2015 standardized testing presentation nh school counseling 2015-16
TRANSCRIPT
Multiple Choices: Helping the Class of 2017 Navigate Test Changes
North Hills High School
Agenda
1. Introductions
2. Key changes to the SAT, ACT, and implications
3. How schools approach their involvement in test preparation
4. Specific issues surrounding the test change
Test Change Timeline
Sept 2015 Oct 2015 Dec 2015 Jan 2016 Mar 2016
ACT: Enhance
d Scoring
+ Writing
Test
PSAT: New Test
Launches
SAT: New Test
Launches
SAT: Last
Current Test
SAT: 2nd to Last
Current Test
Updated ACT OverviewCategory Features
No changes to 1-36 scoring New scores reported ELA STEM Career Readiness Text Complexity
Scoring
Math
Reading
More probability & statistics
New paired passages
Updated ACT OverviewCategory Features
Essay
Now requires analysis of 3 different perspectives
More scores provided Ideas and analysis Development and support Organization Language use
New SAT OverviewCategory Features
Scoring
Scored on a scale of 1600 800 points for Math 800 points for Evidence-Based Reading and
Writing No wrong-answer penalty Test, Cross-, and Sub-scores reported Optional Essay scored separately
Timing 3 hours + 50-minute optional essay
New SAT OverviewCategory Features
Structure
Evidence-Based Reading and Writing Test 65-minute Reading section 35-minute Language and Writing section All multiple-choice questions have only 4
answer choicesMath Test 55-minute section with calculator (37
questions) 25-minute section with no calculator (20
questions) Includes grid-ins and multiple choice questions All multiple-choice questions have only 4
answer choicesEssay Optional 50-minutes long
New SAT OverviewCategory Features
Math
Three areas of concentrated focus: Problem solving and data analysis “The Heart of Algebra” “Passport to Advanced Math” Real-world problem solving with
informational graphics Test includes multiple choice and grid-
in questions including item sets
Question Not on
Redesigned SAT
Question On Real World
Scenarios
Questions Without a Calculator
Question On Data Analysis
Question With
Trigonometry
New SAT OverviewCategory Features
Evidence- Based Reading and Writing
Reading and Writing combined into new Evidence-Based Reading and Writing section
Reading details: No sentence completions Passage topics include US and World Literature,
History/Social Studies, and Sciences (500 - 750 words)
Writing and Language details: Tests “Expression of Ideas” and “Standard
English Conventions” through passages relating to Careers, History/Social Studies, Humanities, and Science
Focus on extended prose (400 - 500 words)
Questions NOT on new SATSentence
Completion - Testing
Vocabulary
Identifying Sentence Errors –
Grammar in Isolation
Evidence-Based
Reading Comp.
Example of Vocabulary Testing on
New SAT
New SAT Overview
Category Features
Essay
Essay is optional Students have 50 minutes to analyze a
650- to 750-word document and draft an essay
Tests reading, analysis, and writing skills
Requires students to analyze a source document and explain how the author builds an argument
New Essay Prompt
Category Features
New PSAT/NMSQT Overview
2 hours, 45 minutesTiming
Structure Aligned with the New SAT, and almost the same lengthNo Essay
No guessing penalty Now scored on a scale of 1520
Evidence-Based Reading & Writing
Math
Scoring
PSAT & New SAT Scoring
PSAT/NMSQT: 320-1520
SAT: 400-1600
300 600 900 1200 1500 Composite Score Range
Questions Per Reading Passage Topic
Scie
nces
Hum
aniti
es SS/
His
tory
Lite
ratu
re
Scie
nces
SS/H
isto
ry Scie
nces
Hum
aniti
es
Lite
ratu
re
Car
eers
Hum
aniti
es SS/
His
tory
Current SAT New SAT ACT
Lite
ratu
re
Wor
ds in
C
onte
xt
Reading Skills TestedR
eadi
ng
Com
preh
ensi
on
Wor
ds in
C
onte
xt
Rea
ding
Com
preh
ensi
on
Evid
ence
-bas
ed
Rea
ding
C
ompr
ehen
sion
Current SAT New SAT ACT
SAT
Wor
ds
Wor
ds in
C
onte
xtEv
iden
ce-
base
d
Dat
a An
alys
is/P
robl
em
Solv
ing
Math Skills TestedAl
gebr
a Dat
a An
alys
is/P
robl
em S
olvi
ngG
eom
etry
Num
ber
&
Ope
ratio
ns
Alge
bra
Geo
met
ry Alge
bra
Dat
a An
alys
is/P
robl
em S
olvi
ngG
eom
etry
Current SAT New SAT ACT
Trig Tr
ig
Writing Skills TestedR
heto
rica
l Sk
ills
Gra
mm
ar/U
sage
/M
echa
nics
Rhe
tori
cal S
kills
Gra
mm
ar/U
sage
/M
echa
nics
Current SAT New SAT ACT
Rhe
tori
cal S
kills
Gra
mm
ar/U
sage
/M
echa
nics
Ess
ay
New SAT and ACT: 5 Key Differences
1. The New SAT has a greater focus on History & Social Studies passages
2. Both focus on Algebra, but the New SAT has a greater emphasis on Data Analysis & Problem Solving
3. The ACT requires more Science reading
4. The New SAT has a No Calculator Math section
5. The New SAT Math section has grid-in questions and Item Sets
What’s the
Difference?
New SAT?
ACT?
Scoring Details First New SAT administration 21 days + up to 4 weeks for
scores to be available
New SAT Concordance tables Released in December for the
PSAT and May for the SAT
Administration Details Accommodations for Students No change has been
communicated
Test Fees & Waivers Test fees with the essay will be
about the same as the current SAT Test fees without the essay will be
less than the current SAT Test waivers cover the essay
No Saturday PSAT in 2015 The PSAT will be administered on
two Wednesdays: October 14 or October 28
Open Questions
Will schools “Superscore” the Old & New?
Will schools require the optional Essay?
What impact will Test and Cross-Test Scores have on admissions?
To what extent will SAT changes lead to curriculum changes?
Curriculum QuestionsMath:• Does increase in Algebra
mean students should aim to finish Alg II in Sophomore year?
• How can schools incorporate more data analysis?
• Are changes warranted for few trig questions or not?
English:• Do students get enough
exposure to non-fiction reading passages compared to literature?
• Should students be more prepared to analyze arguments vs. forming opinions?
Science:• Do students do enough
analysis of science reading passages?
SS/History:• Are students able to glean
information from charts such as pop growth over time?
Various Responses to SAT Changes
Message Implications
o “Let students figure it out for themselves”
o Students may be blindsided by rigorous math, delayed scores, and difficult passages
o Parents don’t complain of poor plan, but may complain with no plan
o “Avoid New SAT. Take current SAT or ACT instead”
o Some students may score better on New SAT
o Driven in part by challenges creating new resources for New SAT
o Parents often ignore recommendation for ACTo “Take New &
Improved SAT”o New skills may align better with some
curriculao May underestimate greater rigor of new testo Want to avoid early testing
o “Cover all your bases (and tests)”
o Student takes New SAT, Current SAT, and ACTo Perhaps multiple times of each to superscoreo Exacerbates test fatigue, especially in public
schools
o “Choose the
test and timeline that’s best for you”
o One size or approach doesn’t fit all
o Path to a great score without over-testing
o Student scores do differ among tests
o Exposure to each test reduces fear of uncertainty
o Gain insight early and with low stakes through unofficial practice tests
o Accounts for which months are busiest for individual students
o Try out tests between now and Fall
Various Responses to SAT ChangesMessage Implications
Test Practice Options
Awaiting information on free online Kahn Academy practice options
Enroll in a NH course such as Language Enrichment, Conventions of Writing, or SAT Prep.
College Tutors Free Practice Test (current SAT) on September 19 at 9am. Call 412-837-2353 to register.
Princeton Review Free ACT practice test: Register at www.princetonreview.org