ACT/SAT in Lieu of Test of Academic Proficiency

The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) requires all teacher candidates to submit proof of minimum ACT plus writing/SAT scores OR pass the four subareas of the Test of Academic Proficiency (TAP) to be admitted into a Teacher Education Program. 

You may be excused from taking the TAP and instead submit your ACT/SAT scores if the requirements below are met.

  • You earned a composite ACT Plus Writing score of at least 22; or a SAT composite (mathematics and critical reading) score of 1030. Note that the writing subtest  must have been taken for each test; however,the writing score is not included in the composite score requirement for either test.
  • You have not already failed the TAP five times.
  • Your official ACT/SAT score report cannot be more than ten years old at the time of your application and submission of the ACT/SAT scores to ISBE.

If you do not meet all of the above requirements, you must either (by December sophomore year)

(1) register for and pass the Test of Academic Proficiency, OR
(2) retake the ACT Plus Writing or SAT and earn the required composite score (22 or 1030).

Candidates who meet ACT plus writing/SAT requirements must complete the steps below at the time you apply to the Teacher Education Program. For most of you, that is April of the sophomore year. 

Step 1) Complete form 73-60 and submit it with your application to the Teacher Education Program. Kelly Lawton will verify your ACT/SAT results, then sign and mail the form to ISBE on your behalf. Complete this steop prior to requesting your offical ACT or SAT scores.

Step 2) Request that ACT or SAT send an official score report to the Illinois State Board of Education. Note: any ACT or SAT score report that lacks a writing component will not be accepted.

ACT Results: Use code 3001. ACT is aware of the appropriate mailing address when code  3001 is used. You may also call 319‐337‐1313 and request your ACT results be mailed to  the Illinois State Board of Education, Division of Educator Certification, 100 North First Street,  S‐306, Springfield, IL 62777.

SAT Results: There is no agency code for SAT results. Request that they be mailed to the  Illinois State Board of Education,Division of Educator Certification, 100 North First Street, S‐  306, Springfield, IL 62777.

Step 3) Set up an ECS educator account 10‐14 days after requesting scores to be sent to ISBE. You can use the ECS to verify that score reports have been received.

 

Updated March 13, 2013.