The Scholastic Aptitude Test: SAT

Presenter: Mrs. Gail Platt Bethel High School Counselor

The SAT Focuses on College Success

™

Skills

– Critical Reading – Mathematics – Writing The SAT ® tests students’ reasoning based on knowledge and skills developed through their course work. It measures their ability to analyze and solve problems by applying what they have learned in school .

Time Specifications

3 hours 45 minutes

Critical Reading:

70 minutes Two 25-minute sections 20-minute section

Math:

70 minutes Two 25-minute sections 20-minute section

Writing:

60 minutes Two multiple-choice sections one 25-minute section and one 10-minute section one 25-minute essay

Variable Section:

25 minutes

Test Content and Question Types

• The Test measures academic achievement in the areas of Critical Reading • Math • Writing

Test Scores

Critical Reading:

200 –800

Math:

200 –800

Writing:

200 –800 Will include 2 sub scores: Essay 2 –12 (1/3 of writing score) Multiple-choice 20 –80 (2/3 of writing score)

SAT Scores for 2004-2005

• 233 students at Bethel High School took the Scholastic Aptitude Test.

• The average scores for the SAT are as follows:

Verbal Math Bethel

456 464

Virginia

516 514

Nation

508 520

Critical Reading

• Measures knowledge of genre (types of literature), cause and effect, comparative arguments, and the ability to recognize relationships among parts of a text • Long and short reading passages are taken from different fields: – Natural sciences – Humanities – Social science – Literary fiction • Short reading passages now replace the formerly used analogy section.

Math Section

Measures problem-solving skills

• Emphasis on math reasoning: SAT math measures the ability to apply math content to real-life problems. • SAT is unique in having some “grid-in” questions requiring student-produced responses. Student generates his/her own response to the problem.

Calculator Policy

• A scientific or graphing calculator is recommended for the current test.

• Every question can be answered without a calculator,

calculators are definitely encouraged.

• Previously, a basic 4-function calculator was recommended, but now

scientific is the base level recommendation.

• Students should

bring a calculator with which they are comfortable and familiar.

The Math Section

Expanded Number and Operations topics include:

– Sequences involving exponential growth – Sets (union, intersection, elements)

Expanded Data Analysis, Statistics, and Probability topics include:

– Data interpretation, scatter plots, and matrices – Geometric probability

Scoring Procedures for the Essay

• Essays are scored by trained high school English teachers and college professors with experience teaching writing.

• Each essay is scored independently by two readers according to the holistic Scoring Guide in conjunction with sample essays selected for training.

• Essays are scored on a scale of 1 to 6 by each reader (total score of 2 to 12).

• Essays are scanned and distributed to readers via the Web.

• Scoring and reader supervision take place online.

ACT

Time Specifications

• English 45 minutes • Reading 35 minutes • Mathematics 60 minutes • Science 35 minutes

ACT Content Areas

The test measures academic achievement in the areas of: – English – Mathematics – Reading – Science

Test Scores

• Test sub-scores range from 1-36 • The composite is the average of the test sub-scores.

ACT Scores for 2004-2005

• 81 students at Bethel High School took the ACT. • The composite (average) for the ACT are as follows: BHS: Nation: 17.6

20.9

Calculator Policy

• You may use a calculator on the math section, however it is not required.

• All problems can be solved without a calculator. • To be certain your calculator is permitted visit www.actstudent.org

or call (800)-498-6481 for a recorded message.

Basics of Test Scoring

• SAT: total of correct responses with a penalty for guessing.

• ACT: total of correct responses without penalty for guessing.

How Students Can Prepare

Students should:

– Challenge themselves throughout high school by taking rigorous courses, including at least 3 years of math – Read and write as much as possible—both in and outside of school.

– Study Latin derivates (root words, suffixes, prefixes) – Study vocabulary: antonyms (words of opposite meaning), synonyms (words of similar meaning), and homonyms (words which sound similarly, but are spelled differently) – Comply with registration dates and fees.

How Students Can Prepare

Students should

– Explore resources on the internet: www.collegeboard.com

www.act.org

– Familiarize themselves with the SAT and ACT so they know what to expect on test day – Familiarize themselves with the different types of questions on the tests, the directions for each type of question, and how the test is scored.

– Take full length practice test in the SAT Preparation Booklet several times. –

TEST FREQUENTLY WELL BEFORE YOUR JUNIOR/SENIOR YEAR.

–

Take the PSAT in October. It provides good preparation for the SAT

Additional Materials

• Handouts are available in the lobby area of the auditorium if you failed to pick them up as you entered. – Comparative features SAT/ACT 2004-05 – ACT Assessment at a Glance – SAT Reasoning Skills – Testing cost, calendars, dates for 2005-06

Please complete the brief program evaluation form and leave it on the table in the lobby.

SAT PREP CLASS BHS

• We have 10 available slots • Reserve for seniors first come first served • Reserve for juniors first come first served • Information sheet available in lobby • Additional class will be organized for the April SAT tentatively scheduled: 28 Feb, 7 & 9 March, 14 &16 March, Super Saturday 18 March, 21 &23 March • SAT 1 April 2006

HIGH SCHOOL CODE

• The High School Code for Bethel High School is C471-020

Thank you for joining us this evening.

We are here to assist you and point you in the right direction. Good luck with all of your future endeavors.