Transcript Post-Graduate Planning Standardized Testing

ACT Explore
PSAT
SAT
Subject Tests
ACT
AP
Post-Secondary Planning
Standardized Testing
Why is testing
necessary?
Testing Calendar
Grade
Fall

9th
ACT Explore
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10th
PSAT
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11th
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12th
Winter
Spring_____
APs & Subject
PSAT
APs & Subject
*Start taking SATs or ACTs – timing depends on your preparation
Finish SATs / ACTs
APs
ACT Explore: 9th grade
Assesses college readiness in:
English
Reading
Math
Science
Career Interest Inventory
Indentifies career areas that match interests
Plots self-reported career interest on
world of work map
Preview to ACT
PSATs
Who Takes It?
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10th and 11th graders
Parents pay registration fee
unless participating in
free/reduced lunch program
What is it?
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Preliminary or practice SAT
Three Sections: Critical
Reading, Math, Writing
Scores: 20 to 80
Where and When?
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UDHS
3rd Wednesday in October
PSATs
Why?
Practice
Learning Tool & Educational Planning
Students will get their scores & test booklet
My College Quick Start - available in mid-December
National Merit Consideration – Junior Year only
Testing for College
All colleges accept equally the
SAT or ACT.
Many of the most competitive colleges
require more testing:
Subject Tests
Many students choose to take AP Exams
to receive college credit for courses taken in
high school.
SAT
Calendar of Test Dates
2013-2014
October 5, 2013
November 2, 2013
December 7, 2013
January 25, 2014
March 8, 2014*
May 3, 2014
June 7, 2014
*No Subject Tests offered on this date
ACT
When and Where?
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Upper Dublin is a test center in October and April
Offered at some local school districts.
Test dates are different than those for SATs
2013-2014
September 21, 2013
October 26, 2013
December 14, 2013
February 8, 2014
April 12, 2014
June 14, 2014
SAT vs. ACT Test Composition
SAT
ACT
Test
Organization
Critical Reading, Math, Writing (the
first of which is the Essay).
Math, English, Reading, Science and Writing
(optional)
Test Content
READING: Sentence completions,
short and long critical reading
passages, reading comprehension.
MATH: Algebra I, Geometry and
limited Algebra II.
WRITING: Limited grammar rules,
word usage, word choice, and a
mandatory essay.
READING: Four passages, one each of
Prose Fiction, Social Sciences, Humanities,
and Natural Sciences
ENGLISH: Usage/Mechanics and Rhetorical
Function
MATH: Up to trigonometry
SCIENCE: charts, graphs, data
interpretation
WRITING: Optional essay
Essay
First section of test -25 minutes.
Topics: sayings, historic quotes.
Last section of test - 30 minutes. Topics;
subjects of concern to high school students.
Overall Time
3 hours 45 minutes
2 hours and 55 minutes without essay
3 hours 25 minutes with essay
Overall Scoring
Each portion of the test receives a
score of 200-800. (Average score is
500 in each section)
Each portion of the test receives a score of
1-36; composite score is average of all
subtests without including essay. (Average
score is 21 in each section)
Penalty for
guessing
¼ point penalty for each incorrect
answer.
Only correct answers count, no ¼ point
penalty for incorrect answers but guessing
is encouraged.
SAT vs. ACT Test Composition
SAT
ACT
Question
Format
Questions are sometimes like a puzzle
and have a bias toward reasoning.
Questions are more straight forward and
knowledge based and have a bias toward
processing speed.
Chunking
The Essay section will be the first test
taken. The remaining sections will be
either Reading, Math or Writing (multiple
choice) in random order.
Each content area in one large chunk; English,
Math, Reading, and Science Reasoning with
Writing at the end.
Subject Tests
What are they?
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One hour multiple choice tests
Measure how much student knows about a
particular academic subject
Used for admission and /or placement in college
Tests fall into five Subject Areas
Subject Tests
English:
Literature
History and Social Studies:
United States History
World History
Mathematics:
Mathematics Level 1
Preparation: 3 years of college prep math
including 2 yrs Algebra & 1 yr Geometry
Mathematics Level 2
Preparation: More than 3 yrs college prep math
including 2 yrs Algebra, 1 yr Geometry,
Elementary Functions (Pre-Calculus) and / or
Trigonometry
Subject Tests
Science:
Biology E/M; Chemistry; Physics
Languages:
French & French with Listening
German & German with Listening
Modern Hebrew
Italian
Japanese with Listening
Korean with Listening
Latin
Spanish & Spanish with Listening
Subject Tests
Does everyone need to take Subject Tests?
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No - Take them if required by colleges to which the
student is applying.
Which Subject Tests should you take?
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What does the college require?
What is your intended major?
When should you take them?
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Take immediately after completing a course (May and
June)
Can take up to three different tests at a time.
Scoring
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Scores range from 200 to 800
SAT, ACT:
A Matter of Scheduling
How many times should I take them?
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At least once during the spring of the junior year, but
most take it more than once.
At least twice by the fall of their senior year.
Until you get the score you need.
Planning is important! Considerations:
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SAT: Majority of Algebra II and Geometry completed.
ACT: Majority of Alg. II, Geometry, Intro to Trig
completed.
Need Subject Tests? Can’t take on same day as SAT
so start testing earlier.
Registration
How do students register?
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www.collegeboard.com (for SATs & Subject Tests)
www.actstudent.org (for ACTs)
Registration forms in Guidance, return to
College Board or ACT not UDHS
Pay attention to deadlines
Registration fee waivers are available to students on
the free and reduced lunch system.
(See counselor)
What Scores Do Colleges Want?
Which Scores do Colleges Use?
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Varies by college (Research College Testing Policies)
Highest of each component (regardless of date) OR
highest test date total.
Use of writing score varies.
A few schools require you send all SAT/SBJ test scores.
How to Compare Scores from the ACT and SAT
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Concordance chart at www.act.org/aap/concordance
AP Exams
Why?
Possible College Credit
What?
3 hour comprehensive test
offered in every AP subject area.
How, When and Where?
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Register “In-House” through
Guidance
At UDHS during school day in
May
Cost approx $90/exam
Reporting Scores to Colleges
AP Scores
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Sent to students in July
Score choice – can choose which scores to send to
the college you are attending.
Send scores to your college through
collegeboard.com
For more information, refer to AP Bulletin given to
all students in AP classes in February.
Test Preparation: SAT, ACT &
Subject Tests
Current Trends
Prep Options
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School SAT Courses
Private Courses: School (SAT) and Community (All)
Private Tutoring (All)
On-Line Courses or Tutoring
Books
Free On-Line Prep
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PSAT Score report – access code for “My College Quickstart”
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includes on-line SAT prep
Evening / Saturday School-Sponsored
SAT Prep
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Sessions offered by Kaplan and Princeton Review
Two evenings and one Saturday morning a week,
for five/six weeks.
Preparation for March and May Test Dates (Juniors
only)
• Letters mailed home in December.
Summer Prep Course (Rising Junior and Seniors)
• Letters mailed home towards the end of the
school year.
Questions?????