College Admissions Testing More than you ever wanted to know about the PSAT/ACT/Subject Tests/SAT GATE Meeting October 22, 2014

Presenter Mrs. Carlie McGinty is the school counselor for students with last names N-Sh (10 th -12 th ) O-Ste (9th grade) Over the past 10 years she has tutored over 1000 students for the PSAT/SAT/ACT ext. 2404

Brief Overview of: PSAT ACT SAT Subject Tests SAT – current and redesigned

The PSAT/National Merit Scholarship Program

Why Take the PSAT? Prepare for the SAT Receive feedback on your strengths and weaknesses Students who take the PSAT score on average 136 points higher on the SAT than students who never took the PSAT Scholarship Opportunities

How is the PSAT scored? Three sections - Reading, Math, Writing Each section AVERAGES CRMathWritingTOTAL 10 th th

How do you become a National Merit Semi- Finalist? You must take the PSAT in October of your JUNIOR YEAR You must be a U.S. Citizen or be a U.S. lawful permanent resident and intend to become a U.S. citizen at the earliest opportunity allowed by law.

How do you become a National Merit Semi- Finalist? Your selection index must be in the 99% compared to students in Pennsylvania. Over the past five years the Selection Index for PA has been Class of 2015 the cut-off for PA was 216. Class of 2014 it was 217. Class of 2013 it was 214.

What is the cutoff for a National Merit Semi- Finalist? Every state has a different cut-off. PA For the Class of 2015 WV & ND had a cut-off of 201 MA & NJ had a cut-off of 224

What is the cutoff for a Commended Student? For the past several years it has been For the Class of 2015 it is 201. For the Class of 2014 it was 203. For Class of 2013 it was 200.

USC Finalists USC usually has 6-13 Finalists and Commended Students (some years a few more, some years a few less) Class of 2015 = 9 semifinalists Class of 2014 = 5 finalists Class of 2013 = 14 finalists

Scholarship Opportunities Several schools offer significant merit scholarships to Finalists Finalists can apply for a $2,500 scholarship that can used at any school in the country

How Will the New SAT affect PSAT? Class of no change The 10/18/14 PSAT was the current format Class of 2017 & beyond - The fall 2015 PSAT will be the new format

Opportunity for our 9 th graders Class of 2018 In February we will offer a pilot PSAT No charge Given on a Thursday morning Totally Optional Great opportunity

The ACT

What is the ACT? It is a standardized test used for College Admissions It is a competitor of the SAT Every school in the country accepts the ACT

Why Have I only Heard of the SAT? Because you live in Pittsburgh

WHO TAKES THE ACT?

Who takes the ACT & SAT? OSU Michigan Pitt Penn State SAT 39% 33% 87% 78% ACT83% 79% 43% 24%

Sample ACT Score English30 Math32 Reading32 Science28 AVERAGE30.5 Optional Writing section COMPOSITE31

Comparing the ACT to the SAT SATACT National Average

What is a “Good Score”? It depends on what University or College you plan to apply to

ACT scores for 50% of students WVU SRU PITT – JT OSU Pitt Michigan Penn State

ACT scores for 50% of students Penn Duke Stanford MIT

SAT Subject Tests

20 Different Tests One hour in length Literature Math I and Math II Chemistry, Biology, Physics World and US History Languages: *Spanish, *German, *French, Latin, Korean, Chinese, Japanese, Hebrew, Italian

SAT Subject Tests 20 universities require tests Many will take ACT in place of (BU & Duke) About 30 “strongly recommend” such as Stanford, U Penn Many “will consider if submitted”

SAT Subject Tests When to take? Take them in the spring when you are completing a course such as AP World History, US History, AP Biology, AP Chemistry Literature and Math are not curriculum based so you can take at any time

SAT

SAT Test Currently out of 2400 Reading, Math and Writing – each section 800 Will stay this way thru January 2015 Class of 2016 can only take current Class of 2017 can take current and redesigned Class of only take redesigned

Why is the SAT Changing?* The ACT surpassed the SAT in 2011 ACT 1,666,017 SAT 1,664,479 Every 4 year university in the country will accept the SAT or the ACT * The views and opinions expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Upper St. Clair School District.

SAT Test – What are the changes? Current Redesigned 3 hours 45 min.3 hours + 50 min. optional essay No Sub scoresSub scores Essay at beginningEssay at end – optional required

SAT Test – What are the changes? Current Redesigned Critical ReadingEvidenced based reading & MathWriting Writing(includes Essay)Math Optional Essay Emphasis on general reasoning skillsClearer focus on skills for college Emphasis on Tier 3 vocabularyTier 2 vocab in context Complex scoringRights – only scoring

SAT Test – What are the changes? One passage will always be from the “Founding Documents” such as the Bill or Rights or Declaration of Independence Evidence based reading will include charts and graphs and students will be asked to edit and revise text from social and natural sciences. Find sample questions and detailed information about the changes at: opportunity/sat/redesign

Show Don’t Tell (review sample questions)

How to Prepare for the Tests Take a prep class Work with a tutor Establish a schedule and work on your own: Khan Academy “Official Guide to the SAT” or “ACT” books Take timed practice tests

Suggested Study Guides

Most Important Thing Remember when you are 40, NO ONE will care how you did on the ACT or SAT!!!

Thank you! Questions? Carlie McGinty