Coronavirus In MA: Impact On MCAS, SAT, ACT, AP, Other Tests

BOSTON — Standardized tests across the commonwealth are being delayed and canceled due to the outbreak of the new coronavirus. Upcoming SAT and ACT tests, the largest college admissions tests, are being postponed or canceled, while the AP Program is working on a way for students to test at home. The state's MCAS English Language Arts test, which is required to graduate but scheduled during the three week school closure, will be delayed at a minimum, but the state has not determined how MCAS testing will be adjusted in general.

SATs

The May 2 SAT administration is canceled. The March 28 makeup for the March 14 administartion is also canceled.

"Students who already registered for May, whose March test centers were closed, or who do not receive March scores because of any irregularities will receive refunds," the College Board said in an announcement.

The organization is expected to release more information soon.

ACTs

The April 4 test date has been rescheduled to June 13. Students will have to re-register, but can do so for free, according to ACT.

AP exams

The AP Program is working on "a solution that would allow students to test at home," depending on the state of the outbreak in May. More information will be announced on March 20, they said.

MCAS tests

The high school sophomore English Language Arts test is scheduled to take place during the mandatory three-week school closure, so it will be delayed at the very least. But the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education has not decided how to handle the year's tests, according to department spokeswoman Jacqueline Reis.

"There may be an opportunity for a one-year assessment and accountability waiver from the federal government, but even if that is granted, we would need legislative relief from our state legislature to waive the state law around the testing requirement," Commissioner Jeffrey Riley said Friday.

Graduate testing

Many ETS testing centers are closed, but not all. ETS administers the GREs and TOEFLs, among others.

The March LSAT has been canceled, with all registrants re-registered for the April 25 test. The April test may end up being canceled as well.

MCAT exams scheduled for March 27 and April 4 have been canceled.

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Coronaviruses are a family of viruses that include the common cold as well as much more serious diseases. The strain that emerged in China in late 2019, now called COVID-19, is related to others that have caused serious outbreaks in recent years, including severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS). The first confirmed case of COVID-19 in the U.S. was on Jan. 21.

The disease, which apparently originated in animals, is now transferring from person to person, although the mechanism is not yet fully understood. Its symptoms include fever, coughing and shortness of breath, and many patients develop pneumonia. There is as yet no vaccine against COVID-19 it and no antiviral treatment.

According to the CDC, the best way of preventing the disease is to avoid close contact with people who are sick, to avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands, to wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, and to use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60 percent alcohol if soap and water are not available.

To avoid spreading any respiratory illness, the CDC recommends staying at home when you are sick, covering your cough or sneeze with a tissue and throwing the tissue in the trash, cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched objects and surfaces.

Christopher Huffaker can be reached at 412-265-8353 or chris.huffaker@patch.com.