Transcript College Admissions Testing COMPASS Test SAT Reasoning Test ACT By Lue Healy Effingham County High School.

College Admissions Testing
COMPASS Test
SAT Reasoning Test
ACT
By Lue Healy
Effingham County High School
Where you are going to College
determines which test you
need to take!
• Check your chosen college’s website for
more information about testing.
• Although all Georgia Colleges can use the
SAT or ACT for admissions and placement
purposes, most two- year colleges and
technical colleges do not require the SAT
or ACT.
What is the COMPASS TEST?
• A computerized test that helps evaluate your
skills.
• An easier test than the SAT or ACT.
• A test whose results will be used to admit (or
not admit) you to 2 year colleges and technical
college programs as well as to place you in
appropriate coursework.
• DO YOUR BEST so you don’t have to repeat
course material that you already know!
Who should take the
COMPASS TEST
• Students who want to attend
TECHNICAL COLLEGES like Savannah
or Ogeechee Tech
• Students who want to attend 2 year
colleges like East Georgia College or
Middle GA College
• Students seeking admission to 4 year
colleges should NOT take the COMPASS
TEST. You cannot use it for admission to a
four year college..
What does the COMPASS Test
Evaluate?
Writing skills
Math Skills
Reading skills
HOW MUCH DOES THE
COMPASS TEST COST?
• In most cases, the
COMPASS Test is
FREE but you
must apply for
admission and pay
the application fee
for the technical
school or 2 year
college of your
choice!
How do I sign up for the
COMPASS Test?
• After you apply for
a 2 year or
technical college,
sign up with your
chosen college for a
time to go to take
the COMPASS
Test.
I took the COMPASS – now
what do I do with my scores?
• Look at your scores carefully.
• Compare your scores with the scores that your chosen 2year or technical college lists as acceptable. Acceptable
scores vary by college and by program of study!
• If your scores place you in a range so that you will have to
take remedial classes, you may want to re-test before
entering college.
• If you need remediation in more than two areas (math,
reading, writing), you will be denied admission to many
colleges.
• The HOPE Scholarship will not pay for remedial classes
at 2 and 4 year colleges. The HOPE GRANT will pay for
remedial classes at technical schools.
Example: Fall 2012 Testing
Requirements at East GA College
• Students can exempt the COMPASS Test at
2 year and technical colleges by getting the
following scores on the:
• SAT – English 430>
Math 400>
• ACT – English 17>
•
Math 17>
• GHSGT English/Language Arts 235 >
Passing COMPASS SCORES
• These scores are passing COMPASS Scores
and will prevent you from taking remedial
classes!
• Reading 74
• English 60
• Mathematics 37
• If you test lower than the above scores, you will be
placed in learning support classes that will NOT
count toward your degree and that will NOT be
covered by the HOPE Scholarship even if you are
eligible. You will not be admitted to East Georgia
if you need learning support in all three areas!
Minimum COMPASS Scores
• If any of your scores are below the
minimum listed below, you WILL NOT BE
ADMITTED TO East Georgia regardless of
your other scores.
• Reading 62
• English 32
• Mathematics 20
Can I take the COMPASS Test
more than once?
• In most cases, Yes, but you may have to pay
to re-take the test.
• Most colleges will not let you retest
unless you can prove that you have done
remediation to improve your scores.
• Try hard the first time you test!
Should I take the SAT or ACT ?
• YES – If you plan to enter a four-year college
• YES – If your 2 year college program requires it
• YES – If you are strong in Math or English.
Certain high scores will exempt you from taking
the Regent’s exam and offer you potential
scholarship opportunities.
WHEN IN DOUBT, SEE YOUR
COUNSELOR!
ACT or SAT???
Whichever test choose to take, make sure you
do these two things when you register:
• Enter our ECHS high school code –
112791 – so we will receive your scores!
• Send your scores to four colleges since it is
included in the price. This will cost more if
you do it later!
ACT – American College Test
 Consists of four parts: Verbal Reasoning, Math,
English, and Reading Comprehension
 Each section is scored on 1-36 scale
 These section scores are then averaged
together to get a composite score of 1-36
 There is an optional writing section
 However, if you use the ACT as your college
admissions test, the writing part is NOT optional.
You MUST take the WRITING section to be
admitted. Check with your college of choice to be
sure!
ACT Writing Section
• Scored on a 1-36 scale
• Not averaged in the
composite score
• Writing section is
averaged with the English
Score for a
Writing/English
Composite score that is
separate from the regular
composite score
Sample ACT Score
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
English
28
Sci Reasoning 25
Math
24
Reading comp 27
Total
104
104/4 = 26
Composite = 26
ACT Sample Score
Example of ACT writing/English
Composite score
Writing score 25 + English 28 = 53
53 Divided by 2 = 26 ½
26½ rounds to 27
English/Writing composite = 27
It came in the mail but WHAT
does my ACT score mean?
• ACT average score is
18-20.
• Georgia Southern U
admission requires a
21 composite score
this year
• Univ of GA middle
50% of admitted
students have ACT
composites 27-31.
How much does the ACT Cost
and how do I sign up?
• This year’s cost with the
writing section is
$49.50. Pay by check, credit
card or money order.
DO NOT SEND CASH!
• Sign up by going to
www.myactstudent.org
• You have to sign yourself up –
the school cannot do it for you!
Taking off with the
SAT –I Reasoning Test
• Three parts: Verbal, Math,
and Writing
• Each part is worth 800
points or 2400 points total
• The writing section is
composed of a multiple
choice section as well as
an essay section.
• Average score 1500
What kind of SAT Score Do I
Need this Year?
• Georgia Southern - must have minimum of 1010
on the math and verbal combined (does not
include writing score)
• GSU Eagle Incentive Program 920-1000 (math
and verbal added together , not counting writing)
• UGA’s middle 50% of SAT scores last year were
1190-1360 (math and verbal)
• Armstrong Atlantic State University’s preferred
scoresV-460 , M- 440.
What about the SAT Writing
Section?
• Writing section is required
• Consists of a multiple
choice and an essay part
• Essay is scored by
independent readers
• Maximum score is 800
• Colleges vary on how they
use the writing score: at
UGA, this score is VERY
important.
SAT Subject Tests
• Most students do NOT need to take Subject
tests
• Subject tests are not required by most colleges
unless you are applying to an elite school
• If you score high enough on subject tests, you may
receive college credit for your score.
• Subject tests are given in specific subjects such as
biology, chemistry, Spanish, US History, etc.
• If applying to a school that requires them, subject
tests should be taken as soon as you complete a
course in a content area.
• Subject tests are scored on a 200-800 scale.
I Don’t Know the Answer,
Should I Guess?
COMPASS and
ACT
– There is NO penalty
for guessing on either
the COMPASS or the
ACT
– You should ALWAYS
guess on the
COMPASS or the
ACT if you don’t know
the answer.
SAT
• There IS a penalty for
guessing on the SAT!
• If you have absolutely no
clue, DO NOT GUESS
on the SAT!
• If you can narrow the
choices to three, you
should ALWAYS guess!
How do I sign up for the SAT
and how much does it cost?
• Cost is $49 – you may pay
by using your credit card,
money order or check. DO
NOT SEND CASH!
• Sign up at
www.collegeboard.org
You must sign yourself up; the
school cannot register you!
Fee Waivers for the SAT and
ACT – do I qualify?
• You may qualify if you receive
free or reduced lunch
• You can also qualify if your
parents meet certain financial
guidelines – you must present
tax returns to verify.
• Talk to your counselor for
specifics. Quantities of fee
waivers are very limited and we
have to spread these among
qualified students!
• After testing on an SAT fee
waiver, you can also receive
four vouchers for waiving
college application fees.
Differences in Testing Requirements
between 2 year colleges and technical
schools and 4 year colleges in Georgia
• Two year colleges and
technical schools in
Georgia vary in their
SAT or ACT
requirements for
admissions. Check the
website for latest info.
• Two year and technical
colleges will administer
the COMPASS test for
admission and
placement.
• Four year colleges in
Georgia are requiring
the SAT or the ACT
• All four year colleges are
requiring the writing
section
• Colleges will combine
your best scores on the
SAT and sometimes on
the ACT
SAT or ACT Required for 4 year
Colleges and Universities!
• All four year colleges
in the state of Georgia
and most colleges in
other states require an
SAT or ACT score.
• All four year colleges
in GA require an SAT
or ACT score that
includes the writing
section