On March 9, MCHS will be hosting an additional session available for students to take the SAT before April 10, which is the formal testing date. 

Taking the SAT on the earlier date as well as the formal date will allow students to grow more familiar with the test. This will also allow for less stress when the later test comes around, as students can opt to submit either score when providing SAT scores on things like college applications. 

“We volunteer and coordinate with College Board to be a host site for this date,” said College and Career Counselor, Curtis Menke. “We do this to better accommodate our students, giving them a test location they are both familiar with and near.”

Taking the test twice allows for more limitations of confounding variables/circumstances like whether or not the student is having a rough day or is distracted. 

“Colleges, scholarship organizations, and other partners who use test scores will take the better score,” said Menke. “Therefore, it is in students’ best interest to take it at least twice, particularly if you’re having a rough day during one of the sessions.”

This test will be proctored by familiar MCHS staff members, hopefully minimizing stress and allowing for a more comfortable environment than that of another school. 

“Because this is a ‘National Testing Date,’ we will have students from other schools here as well,” said Menke. “Similarly, our students can sign up for a different, non-MCHS location if they’d prefer to test at a different location.”

Overall, one goal of this is to make students feel more familiarized and comfortable with the test, rather than feeling stressed out and jump-scared when April 10 rolls around.

“Most people don’t like taking high stakes tests,” said Menke. “Offering it in a familiar environment and proctored by familiar faces can hopefully help MCHS students feel more comfortable and minimize stress.”

This test is another way to help make the process of transitioning from high school here at MCHS to postsecondary pathways easier and less taxing on students. 

“By hosting the SAT here at McHenry High School we send a message to the community that we value post-secondary pathways for our students,” said Gina Adams, Mathematics Instructor and College & Career Prep.