Transcript 9TH GRADE EXPLORE SCORES: WHAT DO THEY MEAN?

COMPARING YOUR EPAS SCORES WITH YOUR PROJECTED ACT
Taking EXPLORE® in 8th or 9th grade tells you things you need to
know—to plan your high school courses, prepare for the ACT, or
choose a career direction.
All information taken from www.act.org/explorestudent
WHAT YOUR SCORE REPORT TELLS YOU
All information taken from www.act.org/explorestudent
•
The EXPLORE Student Score Report gives
information about your knowledge, skills,
interests, and plans. You can use this information
as you plan your high school coursework and begin
thinking about college and work.
•
Your report tells you how you did on the EXPLORE
tests and how your scores compare to those of
other students in your school.
•
It contains information about your educational and
career plans, interests, high school coursework
plans, and the amount of help you think you need
in seven areas.
WHAT DO MY SCORES MEAN?
All information taken from www.act.org/explorestudent
Scores are between 1
and 25
Composite Score is the
average of English,
Mathematics, Reading,
and Science
The two scores under
English break down how
you did in each of the
English areas from 1 to
12. (added together
they do NOT necessarily
equal your English test
score.)
HOW DO MY SCORES COMPARE?
All information taken from www.act.org/explorestudent
The percentage of
students scoring at or
below your score shows
you how your scores
compare to those of
students across the
country who took
EXPLORE.
The other percents show
how you scored relative
to other students who
took EXPLORE in your
school, your school
district, and your state.
AM I ON TRACK?
All information taken from www.act.org/explorestudent
Your EXPLORE scores
can be used to predict
how you are likely to do
if you take PLAN as a
tenth grader and keep
working hard.
The Estimated PLAN
Composite Score
Range is a prediction
about how you are likely
to score on PLAN if you
take the right courses
and work hard in those
courses.
These scores are only
estimates, not
guarantees.
YOUR PLANS FOR HIGH SCHOOL
Compare Your Courses to “Core”
College Prep Courses
All information taken from www.act.org/explorestudent
When you took
EXPLORE, you were
asked about the courses
you plan to take in high
school. This section of
your Score Report
compares your plans to
our recommendations
for "core" college prep
courses.
In this example, the
student should take at
least one more year of
math, one more year of
social studies, and one
more year of science.
YOUR PLANS FOR HIGH SCHOOL
Your reported needs
All information taken from www.act.org/explorestudent
When you took
EXPLORE, you were
asked whether or not
you needed help in
seven different areas.
Areas checked on your
report are the areas you
said you needed help
with.
THINKING ABOUT COLLEGE?
All information taken from www.act.org/explorestudent
ACT has
developed College
Readiness Benchmark
Scores. If you meet
these benchmark scores,
you are on your way to
having the skills you will
need by the time you
finish high school to be
ready for college-level
work.
The checkmarks show
whether you scored
above, at, or below the
benchmark scores.
YOUR FUTURE
All information taken from www.act.org/explorestudent
When you took
EXPLORE, you answered
questions about your
educational and career
plans.
This information can
help you learn more
about careers, clarify
your goals, and begin to
plan your future—
including your high
school courses and,
perhaps, a college
education.
YOUR CAREER POSSIBILITIES
All information taken from www.act.org/explorestudent
It's not too soon to begin
exploring possible
careers!
Your EXPLORE Score
Report helps you start
by focusing on a few
career areas.
Exploring careers is
easier if you have a good
map. Visit theWorld-ofWork Map at act.org to
begin exploring careers
and occupations that
might be right for you.
HOW CAN I IMPROVE?
All information taken from www.act.org/explorestudent
The back of your Score
Report describes the
skills and knowledge you
already probably have.
You'll also see some
ideas for improving even
more in the different
subject areas. The
suggestions are based
on your scores and can
help you do better.
EXPLORE, PLAN, AND THE ACT
All information taken from www.act.org/explorestudent
PLAN is the second part of
a testing system that
starts with EXPLORE and
ends with the ACT.
Typically, students take
EXPLORE in the 8th or 9th
grade, PLAN as 10th
graders, and the ACT as
juniors or seniors.
All three test you in
English, math, reading,
and science. However, the
material tested in each
program gets more
difficult.
This is why the top scores
are different.
Program
EXPLORE
PLAN
ACT
Grade Level
Composite
Score Range
8 and 9
1 to 25
10
1 to 32
11 and 12
1 to 36
SCHEDULING YOUR
SOPHOMORE CLASSES
All information taken from www.act.org/explorestudent
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Each student will meet individually with his or her counselor to choose classes to be
taken next year – this process will begin in late January when English 1 teachers are
notified that freshmen should see their counselors during lunch periods
Students who do not show up will receive two more notifications to visit the
counseling office; if none of these appointments are kept, counselors will CHOOSE
CLASSES ON BEHALF OF THE ABSENT STUDENT
Teachers will be making recommendations electronically for regular/honors level
courses as well as electives. Students should speak to their teachers to be
recommended for classes in which they are interested
Both student and counselor will sign the course selection sheet, which is a contract
that NO CLASSES WILL BE CHANGED next year
Students must take this process seriously and are encouraged to discuss class
choices with his or her parents
Please visit the Student Programming Handbook on the Taft website to explore all
that our school has to offer.
SCHEDULING YOUR
SOPHOMORE CLASSES
All information taken from www.act.org/explorestudent
The following chart lists all required graduation courses in Chicago Public Schools:
SUBJECT
YEARS
REQUIRED
COURSES
English
4
English 1, 2, 3, 4
Mathematics
3
Algebra, Geometry, Advanced Algebra 2 with
Trigonometry
Science
3
Biology, 2 of the following options: Biology 2,
Chemistry, Physics
Social Studies
3
World Studies, US History, 1 SS elective
Foreign Language
2
2 years of the same language: Spanish,
French, Polish, Arabic
Physical Education or ROTC
2
4 semesters of PE or ROTC
Fine Arts
2
1 year of music, 1 year of Art
Your EPAS
scorecard will
show:
• All scores taken at
a CPS school,
including your 8th
grade scores and
those from this fall
Your EPAS
scorecard will
show:
• College Readiness
Benchmark scores
for next year’s
PLAN exam
Your EPAS scorecard
will show:
• The level of college
readiness indicated
by the composite
score you achieve
by your junior or
senior year ACT
assessment
Your EPAS scorecard
will show:
• The range of
composite ACT
scores typically
required for
admission to
various colleges and
universities.
COLLEGE SELECTIVITY
All information taken from www.act.org/explorestudent
Please refer to the bottom of your EPAS Scorecard to view the
college selectivity categories
 Highly selective/most competitive colleges
 30-36 ACT; Harvard, Yale, Princeton, University of Chicago, Northwestern,
Berkeley, etc.

Selective/competitive colleges
 24-29 ACT; University of Illinois, UIC, Purdue, Loyola, University of
Michigan, University of Wisconsin, University of Southern California, UCLA,
etc.

Selective/moderately competitive colleges
 18-23 ACT; Northern Illinois, Southern Illinois, Eastern Illinois, Illinois State,
Northeastern Illinois, Western Illinois, Elmhurst, Chicago State, etc.

City colleges, 2-year colleges, community colleges
 ACT 16 or less; City Colleges of Chicago, Oakton, Triton
What activities
will be
happening in
your classes
to help
increase your
college & career
readiness skills?
• January: Quarter 2 High School Interim assessments will
determine your strengths and weaknesses in specific
skills. This will help your teachers determine what areas
to focus on.
• Feb – March: Classes will review the questions from your
fall Explore exam and review test strategies specific to
each subject area.
• March – April: Quarter 3 High School Interim assessments
will check for growth in skill areas and help you prepare for
the end of the year EPAS test.
• May: The end-of-year Explore assessment will check
whether your college and career readiness skills are on
track.
• Jan – June: Teachers will be including EPAS style
questions in your unit or chapter exams so that you are
better prepared for those type of problems.
For more information,
parents should visit
www.act.org/path/parent.
www.whatsnextillinois.org is a great tool to explore your interests and skills.
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