Mundelein High School will no longer use the SAT as a form of state testing, which takes place every Spring. MHS, and all other public schools in Illinois that use standardized testing, will use the ACT simply because of the price.
Assistant Superintendent Anthony Kroll said, “The Illinois State Board of Education is required to assess students as a part of their accountability to the federal government’s education criteria. Most often that’s done in some type of standardized assessment.” Kroll added, “For the last eight years, we’ve been under the SAT, using the SAT as the accountability measure so that the state could show student growth according to the goals that they gave to the federal government.”
However, after an eight-year contract with the SAT, the ACT issued a better offer to the Illinois State Board of Education.
Department Chair of Guidance Tom Buenik explained how this process works: “Now ACT has returned the favor and they have undercut SAT with a lower bid. And by law, you have to take the lowest bid. If everything else meets the same criteria, they must take the lowest bid. Even as a school district, when we do our construction projects, we have to take the lowest bid. So, the ACT came in with the lowest bid, and now we have to change again,” said Buenik.
The contract with the ACT will last for six years and after those years pass there will be another bidding that could or couldn’t change what MHS uses as standardized testing.
Buenik mentioned why MHS uses yearly standardized testing. “The main reason for us taking this test in April is for our state accountability. Everyone should try to do their best whether they want to take this test because this measures how well our students at Mundelein High School are doing,” he said. He added how the students’ test scores go on MHS’s ‘report card.’ Possible families moving into the area look at the report card to decide whether or not they want their children to attend the school. The Illinois State Board of Education uses the report card to assess the school as well.
Not only does standardized testing provide MHS and the state with data, but it can also open doors for students.
Senior Daniel Desrosiers has taken both the ACT and SAT. From taking both tests, Desrosiers learned that he preferred the SAT compared to the ACT. He added that many students might prefer one test over the other, but the only way to find out which is better suited for you is to take both tests.
“I was more successful on the SAT, scoring significantly higher than my ACT score. This is likely due to the way the test is formatted. The ACT is a faster-paced test with easier questions while the SAT offers more time with harder questions. I prefer having the extra time per question as it helps me think questions out more,” said Desrosiers.
Despite his personal preferences, Desrosiers said, “I think it is good that the school is switching to the ACT as many students find the test to be [less difficult] due to the questions being easier on average.”
Speaking on behalf of the counselors at MHS, Buenik said, “We encourage students to try both tests because they may do better on the SAT or the ACT depending on what exam they prefer.” Buenik also recommends that students take a standardized test more than once. If finances are why a student cannot sign up for a standardized test, Buenik said that MHS can provide students who qualify with fee waivers in order to eliminate that barrier.
Buenik further explained how standardized testing can provide students with college scholarships.
Kroll added that students should take advantage of the ACT that the school offers in the Spring of 2025.
“It is a great opportunity for students to get a free standardized test exam and score for whatever post-secondary choices they want to make. It puts a score in every student’s back pocket for whatever their future may request of them for that,” Kroll said.
As a student who took the ACT, Desrosiers offered some advice: “For students taking the ACT in the spring, I would recommend focusing on refining your English and grammar skills as the majority of the ACT those skills. Another key concept on the ACT is to not spend too long on one question as you already have a minimal amount of time per question, so if you don’t know it is best to move in a circle and come back to it at the end,” said Desrosiers.
Even if the ACT in the Spring may not sound exciting to students, Kroll said that students will no longer have to take the Illinois State Science test because the ACT’s science portion will measure the same skills.
Buenik said that the best thing students can do to prepare is to pay attention in their classes and try their best.
