ACT - PreACT - SAT - PSAT

In addition to assessments they take in class, students take standardized tests as ways to track their learning and give teachers valuable information. District 99 is also required by the state of Illinois to give other assessments; scores are used by faculty and staff to make instructional and programmatic decisions.

The district's Student Learning page provides more information about testing.

ACT/Pre-ACT

The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) requires District 99 to administer the ACT to students in grade 11. Taking the school-issued ACT is a requirement for graduation. Students in grades 9 and 10 take the “preACT Secure,” which provides an early experience of the ACT. The ACT includes assessments in English, math, reading, science and writing.

The ACT is a widely used college entrance exam. It assesses high school students' general educational development and their ability to complete college-level work. The score range is 1-36.The multiple-choice tests cover four skill areas: English, mathematics, reading, and science. An optional 5th test, Writing, measures skill in planning and writing a short essay. (It cannot be taken separately.)

The Writing test may be required for admission, depending on the university. Therefore, we recommend that your student takes an ACT with the Writing section at least once. For more information visit actstudent.org.

*All DGN 11th grade students take a free ACT at school. Registration is completed during school.

Testing dates will be in the spring; those dates will be published soon.

SAT

The SAT is a measure of the critical thinking skills needed for academic success in college. The SAT assesses analytical and problem-solving skills learned in school that are needed in college. Each section of the SAT is scored on a scale of 200—800, plus two writing sub-scores for multiple-choice and the essay. The tests include: Evidenced-Based Reading and Writing, Math, and an essay. For more information visit www.collegeboard.com.

Students who wish to take the SAT may do so on a Saturday test date at participating locations for a fee; District 99 will not be administering the SAT during the school day.

National SAT Dates at District 99

Saturday, October 4, 2025 at North High
Saturday, March 14, 2026 at South High

PSAT/NMSQT

District 99 administers the PSAT/NMSQT, which provides opportunities for scholarships to interested students in grade 11. PSAT/NMSQT stands for Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. It's an optional standardized test that provides firsthand practice for the SAT Reasoning Test. It also gives students a chance to enter National Merit Scholarship Contest, awarded to the top 1% of scorers nationally. The PSAT/NMSQT measures: critical reading skills, math problem-solving skills, and writing skills.

On Tuesday, October 14, 2025, the PSAT/NMSQT will be offered at North High School. Online registration for the PSAT/NMSQT will begin Tuesday, September 2 at 8 a.m. and end on Friday, September 26 at 11:59 p.m.

Test Preparation

While District 99 does not specifically recommend or endorse any test preparation program, here are some resources for your consideration:

Kaplan ACT Prep - Kaplan has partnered with ACT to offer test prep services, including self-paced and online options.
Khan Academy SAT Prep - Khan Academy has teamed up with College Board to offer free online SAT preparation.
Excel Edge Test Prep - Classes are held at DGN and/or DGS for juniors for a cost.

Questions to Ask When Searching for Test Preparation Services

Assess student need: How much help do you need? Does your learning style match the instructor or program delivery? Does the timeline of the program match up with the date the student is testing?
Know the format: Is the class offered online or in a classroom environment? Will there be a group of students or will the sessions be private? What is the structure of the session? Will students spend their time working on areas of weakness or general practice sessions?
Know the instructor: How much experience has the tutor had with the test? What is the instructor’s background? How are instructors assigned? Is there an opportunity to change instructors?
Know the curriculum: Is the curriculum set? Do they use materials from the testing agency? Are students expected to work on test prep outside the session?
Know your budget: There are a wide range of services and fees available. Be sure you understand what is included in the fees.