SAT/ PSAT

ACT/ PLAN

2010

College Aptitude Testing

How prepared are you for college level work?How prepared are you for TAKS?How prepared are you for the classes you are

taking?

What are aptitude test?

ACTEXPLORE (8th)PLAN (10th)

SATPSAT (11th)

The BIG 2

4 Tested AreasEnglishMathReadingScience• Scoring:

ACT = 36PLAN = 32

ACT/PLAN

ACT/ PLAN SubtestsP L A N E n g l i s h T e s t30 minutesContent/Skills Number of

ItemsUsage/Mechanics 30Punctuation 7Grammar and Usage 9Sentence Structure 14Rhetorical Skills 20Strategy 6Organization 7Style 7Total 50

P L A N M a t h e m a t i c s T e s t

40 minutesContent Area Number

of ItemsPre-Algebra/Algebra 22Pre-Algebra 14Elementary Algebra 8Geometry 18Coordinate Geometry 7Plane Geometry 11Total 40

ACT/ PLAN SubtestsP L A N R e a d i n g T

e s t20 minutesContent Area

Number of ItemsProse Fiction 8Humanities 9Social Studies 8Total 25

P L A N S c i e n c e T e s t

25 minutesContent Area Format

Number of ItemsBiology Earth/SpaceSciencesData Representation 10Research Summaries 14Chemistry PhysicsConflicting Viewpoints 6Total 30

• PLAN shows you your strengths and weaknesses in English, math, reading, and science

• PLAN lets you know if you’re on target for college

• PLAN helps you find careers that match your interests

• PLAN helps you prepare for the ACT

Why Take PLAN?

Thursday, November 18th 10th Grade Students ONLY

FREE

PLAN Testing Dates

September 11, 2010

October 23, 2010

December 11, 2010

February 12, 2011

April 9, 2011

June 11, 2011

ACT Test DatesCost = $48.00 (Ask your

counselor about Fee waivers)

www.actstudent.org

SEE COUNSELOR BLOG SPOT

ACT Registration

The test assesses the academic skills that you’ve developed over the years, primarily through your course work.

These skills are considered essential for success in high school and college:

Critical Reading

Mathematics

Writing Skills

SAT/ PSAT:NMSQT

Question Types: The same, except the PSAT/NMSQT does not have an essay

component.

Length: The PSAT/NMSQT is 2 hours, 10 minutes. The SAT is 3 hours, 45 minutes.

Level of Difficulty: The PSAT/NMSQT does not have 11th grade-level math

questions.

How does the PSAT/NMSQTcompare to the SAT?

SAT/ PSAT SubtestsCritical Reading Questions Use content from:

-humanities -social studies -natural sciences -literature

13 Sentence Completions

35 Passage-Based Reading Questions

(100- to 800-word passages)

Critical Math Questions Use content from:

-number and operations -algebra and functions; -geometry and measurement -data analysis -statistics -probability

28 Multiple-Choice Questions

10 Student-Produced Response Questions (“Grid-ins”)

SAT/ PSAT SubtestsCritical Writing QuestionsFocus on editing,

grammar, usage, and organization.

20 Improving Sentences Questions

14 Identifying Sentence Error Questions

5 Improving Paragraph Questions

Scoring: Multiple-choice questions:

1 point for each correct ¼ point deducted for each incorrect

Math grid-ins: 1 point for each correct 0 points for each incorrect

0 points for omitted questions

Scale: 20-80 for each test section

Averages: 11th Graders: 47-50 10th Graders: 43-46 Younger Students: 38-42

Wednesday, Oct. 13, 2010

$5

All Eligible 9 th, 10th and 11th

(Only 11 th can qualify as NMSQ)

PSAT/NMSQT Test Date

Take the PSAT/NMSQT during your junior year of HS

Your Selection Index score must be at qualifying standard (approx. 215)

Scores of 215, student is considered a semifinalist and will then submit an application for the NMS

Student must then register to take the SAT. Semifinalist and Finalist are put in direct

contact with 2 Universities of their choice. Schools are provided with lists of students

meeting the criteria for Semifinalist.

What do I need to do to be considered for the National Merit Scholarship

October 9, 2010

November 6, 2010

December 4, 2010

January 22, 2011

March 12, 2011

May 7, 2011

June 4, 2011

SAT Test DatesCost = $47 (Ask the counselors about fee

waivers)

http://sat.collegeboard.com

/home

SEE Counselor BLOG SPOT

Registration for the SAT

You MUST score at least a 2200 on your TAKS in the areas of Math and ELA and have a 2 on your writing to be considered college ready.

Students NOT scoring this can show they are college ready with their ACT/SAT or ACCUPLACER test.

Cisco will NOT allow you to enroll in classes without meeting college readiness standards.

ACCUPLACER is an ONLINE assessment that is $10 and is given at Cisco or TSTC. (also a collegeboard test)

This specifically applies to Dual Credit courses.

TAKS and College Readiness

In accordance with Texas Education Code (TEC), §51.803, a student is eligible for automatic admission to a college or university as an undergraduate student if the applicant earned a grade point average in the top 10 percent of the student's high school graduating class, or the top 8 percent for admission to the University of Texas at Austin, and the applicant:

(1) successfully completed the requirements for the Recommended High School Program (RHSP) or the Distinguished Achievement Program (DAP); or (2) satisfied ACT's College Readiness Benchmarks on the ACT assessment or earned on the SAT assessment a score of at least 1,500 out of 2,400 or the equivalent.

To qualify for automatic admission an applicant must: (1) submit an application before the deadline established by the college or university to which the student seeks admission; and (2) provide a high school transcript or diploma that indicates whether the student has satisfied or is on schedule to satisfy the requirements of the RHSP or DAP or the portion of the RHSP or DAP that was available to the student.

Colleges and universities are required to admit an applicant for admission as an undergraduate student if the applicant is the child of a public servant who was killed or sustained a fatal injury in the line of duty and meets the minimum requirements, if any, established by the governing board of the college or university for high school or prior college-level grade point average and performance on standardized tests. 

Notification of Eligibility for Automatic College Admission

ACT SATTop 10% No Minimum First Quarter 25 1140Second Quarter 28

1230Third Quarter 29 1270Fourth Quarter Application Review

Texas Tech

SAT Critical Reading: 530 - 660 SAT Math: 570 - 700 SAT Writing: 530 - 660 ACT Composite: 24 - 30

UT Austin

SAT Critical Reading: 530 - 640SAT Math: 570 - 670SAT Writing: 500 - 620ACT Composite: 24 - 30

Texas A&M

READ!

Continuous reading improves vocabulary and develops essential skills.

Read more books than just those required for class.

Take Challenging Courses!

• This will help you to develop and strengthen your critical thinking skills.

Take the practice test in the Official Student Guide to the PSAT/NMSQT.

Understand scoring and “educated guessing.”

Familiarize yourself with the test’s format, questions types, and directions.

How do I get there?

When you sit down to take the test:

• Read all of the directions.• Read all of each question’s answer choices.• Do scratch work in the test book.• Work at a steady pace.

If you skip a question:

• Note it in the test book.• Leave it blank on the answer sheet.• Return to it if there is time.• Remember: you don’t have to answer every question to score well.

In most sections, the questions are arranged from easy to more difficult (except for passage-based reading in the critical reading section and improving paragraphs in the writing skills section).

Wild guessing is discouraged, but students should make educated guesses when answer choices can be eliminated.

PSAT

• Set a regular time and place to study each day and throughout the week.

• Keep a daily “to do” list.• Set goals for yourself.• Do your reading assignments before the

material is discussed in class.• Pay close attention and take good notes in

class.• Prepare for tests during your regular study times instead of cramming at the last minute.

Study Skills Checklist for Students

• Start learning now about how much college will cost

• Learn about different forms of financial aid available

• Start saving now for college

• Think about how good grades and ACT scores can help make college more affordable

Financial Planning for College

• Take challenging college prep courses in high school.

• Explore the many career options available to you and think about how your career choices will affect your future.

• Set career goals and develop an educational plan to achieve them.

Keys to Good Educational and Career Planning

Formula for Student Success

Collegeboard.com