college testing info night gardner humphreys college & career center specialist george c....
TRANSCRIPT
College Testing Info College Testing Info NightNight
Gardner HumphreysCollege & Career Center SpecialistGeorge C. Marshall HS
Question:Question:
1.1.Standardized tests are a lot of fun:Standardized tests are a lot of fun:
What are the TestsWhat are the Tests
SAT, ACTSAT, ACT, (TOEFL, ASVAB, etc.), (TOEFL, ASVAB, etc.) Trying to measure content Trying to measure content
learned, aptitude; about 4 hourslearned, aptitude; about 4 hours Provide a Provide a common yardstickcommon yardstick Both SAT Both SAT and and ACT widely ACT widely
acceptedaccepted Not an IQ test, not the final word!Not an IQ test, not the final word!
Role in AdmissionsRole in Admissions Most schools say Most schools say grades grades and and
strength of schedule strength of schedule are are
what’s most importantwhat’s most important Scores used as check on a Scores used as check on a
college's view of you; one more college's view of you; one more data data pointpoint
"Competitive" scores often mean a "Competitive" scores often mean a rangerange, not a threshold, not a threshold
Value can depend on Value can depend on context: context: intended major, geographic region, intended major, geographic region, gender, etc.gender, etc.
What’s InsideWhat’s Inside
SAT
3 scores: ReadingMathWriting
Scored 200 - 800
ACT
5 scores:ReadingMath(Writing)ScienceEnglish
Scored 1 - 36
DifferencesDifferences
SAT
vs. ACTNo science
CONTENT35-min Science section
Algebra 2 and functions, formulas provided
MATH LEVELSome trigonometry, no formulas provided
Lose ¼ point SCORING / GUESSING
No deduction
DemandingLANGUAGE
Plain
IncreasesDIFFICULTY
LEVEL
Random
ACT Sections - ACT Sections - ScienceScience
One 35-minute sectionOne 35-minute section 40 multiple-choice 40 multiple-choice
questionsquestions Not like a school science Not like a school science
test.test. Read science-based Read science-based passages and answer questions passages and answer questions about the passages. about the passages. Data RepresentationData Representation Research SummariesResearch Summaries Conflicting Viewpoints Conflicting Viewpoints
SAT Sections - SAT Sections - EssayEssay
Essay measures your ability to:Essay measures your ability to:
develop a develop a point of view point of view on an issue on an issue presented in an excerpt presented in an excerpt
support your point of view using support your point of view using reasoning and reasoning and examples examples
follow standard written English follow standard written English Essay about 30% of your Writing Essay about 30% of your Writing
scorescore
SAT Subject TestsSAT Subject Tests
Only some colleges require SAT Subject Tests
Up to 3 subjects per dateUp to 3 subjects per date Cannot be taken the same Cannot be taken the same
day as the SAT Testday as the SAT Test Consider taking Subject Consider taking Subject
Tests at the Tests at the endend of an of an advanced courseadvanced course
NotNot offered all dates offered all dates Sometimes ACT is enoughSometimes ACT is enough
SAT – Subject TestsSAT – Subject Tests LanguagesLanguages
Reading OnlyReading Only Reading and ListeningReading and Listening
LiteratureLiterature U.S. HistoryU.S. History World HistoryWorld History Mathematics Level 1Mathematics Level 1
(Thru Geometry)(Thru Geometry) Mathematics Level 2Mathematics Level 2
(Thru precalc and/or trig)(Thru precalc and/or trig) Biology E/M Biology E/M
(Ecological/Molecula(Ecological/Molecular)r)
ChemistryChemistry PhysicsPhysics
Languages: Reading Languages: Reading OnlyOnly
FrenchFrench GermanGerman Modern HebrewModern Hebrew ItalianItalian LatinLatin SpanishSpanish
Languages: Reading and Languages: Reading and ListeningListening
ChineseChinese FrenchFrench GermanGerman JapaneseJapanese KoreanKorean Spanish Spanish
Practice TestsPractice Tests
At GCM: At GCM: 9th Grade - ACT Explore9th Grade - ACT Explore10 & 11th Grade - PSAT (1110 & 11th Grade - PSAT (11thth - - NSMQT)NSMQT)Reports back to class in DecemberReports back to class in December
GCM should have extra GCM should have extra copycopy
SAVE THAT REPORT or SAVE THAT REPORT or CODE!!CODE!!
The COMPOSITE SCORE is the average The COMPOSITE SCORE is the average of the four core subject scores of the four core subject scores (rounded).(rounded).
ACT ExploreACT Explore
……SKILLSSKILLS to work on to to work on to improve!improve!
ACT Explore, cont.ACT Explore, cont.
What’s next?
Use the access code on your report to log in to My College QuickStart, a personalized college and career planning kit. There you can:
•Search for colleges•Get a personalized SAT study plan•Take a personality test to find majors and careers that fit you
www.collegeboard.com/quickstart
PSAT ReportPSAT Report
See how you did on each skill. The same skills are tested on the SAT.
PSATPSAT
You can try hundreds of practice questions, organized by skill, online in My College QuickStart (www.collegeboard.com/quickstart).
Make a PlanMake a Plan1.1. What What level of scores level of scores are my are my
goal? goal? use Family Connection, other toolsuse Family Connection, other tools
2.2. WhichWhich tests are best? tests are best?
3.3. Focus on low areasFocus on low areas
4.4. Try ACT Try ACT andand SAT SAT
5.5. Make a Make a calendarcalendar
6.6. Try differentTry different methods, methods, strategiesstrategies
Family Connection & Family Connection & PrepMePrepMe
Create a Create a Parent View Parent View account account fcps.blackboard.comfcps.blackboard.com
Family Connection & Family Connection & PrepMePrepMe
Create a Create a Parent View Parent View account account fcps.blackboard.comfcps.blackboard.com
GCM RangesGCM Ranges
SATSATMath 530-670Math 530-670Reading 520-650Reading 520-650Combined 1070-1310Combined 1070-1310
ACTACTComposite 22-29Composite 22-29
(Not this kind)
The Middle The Middle 50%50%
SATSATACTACT
*VCU*VCU 980-1190980-1190 20-2620-26
*GMU*GMU 1050-12501050-1250 23-2823-28
UVAUVA 1240-14601240-1460 28-3228-32
TuftsTufts 1360-15001360-1500 30-3330-33 Beware Scattergram averagesBeware Scattergram averages Look at context: school, region, major, Look at context: school, region, major,
etc. etc.
StudentsStudents register at: register at:
ACTACTwww.actstudent.orgwww.actstudent.org
SATSATwww.collegeboard.cowww.collegeboard.co
mm
RegisteringRegistering
Registration StepsRegistration Steps
1.1. Pick Pick datedate carefully carefully
2.2. Get a Get a fee waiver fee waiver if you qualifyif you qualify
3.3. Select your Select your 4 FREE 4 FREE collegescolleges
4.4. Register online -- Register online -- GCM not a siteGCM not a site
5.5. Use Use officialofficial name and address name and address
6.6. Decide if you want lots of Decide if you want lots of mailmail! ! (SSS won’t send SSN, phone # or (SSS won’t send SSN, phone # or
scores)scores) Sign up for “Sign up for “Question of the DayQuestion of the Day”” ChangesChanges only until deadline, with feeonly until deadline, with fee
Test DayTest Day
You slept, right? You slept, right? Practice Practice finding sitefinding site, visit , visit
the room = less unkowns, the room = less unkowns, more knowns!more knowns!
What to bring:What to bring: Ticket, ID, calculator, pencils, Ticket, ID, calculator, pencils,
snacksnack Checklist onlineChecklist online
2013 Dates2013 Dates((no summerno summer))
SATSAT ACTACT February 9 February 9 April 13April 13 June 8June 8
ACT has ACT has “standby” SAT “standby” SAT has “waitlist”, has “waitlist”, require pre-require pre-registrationregistration
Fees Fees 2012-132012-13
SAT Reasoning TestSAT Reasoning Test $50.00 for regular and$50.00 for regular and
$77.00 for late $77.00 for late registrationregistration Includes 4 score Includes 4 score
reports selected reports selected within 9 days of within 9 days of test. test.
SAT Subject TestSAT Subject Test $23 basic registration, $23 basic registration, PLUS $12.00 per PLUS $12.00 per
subject tests, Except subject tests, Except is PLUS $23 for is PLUS $23 for Listening testsListening tests
Extra Reports = $11 eachExtra Reports = $11 each
ACTACT $35.00 for basic test$35.00 for basic test
Includes 4 score Includes 4 score reports selected at reports selected at test timetest time
$50 for basic + writing$50 for basic + writing Add $21 for late Add $21 for late
registrationregistration Extra Reports = Extra Reports =
$11.00 each$11.00 each
* See about Fee Waivers for FRL or special circumstances
Sending ScoresSending Scores
Student responsibilityStudent responsibility Remember the Remember the 4 Free4 Free?? Sent Sent 3 weeks 3 weeks +/- after test date +/- after test date
and posted online; after that 1-2 and posted online; after that 1-2 weeks after request, plus weeks after request, plus processingprocessing
Most use Most use SuperscoreSuperscore for SAT for SAT BewareBeware of Score Choice and of Score Choice and
RushRush
Cost: 11$ per schoolCost: 11$ per school
Common QuestionsCommon Questions NCAA Division I Sliding Scale 400-NCAA Division I Sliding Scale 400-
1010, 3.550-2.000 GPA1010, 3.550-2.000 GPA AP and IB test scoresAP and IB test scores Scores and admission calendar Scores and admission calendar
(ED, rolling, deferred, waitlist, etc.)(ED, rolling, deferred, waitlist, etc.) TransferringTransferring Community CollegeCommunity College Schools outside U.S. Schools outside U.S.
FREE TEST PREPFREE TEST PREP fcps.blackboard.comfcps.blackboard.com - (SAT) - (SAT) Family Family
ConnectionConnection: : PrepMePrepMe gcmhslibrary.comgcmhslibrary.com – (ACT & SAT Subject – (ACT & SAT Subject
Tests) Tests) GCM LibraryGCM Library\Databases\Career, \Databases\Career, College, Lifeskills\TestingCollege, Lifeskills\Testing
collegeboard.org/practicecollegeboard.org/practice -- PSAT code -- PSAT code at at My College QuickStart My College QuickStart and SAT and SAT “Question of the Day” email or iTunes app“Question of the Day” email or iTunes app
actstudent.org/sampletestactstudent.org/sampletest – practice – practice questions and sample writing prompts and questions and sample writing prompts and essaysessays
FREE study guides (!) and practice FREE study guides (!) and practice tests in Career Center tests in Career Center – Learn, after – Learn, after school, school, MondaysMondays
Teacher Workdays Teacher Workdays – Jan. 28 & 29 PrepMe– Jan. 28 & 29 PrepMe
Merit Aid & Merit Aid & ScholarshipsScholarships
Examples:Examples: Longwood – 1200 SAT/3.5 gets $8,500/yrLongwood – 1200 SAT/3.5 gets $8,500/yr Ferrum – Ferrum – 1200 SAT/3.5 gets $20,000/yr1200 SAT/3.5 gets $20,000/yr
Check Check Family ConnectionFamily Connection; ; finaid.orgfinaid.org; ; meritaid.commeritaid.com
Check with admissions and Check with admissions and financial aidfinancial aid
Priority Dates: e.g. Priority Dates: e.g. GMU is Dec. GMU is Dec. 1 !1 !
Test Optional Test Optional CollegesColleges
VerifyVerify with each college.with each college.Often have requirements in order to Often have requirements in order to qualify (e.g. GMU: qualify (e.g. GMU: 3.5, course 3.5, course strength, extracurriculars, teacher strength, extracurriculars, teacher letter, estimated top 20%letter, estimated top 20%))
List of some colleges at List of some colleges at www.fairtest.org www.fairtest.org
Questions?Questions?
(survey) (survey)
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