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Test Prep
Dates, policy changes, and preparation judgment for the SAT, ACT, AP, PSAT, ISEE, SSAT, HSPT, and TOEFL. Test dates follow each testing organization’s official announcements.
- Articles
- 12
- Last updated
- November 10, 2026
- Test dates and deadlines
- Score sending and superscoring
- Format and scoring changes
- Post-test analysis
- Preparation timelines
Irvine AP Exam Sales Closed: February Adds a $40 Fee
College Board's fall AP ordering deadline is November 13, and fall sales at several Irvine high schools closed in late October. February dates, fees, and refunds.
PSAT/NMSQT Scores Arrive Nov. 5: Reading the Report
Fall in-school PSAT/NMSQT scores release in batches, with many Irvine students seeing scores November 5. This article explains score access, the report and benchmarks.
October ACT Scores Are Out: How Superscoring Works
Paper scores from the October 17 ACT began releasing on October 27. This article covers the new ACT superscore method, score-sending rules and three college policies.
New TOEFL 1–6 Scale: College English Rules for Irvine
The TOEFL iBT moved to a 1–6 scale in January 2026, and UC and other universities now publish English proficiency minimums on it. Here is who in Irvine must test.
SAT and ACT Test Day: ID, Calculator, Device Rules
With the November 7 SAT and December 12 ACT ahead, College Board and ACT set different rules on ID, calculators, and devices. What to bring and when to arrive.
Early Deadlines: Will SAT/ACT Scores Arrive in Time?
November 7 SAT scores arrive November 20, after several November 1 early deadlines. This article covers score release, sending rules, and three colleges' test cutoffs.
Irvine PSAT/NMSQT in October: How Scores Enter National Merit
IUSD gives every junior a free PSAT/NMSQT this October, the only entry to the 2028 National Merit program. Dates by school, score release dates, and selection rules.
Self-Studying AP: Official Rules and Two Real Limits
College Board lets students take most AP Exams without the course, but Irvine families still face two limits: securing a test site and choosing a suitable subject.
ISEE vs. SSAT: Levels, Sections, and Retake Limits
The ISEE has four levels and allows one test per season, up to three a year; the paper SSAT allows up to six a year. What this means for Orange County applicants.
How Many Times Should You Take the SAT?
Two to three sittings suits most students, in spring of junior year and fall of senior year. This guide covers the 2026-27 dates, score releases, and superscoring.
Digital SAT Reading Tips: 8 Strategies That Work
The Digital SAT Reading and Writing section runs 54 questions in 64 minutes across two adaptive modules. This guide covers the four content domains and eight strategies.
SSAT Prep Strategy: Verbal, Quantitative & Reading
The four SSAT sections reward four different preparation methods. This guide covers question counts, section timing, the wrong-answer penalty and the writing sample.
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