What is the SAT?

The SAT Reasoning Test The SAT Reasoning Test is a measure of the critical thinking skills you’ll need for academic success in college. The SAT assesses how well you analyze and solve.

SAT Overview Perfect score is 2400 Generally considered to be the more difficult test (as opposed to ACT) More commonly accepted and widely regarded among colleges –Separate specialized subject tests required by certain universities

SAT Sections Each edition of the SAT includes: –Math –Critical Reading –Writing The writing sections contains two sub-scores: –Essay: graded 2-12 –Grammar Each section of the SAT is scored on a scale of

SAT Sections Critical Reading: critical reading, reading comprehension, vocabulary sentence completions, paragraph- length long/short/paired/dual passages Math: basic arithmetic, Algebra 1, Geometry, Algebra 2, multiple choice, student produced responses (grin-ins) Writing: grammar, usage, word choice, multiple choice questions, essay

Critical Reading Section Time: 70 minutes total (25, 25, 20) Content: Extended Reasoning questions 4-6 Literal Comprehension questions Vocab-in-Context questions Question Types: 5-answer multiple choice Score:

Math Section Time: 70 minutes total (25, 25, 20) Content: Numbers and Operations questions Algebra and Functions questions Geometry and Measurement questions 6-7 Data Analysis, Statistics, and Probability questions Question Types: 5-answer multiple choice, student produced response (Grid-Ins) Score:

Writing Section Time: 60 minutes total (25, 25, 10) Content: 25 Improving Sentence questions 18 Identifying Sentence Errors questions 6 Improving Paragraphs questions Question Types: 5-answer multiple choice, student written essay Score: (Two Sub-Scores) 1. Essay, score range 2-12, 30% of Writing Score 2. Multiple Choice, 70% of Writing Score

The Un-scored Section In addition, there is one 25-minute un-scored section, known as the variable or equating sections. This un-scored section may be either a Critical Reading, Math, or multiple choice Writing section. This un-scored section does not count towards the final score, but is used to try out new questions for future editions of the SAT and to ensure that scores on new editions of then SAT are comparable to scores on earlier editions of the test.

Scoring Composite Scores range from –Correct Answers = +1 pt. –Incorrect Answers = –0.25 pts. –Skipped or Unanswered = 0 pts. If you don’t know it, skip it unless you can omit 2+ answers College Ready Score: 1500 –Indicates a 65% likelihood of achieving a B- average or higher in the 1 st year of college Average scores from students attending –Harvard: In USA: 990 –Rice: In Texas: 980 –A&M: In Spring Branch: 1040 –UT: At U of H: 1620

Test Order The 25-minute essay will always be the first section of the SAT. The 10-minute multiple-choice writing section will always be the final section. The remaining six 25-minute sections can appear in any order, as can the two 20-minute sections. Test takers sitting next to each other in the same testing session may have test books with entirely different sections. Total Testing Time (minus administrative procedures) is 3 hours, 45 minutes.

SAT Test Section Breakdown 1.Writing (Essay) – 25 min. 2.Critical Reading/Math/Writing (Grammar) – 25 min. 3.Critical Reading/Math/Writing (Grammar) – 25 min. 4.Critical Reading/Math/Writing (Grammar) – 25 min. 5.Critical Reading/Math/Writing (Grammar) – 25 min. 6.Critical Reading/Math/Writing (Grammar) – 25 min. 7.Critical Reading/Math/Writing (Grammar) – 25 min. –One of the sections 2-7 will be UNSCORED –One of the Math sections 2-7 will include GRID-IN Questions –The Writing (Grammar) section will be the longest at 35/36 Q 8.Critical Reading/Math – 20 min. 9.Critical Reading/Math – 20 min. 10. Writing (Grammar) – 10 min.

What is the ACT?

The ACT is an organization that provides assessment, research, information, and program management services in education and workforce development. The ACT has offices nationally and internationally which serve millions of people in schools, colleges, professional associations, businesses, and government agencies. The ACT programs and services have one guiding purpose: helping people achieve education and workplace success.

Description of the ACT The ACT (No Writing) is a set of four multiple-choice tests which cover: –English (Grammar) –Mathematics –Reading –Science The ACT Plus Writing includes the four multiple-choice tests and a Writing Test.

Sections of the ACT

SectionTimeLengthMeasures English45 minutes75 questionsMeasures standard written English and rhetorical skills. Math60 minutes60 questionsMeasures mathematical skills students have typically acquired in courses taken up to the beginning of 12 th grade. Reading35 minutes40 questionsMeasures reading comprehension. Science35 minutes40 questionsMeasures the interpretation, analysis, evaluation, reasoning, and problem- solving skills required in the natural sciences. Optional Writing 30 minutes1 promptMeasures writing skills emphasized in high school English classes and in entry- level college composition courses.

English Section The English (Grammar) test consists of five prose passages, each one followed by multiple-choice test questions. The questions cover : 1.Usage/Mechanics (40 Questions) –Punctuation (10 questions) –Grammar and usage (12 questions) –Sentence structure (18 questions) 2.Rhetorical Skills (35 Questions) –Strategy (12 questions) –Organization (11 questions) –Style (12 questions)

English Section Some questions refer to underlined portions of the reading passage and offer several alternatives to the portion underlined. You must decide which choice is most appropriate in the context of the passage. Some questions ask about an underlined portion, a section of the passage, or the passage as a whole. You must decide which choice best answers the questions posed. Many of the questions include “NO CHANGE” to the passage as one of the choices.

Math Section The test presents multiple-choice questions that require you to use reasoning skills to solve practical problems. You need knowledge of basic formulas and computational skills to answer the problems, but you aren’t required to know complex formulas or perform extensive computation. You may use a calculator or the Mathematics Test.

Math Section 60 Questions, 60 Minutes Pre-Algebra and Elementary Algebra (24 Questions) Intermediate Algebra and Coordinate Geometry (18 questions) Plane Geometry (14 questions) Trigonometry (Pre-Cal) (4 questions)

Reading Section You’re asked to read several texts and answer questions that show your understanding of: –What is directly stated –Statements with implied meanings The test comprises four prose passages that are representative of the level and kinds of reading required in college freshman courses. –Social Science (10 questions) –Natural Science (10 questions) –Prose Fiction (10 questions) –Humanities (10 questions)

Reading Section Specifically, questions will ask you to use referring and reasoning skills to: –Determine main ideas –Locate and interpret significant details –Understand sequence of events –Make comparisons –Comprehend cause-effect relationships –Determine the meaning of context-dependent words, phrases, and statements –Draw generalizations –Analyze the author’s or narrator’s voice and method

Science Section The Science Test measures the skills required in the natural sciences: –Interpretation –Analysis –Evaluation –Reasoning –Problem Solving The ACT has a science portion of the exam, but it is NOT science facts or content-based like the STAAR Biology test. You may NOT use a calculator on the Science section.

Science Section Science passages can include Biology, Physical Science, Chemistry, and Physics. The scientific information is presented in one of three different formats: 1.Data representation (3 passages, 15 questions) –Graphs, tables, etc. 2.Research summaries (3 passages, 18 questions) –Descriptions of several related experiments 3.Conflicting viewpoints (1 passage, 7 questions) –Expressions of several related hypotheses or views that are inconsistent with one another

Writing (Optional) The Writing Test is a 30-minute essay test that measures writing skills similar to those expected at the collegiate level. The test consists of one writing prompt that will: –Define an issue –Describe two points of view on that issue You are asked to: –Respond to a question about your position on the issue described in the writing prompt. You may adopt one or the other of the perspectives described in the prompt, or you may present a different point of view on the issue. Your score will not be affected by the point of view you take on the issue.

Scoring Each of the four section tests are scored 1-36, called “sub-scores” which are averaged together for a composite score. –Correct Answers = +1 pt. –Incorrect OR Unanswered questions = 0 pt. Which means on the ACT, answer EVERYTHING The Writing test is scored the exact same as SAT: 2 different graders on a scale of 1-6, for a possible essay score of Average scores from students attending –Harvard: In USA: 21 –Rice: 32- In Texas: 21 –A&M: 27- In Spring Branch: 24 –UT: 28- At U of H: 24

Differences Between the SAT and ACT Some colleges will accept either or both of the exams; some will accept only one to the exclusion of the other. Some colleges required an SAT II subject text in addition to SAT Reasoning tests OR just the ACT. Research your college to find which tests they accept.

Notes Quiz! Please don’t lose your handout! You will have a short quiz over the notes (MC, T/F, and fill-in-the-blank) sometime next week and/or after we finish the diagnostic tests.