Parent Consent Forms for PSAT and/or SAT  Questionnaire

Prior to SAT administration, there is a two-part pre-administration session.  First, to save time during the actual test administration, certain information about your child will be provided to the College Board (the provider of the SAT), in advance of the SAT. This information covers basic information such as name, school, state student ID, grade, gender, and date of birth. In addition, MCPS shares information with College Board regarding students who qualify for a fee waiver, which is utilized solely for that purpose and is not otherwise tracked or maintained by College Board. 

Second, your child will have the opportunity to participate, with your consent, in the optional Student Data Questionnaire. The College Board gives students and families complete discretion regarding any voluntary information they provide as part of the Student Data Questionnaire. Information gathered is used for group reporting, for analysis to ensure that the exams are fair for all groups, to connect your child with potential colleges or scholarship opportunities, and for research. Read more about the Student Data Questionnaire below.  

To provide consent for your child to participate in the optional Student Data Questionnaire, you must return a signed consent form by before the school pre-administration session. 

Graduation Requirements

School Year 2022-2022

• AP Test: AP stands for Advanced Placement, and students are enrolled in a yearlong course, which culminates with an AP Exam. If students earn a 3 or higher on a 5 point scale they may get college credit for the course. (Cost: $95 per test)

• Accuplacer: One of the most commonly used placement tests at 2 year schools like Montgomery College. (Cost: free)
• ACT: One of two major college entrance exams. Students do not have to take both the SAT and the ACT they can chose one or the other, some students do chose to take both. (Cost: $50 - $60)

• Biliteracy Test- Students in 11th and 12th grade that did not take an AP Language or did not earn a 4 or higher on their AP language exam can take one of three test in a world language to attempt to earn the Maryland Seal of Biliteracy. Cost of the test vary so students will need to attend info sessions for details. 

• CCRCCA:  College and Career Readiness and College Completion Act of 2013- which requires all public high school students to take a college and career readiness assessment in English and mathematics by the end of Grade 11. The Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) provided local school districts various options for meeting this requirement. MCPS has chosen to implement this mandate in a manner we believe will have a minimal impact on students and their families. MCPS will use the SAT, ACT, and ACCUPLACER as the college and career readiness assessment under CCRCCA. Currently, more than 70 percent of our students take the SAT and/or ACT, and others take the ACCUPLACER by the end of Grade 11. Your child’s school will provide more information to students and families to ensure they understand the need to take at least one of these assessments by the end of their junior year.Since the legislation did not come with any additional funding, parents will continue to pay for their child to take the ACT or SAT, but financial assistance is offered by the companies that administer these tests. The ACCUPLACER is already administered at no cost to students in MCPS. Your student should work with his/her counselor to decide which test to take. In addition, your child’s counselor can provide guidance about the process of obtaining a waiver for the cost of taking the SAT or ACT. (Cost: free)

• HSA: Maryland High School Assessments, required for Graduation, students must pass in order to receive a Maryland High School Diploma:  (NSL Government) (Cost: free)

• *MISA LS: Maryland Integrated Science Assessment- participation is required for graduation (students sit for the exam after completing Biology, Chemistry and Physics (typically in 11th grade) (Cost: free)

• MCAP (Previously PARCC): required for Graduation, students must pass the 2 content area tests in order to receive a Maryland High School Diploma (Algebra 1 & English 10) (Cost: free)

• PSAT 

• • PSAT 8/9- A New College Board test written for students in 9th grade. That assess them on their current academic level. Data can be used to see if students are on track to be College and Career ready. (Cost: $15-20) 
  • 9th graders can take A practice test to see where students fall , data can be used to assist with scheduling and making sure students are being appropriately challenged (Cost: free)
  • 10th grade: Practice test to see where students fall academically, data can be used to assist with scheduling and making sure students are being appropriately challenged. This time students are practicing with the actual exam. MCPS pays for all 10th grade exams (Cost: free)
  • 11th grade: Grade this test has two purposes: it serves as a practice test for the SAT, Wheaton uses the data to determine which test students are more successful with (SAT/ACT), and students can also qualify for National Merit scholarships through a national program. (based on nationwide score distribution) (Cost: $20)
   
• SAT: One of two major college entrance exams. Students do not have to take both the SAT and the ACT they can chose one or the other, some students do chose to take both. (Cost: $50 - $60)

• TOEFL: The TOEFL iBT test measures your ability to use and understand English at the university level. And it evaluates how well you combine your reading, listening, speaking and writing skills to perform academic tasks. (is only for international students or students who have lived in the US for less than 5 year. (Cost over $200)

• WIDA-Access for ELLs: Students in the ESOL program will take the Access for Ells to measure their English Language Proficiency. This is also the test that students must “pass” in order to exit from ESOL services. (Cost: free)

• Progress Checks and Common Writing Tasks: Progress Checks are given in Math, English and ESOL classes quarterly, the schedule and type of exam varies by subject (see the MCPS website for specifics). Common Writing Tasks- are given in academic classes 2-4 times a school year. Exam specifics vary by subject (see the MCPS website for specifics.) (Cost: free)

* The Science test required for graduation will be changing around the 2022-2023 school year, more info to follow.