
- Where: Online from home with a virtual proctor
- Register: CLTExam.com
- Cost: $64
12th Grade: Final Scores & Credit Earning
✅ SAT / ACT / CLT (Retake)
- When: August–October (prior to college application deadlines)
| Features | CLT 8 | PSAT 8/9 | PSAT/NMSQT | CLT | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grade Level | 8th–9th | 8th–9th | 11th (10th optional) | 11th–12th | 11th–12th | 11th–12th |
| College Use | No | No | Scholarships Only | Some Colleges | Most Colleges | Most Colleges |
| Delivery Method | Online (Home) | Paper (School) | Paper (School) | Online (Proctored) | Digital (Center) | Paper (Center) |
| Estimated Time | ~2:00 | ~2:00 | ~2:45 | ~2:00 | ~3:00 | ~2:45 |
| Cost | $59 | ~$14 | ~$18 | $64 | $60 | $68 / $93 (w/ writing) |
| Scoring | 0–120 | 240–1440 | 320–1520 | 0–120 | 400–1600 | 1–36 |
| Science Included | No | No | No | No | No | Yes |
| Trigonometry Included | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Essay/Writing | No | No | No | Optional | Optional | Optional |
| Scholarship Eligible | No | No | Yes (11th grade) | Yes (CLT 10 only) | Yes (some merit) | Yes (some merit) |
