Quick answer: homeschoolers register for the SAT and ACT online as individuals and take them at public test centers; on the SAT registration, College Board tells homeschooled students to use the high school code 970000. The PSAT/NMSQT is different: it is given at schools, so you must arrange testing with a participating local high school, contacting it at least four weeks before the fall testing window. Homeschoolers can qualify for the National Merit Scholarship Program by taking the PSAT/NMSQT in the right year, usually eleventh grade. Most students take the SAT or ACT first in the spring of eleventh grade.
For a homeschooled applicant, a standardized test score is one of the few measures that compares directly with every other applicant. That makes the SAT and ACT more useful for homeschoolers than for many traditionally schooled students, even at colleges that are test-optional.
The registration process is mostly the same as for anyone else, with a few homeschool-specific steps. This guide covers each test, how to register, when to test and how to prepare. It is part of the testing section in our homeschooling high school guide.
Sources: College Board, SAT Suite help center (“If I’m homeschooled, what do I enter for the high school code?”), PSAT/NMSQT homeschooled and away students page and PSAT/NMSQT Student Guide, BigFuture college planning for homeschoolers; ACT, the ACT test for students and ACT User Handbook; National Merit Scholarship Corporation, competition steps FAQ; Classic Learning Initiatives, CLT information. Checked October 2026. Test formats, fees and dates change; confirm with each testing organization.
The Tests at a Glance
| Test | Format | Score range | Where homeschoolers test |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT | Digital, two sections: Reading and Writing, and Math | 400-1600 | Public test centers, registered individually |
| ACT | Paper or digital; English, math and reading, with optional science | 1-36 composite | Public test centers, registered individually |
| PSAT/NMSQT | Digital, same structure as the SAT | 320-1520 | A participating local school |
| PSAT 10 and PSAT 8/9 | Digital practice tests for younger students | Varies | A participating local school |
| CLT | Online, verbal reasoning, grammar and writing, quantitative reasoning | 0-120 | Test centers or remote, depending on the date |
The SAT
Format
The SAT is now digital and taken in College Board’s Bluebook app on a laptop or tablet. It has two sections, Reading and Writing, and Math, each split into two modules. The test is adaptive by section: performance on the first module determines the difficulty of the second. A calculator is allowed on the entire Math section, and a built-in graphing calculator is available in the app. Scores range from 400 to 1600.
Registering as a homeschooler
Create a College Board account and register online. When asked for your high school, College Board’s help center tells homeschooled students to enter the code 970000. Choose a test center close to home and register early, since popular centers fill up. If your teen does not have a suitable device, College Board has a device-lending option that must be requested in advance.
Fee waivers and accommodations
Eligible students can use SAT fee waivers, which are typically requested through a school counselor; College Board explains alternatives for homeschoolers on its help pages. Students with documented disabilities can request accommodations through College Board’s Services for Students with Disabilities, which takes time, so apply months ahead.
The ACT
Format
ACT’s current version, which ACT calls the enhanced ACT, includes English, math and reading, with science as an optional section. The composite score, from 1 to 36, is based on English, math and reading only. ACT lists the core test at about two hours and five minutes, with science adding about 40 minutes. The test is offered on paper and, at some centers, online.
Registering as a homeschooler
Register through a MyACT account. When asked for a high school code, homeschooled students use the homeschool code ACT provides during registration (widely reported as 969999). Use ACT’s test center locator to choose a center and date.
Should your teen take the science section?
Some colleges and scholarship programs may still look at science scores. If your teen is heading toward STEM, or if a target college mentions the science section, taking it can be worthwhile. Check each college’s testing page.
The PSAT/NMSQT and National Merit
What it is
The PSAT/NMSQT is a shorter version of the SAT, given each October. For students in eleventh grade, it serves as the qualifying test for the National Merit Scholarship Program run by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC). Tenth graders and younger students can take it for practice.
Arranging to test
College Board’s page for homeschooled students explains that homeschoolers cannot register for the PSAT/NMSQT directly. Instead, they arrange to take it at a participating local high school, and College Board advises contacting the school at least four weeks before the testing window. Call schools in late summer. Ask:
- Do you allow homeschooled students to take the PSAT/NMSQT?
- What date will you test, and is there a fee?
- What device should my teen bring?
- When and how will we receive scores?
Some schools cannot take outside students, so contact more than one.
National Merit eligibility
NMSC’s FAQ states that homeschooled students can participate if they take the PSAT/NMSQT in the specified year, usually the junior year, and meet the program’s other requirements. Scores are converted into a Selection Index, and the qualifying score varies by state each year. Students who become semifinalists then complete an application that includes a transcript and other information. For homeschoolers, the parent typically serves as the school official in the process. If your teen misses the PSAT/NMSQT because of illness or another emergency, NMSC describes an alternate entry process, which has its own deadlines.
Earlier practice
The PSAT 8/9 and PSAT 10 are given by schools at other times of year and can help a younger student get used to the format. They are not used for National Merit.
The CLT
The Classic Learning Test, created by Classic Learning Initiatives, is an alternative college admissions test that draws passages from classic and historical texts. It is accepted by a growing list of colleges and, in some states, for state scholarships. Florida, for example, accepts the CLT for its Bright Futures scholarship program. If your teen is applying to colleges that accept it, the CLT can be a good fit, but check each college’s list, since many still accept only the SAT or ACT.
When to Test
A typical timeline
| Grade | Testing step |
|---|---|
| 9 | Optional PSAT 8/9 for practice if a local school offers it |
| 10 | PSAT/NMSQT or PSAT 10 for practice; take a full SAT and ACT practice test at home to choose a test |
| 11 fall | PSAT/NMSQT in October for National Merit |
| 11 spring | First SAT or ACT |
| Summer before 12 | Focused prep for a retake |
| 12 fall | Final SAT or ACT before early application deadlines |
SAT or ACT?
Most colleges that use scores accept either test equally. Have your teen take a full official practice test for each and compare. Some students prefer the SAT’s adaptive digital format and calculator access; others prefer the ACT’s structure and pace. Pick one and focus preparation on it.
How many times?
Many students take the SAT or ACT two or three times. Some colleges “superscore”, combining the best section scores from different dates. Check each college’s policy.
Preparing at Home
Use official materials
College Board’s full-length practice tests in the Bluebook app match the real SAT format, and ACT publishes official practice tests too. Start with a diagnostic test to find weak areas.
A simple preparation plan
- Take a full practice test under timed conditions.
- Review every missed question and categorize errors: content gap, misread question or time pressure.
- Spend three to six weeks practicing the weakest areas, a few hours a week.
- Take a second full practice test.
- Repeat the review, then rest before the real test.
Add preparation time to your teen’s weekly plan the way you would for any course. Our guide to writing a weekly lesson plan shows a simple format.
Building skills through coursework
The best long-term preparation is strong coursework: regular reading of challenging texts, analytical writing, grammar practice and math through Algebra 2. A teen who has completed Algebra 1, Geometry and Algebra 2 has seen most of the math tested on the SAT and ACT.
Test-day logistics
Homeschoolers may have less experience with formal testing rooms. A timed practice test at a library, with a phone put away and snacks packed, helps your teen get used to the routine. Check the testing organization’s list of what to bring, including photo ID requirements, which can trip up students who do not carry a school ID.
Common Testing Mistakes Homeschoolers Make
Waiting too long to find a PSAT school
Schools set their PSAT/NMSQT plans well before October. Families who call in September may find that nearby schools have already finalized their numbers. Make the calls in late summer, and keep a written note of who you spoke to and what they promised.
Registering late for the SAT or ACT
Each test date has a regular registration deadline and a later deadline with an added fee. Test centers near home can fill before either deadline. Put the registration deadlines on your family calendar as soon as the testing organizations post the new year’s dates.
Skipping a full practice test
Short practice sets are useful, but they do not build the stamina a two-hour test requires. At least one complete, timed practice test before the real date shows your teen how the pacing feels, and it gives you a realistic starting score.
Forgetting the ID rules
Testing organizations set strict photo ID rules, and a homeschooled teen may not have a school ID. Read the current ID requirements for your test well before test day, and get an acceptable ID, such as a state ID card, if needed.
Test-Optional and Test-Required Colleges
Many colleges moved to test-optional admissions in recent years, and some have since returned to requiring scores. Policies change, so check each college’s admission page for the current year.
Why scores matter more for homeschoolers
At a test-optional college, a homeschooled applicant without scores is judged on a parent-prepared transcript, course descriptions, outside courses and recommendations. That can work well, especially with dual enrollment grades or AP exam scores. A solid SAT or ACT score adds an outside measure, and some colleges ask homeschooled applicants for scores even when they are optional for others. Read the homeschool section of each college’s admission page.
Scholarships
Some merit scholarships, including some state scholarship programs, use test scores. Florida’s Bright Futures program, for example, sets minimum SAT, ACT or CLT scores. Check your state’s program rules early in high school.
Reporting Scores
On the transcript
Many homeschool transcripts include a short test score section with the test, date and score. It is optional, and some families leave it off if scores are sent officially.
Official score reports
Colleges usually require official score reports sent directly by College Board or ACT, though many now accept self-reported scores at the application stage and official reports after enrollment. Your teen can choose which scores to send for most tests.
Our guide to homeschool transcripts for high school shows how to lay out a test score section. For eighth graders still planning ahead, the 8th grade checklist notes when to start thinking about testing.
Frequently Asked Questions
What high school code do homeschoolers use for the SAT?
College Board’s help center tells homeschooled students to enter 970000 as their high school code when registering for the SAT.
Can homeschoolers take the PSAT?
Yes, but not by registering directly. College Board says homeschooled students arrange to take the PSAT/NMSQT at a participating local high school, contacting it at least four weeks before the testing window.
Can homeschoolers become National Merit Scholars?
Yes. The National Merit Scholarship Corporation says homeschooled students can participate if they take the PSAT/NMSQT in the specified year, usually eleventh grade, and meet the other requirements.
Do homeschoolers need SAT or ACT scores for college?
Not always, since many colleges are test-optional. Scores can still strengthen a homeschool application by giving an outside measure, and some colleges ask homeschooled applicants for them. Check each college’s current policy.
When should a homeschooler take the SAT?
Many students take it first in the spring of eleventh grade, with a retake in the summer or fall of twelfth grade. Taking the PSAT/NMSQT in October of eleventh grade is good practice and is required for National Merit.