Waco High School, January 12, 2016, 6-7pm

Building Bridges to Post-Secondary Success

Session 4: Navigating the World of College Testing

Goals

To increase understanding of the differences and purposes of the various post-secondary assessments.

Essential Questions What are the SAT and ACT? How are

they different, and how do I choose which one to take?

What is the ASVAB, and how can it help me?

Do I need to take the TSI? What do my PSAT scores mean?

Introduction of Guests Dr. Scott McClanahan, Director, Office of

Advanced Academic Studies, WISD Ms. Isabel Lozano, College and Career

Readiness Counselor, University High Ms. Shawntee Reed, College and

Career Readiness Counselor, Waco High Ms. Marlayna Botello, Project

Coordinator, ProjectLINK, University High Ms. Brittany Davis, Project Coordinator,

ProjectLINK, University High Ms. Gil Hall, Executive Secretary, Office of

Advanced Academic Studies, WISD

Facts from the World of College Testing

Over the last 10 years, the ACT has captured a larger share of the college testing market

Meanwhile, the SAT has continually been negatively impacted by cheating scandals (especially overseas)

Therefore, in 2014, the College Board announced that the SAT would be revamped (the first change in 10 years). How? It removed everything unique to the SAT

(testing isolated vocabulary, individual grammar questions, an essay included in the composite score)

It added everything unique to the ACT (testing of graphic reading, testing grammar in context, an optional essay)

Public reaction?Confusion. Elation. Frustration. Condemnation.

The ACT and SAT are national tests used by colleges to determine the readiness of applicants.

There is no school that requires one particular test; therefore, students should provide the results that best display their abilities.

The Facts about ACT and SAT

Subject Matter Language Conventions, Reading, Writing, and Math.

Nationally Normed Provide a percentile rank of how students rank with others of the same

grade level. Tested to ensure fairness among all students.

Testing Time ACT (Core test: 2 hrs and 55 min., Writing Test: 30 min.) SAT (Core test: 3 hrs., Writing Test: 50 min.) Optional Writing Test with scores reported separately. (Students should

investigate whether potential colleges require this test.)

How are the tests the same?

Scoring ACT scores are a composite score (average) of the scores in four

domains—English, Math, Reading and Science—with a high score of 36. SAT scores are a combination of subscores of the scores in two areas—

English/Reading and Mathematics—with a high score of 1800. Testing Procedures

ACT tests allows students to use a calculator throughout the entire mathematics section; SAT does not.

SAT focuses on evidence-based reading and writing; ACT tests standard reading comprehension and reading of graphs/charts/tables of data.

Philosophy SAT is an aptitude test which seeks to determine how students think. ACT is an achievement test designed to test their cumulative

knowledge.

How are the tests different?

When and where are the tests offered?

FOR 2015-2016 SAT Testing Dates: January 23, March 5, May 7, June 4 ACT Testing Dates: February 6, April 9, June 11FOR 2016-2017 SAT on October, November, December, January, March, May & June ACT on September, October, December, February, April & June

Students can SAT test locally at MCC or Baylor.Students can ACT test locally at MCC, Baylor, or Midway HS.

On Tuesday, April 19, 2016, all WISD juniors will take the ACT during the school day at no charge to

the students.

How does a student prepare for the tests?

  Published Materials Other Preparation

The Real ACT Prep Guide, ISBN 9780768934328

PLATO – All students will have access from any computer with internet connection. Counselors will provide login information. Free through WISD.

ACT Online Test Prep – Through ACT with actual released materials. $39.95 for 1 year of access. www.actstudent.org/onlineprep

District-sponsored preparation courses – watch WacoISD.org for announcements

The Official SAT Study Guide, ISBN 9781457304309

PLATO – All students will have access from any computer with internet connection. Counselors will provide login information. Free through WISD.

Khan Academy – Online test preparation with questions and videos. Free. www.khanacademy.org/

District-sponsored preparation courses – watch WacoISD.org for announcements

How should I choose which test to take?

Students can-• Take both tests and then re-take the test on

which they score higher. • Use practice materials (available online or

through Advanced Academics) to determine which assessment is better for them to take.

• Use information for other tests to decide which test might be better

• Use information from other tests to decide which tests might be better:• PSAT score can show if student possesses strength

needed for SAT• Practice ACT that was given in October can show if a

student possesses strength needed for ACT.

What is ASVAB? Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery –

multiple choice test administered by the US Military

Test is used to determine qualification for enlistment in the US Armed Forces.

It is NOT required that a test-taker with a qualifying score enlist in the armed forces.

So…why should I take the test?

Why should I take the ASVAB?

Survey says… Since the mid 1990s, the ASVAB Career Exploration Program has provided

high quality, cost-free career exploration and planning materials and services to high schools across the nation. From surveys of participating students, we learned the following:

76% of the students who participated did so because of their interest in making appropriate post- high school career and educational plans.

31% of the students who participated did so because of their interest in military service.

62% of those who participated reported that the ASVAB Program helped them to connect their skills and interests with appropriate career choices.

63% of those who participated say the ASVAB Program helped them to consider careers they had not thought about before.

The ASVAB Career Exploration Program enables students to learn more about

themselves and the world of work so that they can make informed career decisions.

Where do I access information?

http://www.asvabprogram.com/

ASVAB Components

Career Exploration Scores Verbal skills, Math Skills, Science and Technical

Skills ASVAB Tests

General Science Arithmetic Reasoning Word Knowledge Paragraph Comprehension Mathematics Knowledge Electronics Information Auto and Shop Information Mechanical Comprehension

ASVAB scores can help you see what your current strengths are.

ASVAB Summary Results Different types of scores:

Career Exploration ASVAB Test Military Entrance Score

Percentile Scores shown on the sheet indicate how well the student did in relation to other in their grade.

There are three percentile scores: Percentile as compared with

others in gender Percentile score compared

to those of the opposite gender

Percentile in comparison to all others in your grades.

Standard scores show how well you did in relation to the average scores of others typically range from 30 to 70.

PSATOn January 7, 2016, the PSAT reports for this year’s participating juniors and seniors were released. If students took this test, they can locate their report online.

The first page of the report shows the students test scores for Language Arts and Math (possible 760pts. per section) and overall score (possible1520pts. total), as well as their national percentiles (how they compare to other students around the U.S.)

The first page also breaks down the students’ progress on the skills assessed on each test to show students where their strengths and weaknesses are.

PSATThe PSAT (for juniors ONLY) also serves as the National Merit Scholarship qualifying test. The upper part of the second page shows students their overall score for that competition, which is the total of their individual Reading, Writing, and Math scores + 40 points (out of 154 possible). Qualifying scores will be released in September of 2016.

The “NEXT STEPS” section at the bottom shows students where they must improve if they plan on taking the SAT, if they desire a higher score. This is broken down by individual subject.

PSATIf students took the PSAT, they will have their test booklet returned to them.

The last page of the report shows students their performance on each question—whether they answered the question correctly, the difficulty level of the question, and to what category the question contributed.

So what is the importance of the PSAT?Really—none. Other than allowing students the opportunity to enter the National Merit Scholarship competition, this serves as a readiness measure to point out to students what they will want to review before taking the SAT to ensure their maximum score. This information is not shared with colleges like the ACT and SAT information.

What is the TSI?The Texas Success Initiative established college-ready standards that students must meet before they can enroll for a credit-granting college course (remedial courses earn no credit). Students must meet college-ready standards in three areas:

Reading Writing Math

For the majority of courses, students must be TSI complete in READING. Students must achieve TSI complete status in Math before their first credit-granting math course and TSI complete status in Writing before their first credit-granting English course.

How is the TSI scored?

The TSI is an adaptive test (changes for every student based upon right and wrong answer selections), scored on a 390 point scale.

If students earn a college-ready score (Reading 351, Math 350, Writing 5 on the essay or a 363 multiple choice + a 4 essay score) they are considered “TSI complete.”

If students do not pass with these scores, they will answer additional diagnostic questions to determine weaknesses that need to be fixed to eventually pass.

Why would anyone want to take the TSI?

TSI applies to both classes taken for dual credit and classes taken at a Texas college or university.

Once a student has achieved TSI complete status in an area, he or she is permanently complete in that area and never again has to take the TSI. If a student does not pass the TSI, he or she will be enrolled in an appropriate remedial college course for the area not passed, until the time that the student is able to pass the TSI in all three areas.

Students can be exempt from TSI by achieving identified college-ready scores on the following other tests:

SAT ACT STAAR – English II and Algebra I

Where is the TSI administered?

The TSI is administered at the high school campuses—WHS, UHS, or GWACHA.

There is no charge to the students for this assessment. The test fee is paid by WISD, if taken in WISD. If the student waits and takes the assessment at MCC, the test will cost $25.

Tests taken in Waco ISD will be accessible by any other post-secondary institution as soon as the student provides them a FERPA (privacy law) release to retrieve the scores.

Thank you for joining us!

Please remember to attend our upcoming sessions! Next

session:Session 5: How do I get into college—and how do I pick one, for that matter? This session will focus on the steps required for students to transition from high school to post-secondary education. Students will consider their programs of interests and areas in which they would like to study, learn about the application process and deadlines as well as other materials that will have to be requested and college to make the process seamless.

Target audience: Juniors and their parents. Date: January 26, 2015 Time: 6:00-7:00pm Location: Waco High School, 2020 N 42nd St. Speakers: Scott McClanahan, Shawntee Reed (WHS), Isabel Lozano

(UHS), Brittany Davis (ProjectLink), Marlayna Botello (ProjectLink)