By Raquel Catpo, Staff Writer
On Tuesday, April 27th, 11th grade students will be able to take the SAT free of charge. This day will be asynchronous for all San Mateo Union High School District (SMUHSD) schools in order to allow those students taking the test to come onto campus if health conditions allow. The SAT will take place in a socially distanced environment inside the school gyms, similar to the way the current seniors took the SAT at Mills in October 2020. Students that choose to take the SAT were required to complete a google form before 6 P.M. on February 22nd.
Meanwhile, the ACT will not be offered this school year. In an official statement released by the SMUHSD, Superintendent Skelly stated, “Unfortunately we will not be able to offer the ACT to our 11th graders this year as we had hoped. Our only option with the ACT would have been an early April test lasting three days. We simply could not coordinate this given the potential for significant numbers of other students to be on campus at that time. Instead we plan to offer the ACT to this year’s juniors (the class of 2022) in the Fall Semester 2021.”
Both the SAT and the ACT take around three hours to complete and are mainly used for college applications. However, because COVID-19 has significantly impacted students’ education, most colleges and universities in the United States have either made these tests not applicable, or optional. In May of 2020, the University of California Board of Regents unanimously approved the suspension of the SATs and ACTs requirements until fall of 2024. The California State University System has also temporarily suspended the use of ACT/SAT examinations, and it will not be a factor in determining admission eligibility for the 2022-2023 academic year.
The distribution plan for the April SAT will be similar to the October 2020 SAT, ensuring that all students follow proper precautions before entering campus. When students arrive at their scheduled time to take the test, they will show the Health Aid their LiveSafe results. LiveSafe is a mobile safety app used for COVID-19 health assessments and mitigation. Once completed, a high speed infrared camera will take their temperature. Students are required to place their phones and other electronic devices into ziplock bags until they leave the building. In addition to the school gym being 20-30 feet tall with appropriate HVAC systems, the testing desks are disinfected and spaced more than 6 feet apart from each other, in grid formation. The April SAT will likely implement the protocols listed above from the October 2020 SAT to protect students and staff members. The SAT is divided into four sections plus the essay. Students get a 10-minute break after the first section, after the third, and a shorter break before the essay. During breaks, students can eat their snacks, but are not permitted to leave their desks unless they need to use the bathroom. The majority of the SAT tests start at 8 A.M and finish around 12-1 P.M.
Among 60 other juniors, Sara Catpo is taking the SAT in April. When asked to share her thoughts about taking the April SAT, Catpo replied, “I think it’s really helpful and great that Mills is offering SATs for anyone, even though it’s not required for [most] applications. Because the option is there, I figured I might as well do it.” Regarding the decision of select universities suspending the SAT and ACT requirements, Capto added, “We are all struggling with our own situations amid the pandemic, so I think this decision is fair. This will definitely take away a lot of stress students would have had to face with studying for the tests.”
With the availability of the SAT being offered for free in April, more students will be encouraged to take the test. The appropriate protocols and the socially distanced environment provides protection to staff and students from COVID-19. Testing sessions like this one are important because they give students more educational opportunities and experiences, while still ensuring everyone’s safety.
