ACT Information
For the TOPS Scholarship:
The ACT is required for students to meet the initial eligibility requirements for the Taylor Opportunity Programs for Students (TOPS). Students may substitute an SAT test to meet this requirement. TOPS does not use the Essay portion of either test as a qualifier for the TOPS Scholarship. TOPS requires a composite score, and does not accept ACT Superscores.
Students must achieve the minimum score for one of the four award levels of the TOPS Scholarship*.
- TOPS Opportunity Award – Never less than a 20, prior year Louisiana state average (currently, a 20)
- TOPS Performance Award – 23
- TOPS Honors Award – 27
- TOPS Excellence Award – 31
- TOPS Tech – Minimum score of a 17 or ACT Silver Workkeys.
*Students who are registered as a home study student with the Louisiana Department of Education, out of state high school graduates and out of country high school graduates who meet the other TOPS Initial Eligibility Requirements must have meet the ACT requirements for TOPS Alternate Eligibility.
The April National Test Day is the last opportunity for students to receive a qualifying score without a penalty for the TOPS Scholarship. Students who use a qualifying score for the June or July test will receive a one semester reduction of their TOPS Award.
The ACT is administered on National Test Days throughout the United States. Click here to see the test dates and registration deadlines.
ACT Registration: LOSFA’s ACT code is 1595
- How to Register for an ACT Test:
You will need about 30 minutes and the following:
- Computer with Internet Access
- Credit Card or Other Payment Method
- High School Course Details
- Headshot Photo
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FOR REGISTRATION
• You must submit a photo
To complete your registration, you must provide a recent photo of yourself for identification and test security purposes. This photo will print on your ticket and on the score report that is automatically sent to your high school. ACT will retain the photo for a period of time consistent with active use of test scores and test security purposes, and use as described in the ACT Privacy Policy.
• Accommodations and English Learner (EL) Supports
All requests for accommodations and EL supports, including appeals, must be submitted by the published late registration deadline for your preferred test date through the Test Accessibility and Accommodations (TAA) system. Temporary arrangements may be available for temporary conditions. Temporary arrangements are available for situations such as a broken arm. Contact ACTAccom@act.org for a request form.
Students must request accommodations for each ACT test by the published late registration deadline.
When You Should Test
Consider choosing a test date at least two months ahead of the application deadlines of all the colleges and scholarship agencies to which you might want to apply.Scores for the ACT are normally reported within 2–8 weeks after the test date. If you take the ACT with writing,
scores will be reported only after all of your scores are available, including writing, normally within 5–8 weeks after the test date.
Click here to search for an ACT Test Center near you.
Click here to look up your high school code.
If you are registering for the writing portion, click here to learn more about the writing portion of the ACT test.
Make Sure Your Registration Is Complete
The confirmation page will appear after you have entered your payment information.
This page will list your confirmation number, admission ticket, and instructions for test
day. Print this page for your records.
After you have successfully registered, you should see options similar to the example shown below. You can print your admissions ticket at any time prior to the test date by clicking Print Admission Ticket.
Check out these free online prep resources:
The ACT Waiver Program
The ACT Waiver Program covers the registration fee for up to four ACT tests, with or without the optional writing test for National testing.
In addition to the registration fee, students who are eligible for the waiver also receive free learning resources and free additional score reports. Students who test with an ACT fee waiver may also request a Waiver or Deferral of College Admission Applications Fee. To have a college application fee waived, you must submit your fee waiver directly to the college you are applying to (not to ACT).
- How Do I Apply for the ACT Fee Waiver?
- Check with your school counselor to see if you are eligible to apply.
- Once your school counselor determines if you are eligible, you can receive up to four fee waivers to take the ACT test for free and you will receive free learning resources.
- When you register for the ACT online or by mail, use your ACT fee waiver code.
ACT Test Day
Requesting Accommodations and English Learner (EL) Supports
To request accommodations, you must work with a school official because the accommodations requested should be based on the accommodations the student currently receives in school. Accommodations MUST be approved by ACT prior to the testing. Simply requesting an accommodation is not sufficient.
All requests, including appeals, must be submitted by the late registration deadline for the preferred test date. If the request is not properly submitted, it may not be approved in time for the preferred test date. Click here for more information.
- How to Make a Request: Examinees Who Are Homeschooled or Are Not Currently Enrolled
- Create or log in to an existing account and register to test. Online registration will ask you to indicate your accessibility needs.
- You will automatically receive an email that will provide a link to the application for your request. If you do not receive this message, you may email ACT for a copy.
- Complete all required documentation:
- Completed Exceptions Statement (PDF)
- Diagnostic documentation and/or English language proficiency scores
- Documentation to substantiate your need for accommodation, such as:
- Prior IEP, 504 plan, or educational plan
- Recommendation for test accommodations and/or supports from diagnosing professional, including rationale for each requested item
- Brief personal statement regarding any previously provided accommodation and/or EL supports in an educational environment, and a rationale for the current request
- Return your completed paper request with all required documentation by the published late registration deadline to ACT via:
- Email: actaccom@act.org
- Fax: 319.341.2415
- Mail: ACT Special Testing, 301 ACT Drive, PO Box 4028, Iowa City, IA 52243
Say “YES” to EOS!
ACT | SAT | CLT Information
SAT Information
For the TOPS Scholarship:
Students may use an equivalent SAT score to meet the TOPS ACT requirement. TOPS does not use the Essay portion of the test as a qualifier for the TOPS Scholarship.
Students must achieve the minimum score for one of the four award levels of the TOPS Scholarship*.
- TOPS Opportunity Award – SAT Score of 1030
- TOPS Performance Award – SAT Score of 1130
- TOPS Honors Award – SAT Score of 1260
- TOPS Excellence Award – SAT Score of 1390
- TOPS Tech – SAT Score of 920
*Students who are registered as a home study student with the Louisiana Department of Education, out of state high school graduates and out of country high school graduates who meet the other TOPS Initial Eligibility Requirements must have meet the requirements for TOPS Alternate Eligibility.
The March National Test Day is the last opportunity for students to receive a qualifying score without a penalty for the TOPS Scholarship. Students who use a qualifying score for the May or June test will receive a one semester reduction of their TOPS Award.
Click here for SAT national test dates and registration deadlines.
When You Should Test
Students usually take the SAT for the first time in spring of their junior year then again in the fall of their senior year.
Click here to search for an SAT Test Center near you.
The SAT Waiver Program
The SAT Waiver Program covers the registration fee for two free SAT tests. If you qualify for the waiver, you do not have to pay anything to take the SAT!
In addition to the registration fee, students who are eligible for the waiver also receive free college benefits and other benefits.
- How Do I Apply for the SAT Fee Waiver?
- Check with your school counselor to see if you are eligible to apply.
- Once your school counselor determines if you are eligible, you can receive up to two fee waivers to take the SAT test for free.
- When you register for the SAT online or by mail, use your SAT fee waiver code.
* If you’re homeschooled, you can get fee waivers by contacting a local high school counselor. You’ll need to provide proof of eligibility, such as tax records or proof of enrollment in an aid program.
SAT Test Day
- What Not to Bring on Test Day
The following on prohibited items on SAT Test Day:
- Mobile phones, smartwatches, fitness trackers, or other wearable technology (simple digital non-smartwatches or analog watches are acceptable)
- Audio players or recorders, tablets, laptops, notebooks, Bluetooth devices (such as wireless earbuds/headphones), or any other personal computing devices
- Separate timers of any type
- Cameras or any other photographic equipment
- Pens, highlighters, or mechanical or colored pencils
- Books or references of any kind except as approved as an English language learner support for in-school administrations
- Compasses, rulers, protractors, or cutting devices
- Papers of any kind, including scratch paper
- Earplugs
- Unacceptable calculators that have computer-style (QWERTY) keyboards, use paper tape, make noise, or use a power cord
- Weapons or firearms