Post-Secondary PlanningStandardized Testing

ACT ExplorePSAT

SATSubject Tests

ACTAP

Post-Secondary PlanningStandardized Testing

Why is testing necessary?

Testing Calendar

Grade Fall Winter Spring_____

9th ACT Explore

10th PSAT APs & Subject

11th PSAT APs & Subject

*Start taking SATs or ACTs – timing depends on your preparation

12th Finish SATs / ACTs APs

ACT Explore: 9th grade

Assesses college readiness in:English MathReading 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? 10th and 11th graders Parents pay registration fee

unless participating in free/reduced lunch program

What is it? Preliminary or practice SAT Three Sections: Critical

Reading, Math, Writing Scores: 20 to 80

Where and When? 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 theSAT or ACT.

Many of the most competitive colleges require more testing:

Subject Tests

Many students choose to take AP Examsto receive college credit for courses taken in

high school.

SAT

Calendar of Test Dates

2013-2014

October 5, 2013November 2, 2013

December 7, 2013January 25, 2014March 8, 2014*

May 3, 2014June 7, 2014

*No Subject Tests offered on this date

ACT

When and Where? Upper Dublin is a test center in October and April Offered at some local school districts. Test dates are different than those for SATs

2013-2014September 21, 2013October 26, 2013December 14, 2013February 8, 2014April 12, 2014June 14, 2014

SAT vs. ACT Test CompositionSAT 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 SciencesENGLISH: Usage/Mechanics and Rhetorical FunctionMATH: Up to trigonometry SCIENCE: charts, graphs, data interpretationWRITING: 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 CompositionSAT 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? 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 TestsEnglish:

Literature

History and Social Studies:United States HistoryWorld History

Mathematics: Mathematics Level 1

Preparation: 3 years of college prep math including 2 yrs Algebra & 1 yr Geometry

Mathematics Level 2Preparation: 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? No - Take them if required by colleges to which the

student is applying.

Which Subject Tests should you take? What does the college require? What is your intended major?

When should you take them? Take immediately after completing a course (May and

June) Can take up to three different tests at a time.

Scoring Scores range from 200 to 800

SAT, ACT: A Matter of Scheduling

How many times should I take them? 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: 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? 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? 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 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? Register “In-House” through

Guidance At UDHS during school day in

May Cost approx $90/exam

Reporting Scores to Colleges

AP Scores 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 TrendsPrep Options

School SAT Courses Private Courses: School (SAT) and Community (All) Private Tutoring (All) On-Line Courses or Tutoring Books

Free On-Line Prep PSAT Score report – access code for “My College Quickstart”

includes on-line SAT prep

Evening / Saturday School-Sponsored SAT Prep

• 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?????