College Admissions Testing Julia Browne Senior Manager of Outreach jbrowne@review.com

Agenda Overview of ACT-SAT StartUp Exam True or False: Dispelling the SAT & ACT Myths Testing Timeline: Now What? Here are all the things we’ll cover today. Feel free to ask questions along the way.

ACT-SAT StartUp Exam If you haven’t seen your practice test score report(s), then try to access them through your Online Student Portal. Your username is the email address you used to register for your practice test event. If you do not know your password, click “Forgot Password” and an auto-generated password will be sent to your email address. If you did not register for this event through The Princeton Review website, then you should have received an email with the subject line “Don’t forget to complete your enrollment.” This email has the link for you to use to set up your Online Student Portal. If you did not receive the email, please first check your spam/junk email filter. This exam is designed to give your 9th graders a taste for the official ACT and SAT exams; NOT be a call for action or scare tactic to have them register for official exams or test prep!

Your Score Report If you haven’t seen your practice test score report(s), then try to access them through your Online Student Portal. Your username is the email address you used to register for your practice test event. If you do not know your password, click “Forgot Password” and an auto-generated password will be sent to your email address. If you did not register for this event through The Princeton Review website, then you should have received an email with the subject line “Don’t forget to complete your enrollment.” This email has the link for you to use to set up your Online Student Portal. If you did not receive the email, please first check your spam/junk email filter.

SAT Math – Example Question Use Process of Elimination Plug in with your number in the answer choices – eliminate what doesn’t work n=2 target answer = 160.88 A) (7 + 0.13)2 + 129.99 =144.25 B) 1.13(2)(129.99 + 7) =309.59 C) 7(2) + (129.99 + 1.13) =145.12 D) 129.99(1.13) + 7(2) =160.88

ACT Science – Example Question Try to get a feel for the data first: Identify variables Identify trends

SAT Grammar – Example Question Read Carefully! Always read entire sentences, never just the underlined portion Read as much as you need to answer the question

SAT & ACT True or False The SAT and ACT measure your intelligence. Let’s talk about some myths and truths about the tests. Neither the SAT or ACT measure your intelligence. If you’re not happy with your scores, don’t take them personally. All that means is that you haven’t yet learned the best way to take the tests.

SAT & ACT True or False The SAT and ACT measure your intelligence. Let’s talk about some myths and truths about the tests. Neither the SAT or ACT measure your intelligence. If you’re not happy with your scores, don’t take them personally. All that means is that you haven’t yet learned the best way to take the tests.

SAT & ACT True or False If you have a high GPA in school, that means you will automatically do well on the SAT or ACT. This one is definitely false. We see students all the time who get great grades in school and yet they struggle at first with these tests. Both of these tests are different from the ones you’re used to taking in school. We’ll talk more about that soon.

SAT & ACT True or False If you have a high GPA in school, that means you will automatically do well on the SAT or ACT. FALSE This one is definitely false. We see students all the time who get great grades in school and yet they struggle at first with these tests. Both of these tests are different from the ones you’re used to taking in school. We’ll talk more about that soon.

SAT & ACT True or False Even if you don’t have a high GPA in school, you can learn how to increase your scores on the SAT and ACT. We’ve seen plenty of students who aren’t at the top of their class who prepare for and do quite well on these tests.

SAT & ACT True or False Even if you don’t have a high GPA in school, you can learn how to increase your scores on the SAT and ACT. TRUE! We’ve seen plenty of students who aren’t at the top of their class who prepare for and do quite well on these tests.

SAT & ACT True or False All four-year colleges and universities accept either SAT or ACT without preference. You can take and submit both, but that’s not required. You may have heard from parents or older siblings that this school or that school prefers one test over the other. That may have been true a few years ago, but it’s not true anymore. Every school will accept either test and they don’t care whether you submit SAT or ACT scores.

SAT & ACT True or False All four-year colleges and universities accept either SAT or ACT without preference. You can take and submit both, but that’s not required. TRUE You may have heard from parents or older siblings that this school or that school prefers one test over the other. That may have been true a few years ago, but it’s not true anymore. Every school will accept either test and they don’t care whether you submit SAT or ACT scores.

SAT vs. ACT SAT More Common on the Coasts No Penalty for Wrong Answers Rewards Reasoning and Logic Stops at Algebra II Very Coachable – Rewards Strategy

SAT vs. ACT SAT ACT Sections of the Test Math Evidence-Based Reading and Writing Science English Reading How is the test scored? Each of the two sections is 200-800 points, for a total of 1600 points Each section is out of 36 and your total score is an average of the sections Guessing Penalty? No Score Choice Yes Essay Optional –aka mandatory Optional – aka mandatory Bottom Line? Both tests are valid options for the college admissions process! . For detailed explanation on the new SAT, please visit www.PrincetonReview.com/SATChanges

College Readiness Timeline 9th and 10th Grades Focus on grades in school and participating in activities Possible SAT Subject Test – if you’re in AP or Honors for that subject matter Now we’ll talk about what you should be doing and when. 9th and 10th grade should be focused on getting the best possible grades in the hardest possible classes. Some students take the PSAT in 10th grade just for practice. It doesn’t count for anything then, but it gives students an idea of the types of questions that appear on the SAT. If you’re doing particularly well in a subject or if you’re in an AP class in 10th grade, then seriously consider taking an SAT Subject Test that May or June. If you’re going to need one or more of these tests, it’s great to get some out of the way before 11th grade. The summer after 10th grade is a great time to start preparing for the SAT or ACT. You’re not in school so you have more time to devote to practice. There’s nothing you’ll learn in 11th grade that we can’t teach you that will help you on these tests. Remember, they’re not testing what you know as much as they’re testing how well you take the tests.

College Readiness Timeline Summer after 10th Grade (into 11th grade Fall) Great time to start preparing for SAT and/or ACT Continue activities you are passionate about Focus on doing well in the classroom, retake courses if needed The summer after 10th grade is a great time to start preparing for the SAT or ACT. You’re not in school so you have more time to devote to practice. There’s nothing you’ll learn in 11th grade that we can’t teach you that will help you on these tests. Remember, they’re not testing what you know as much as they’re testing how well you take the tests.

College Readiness Timeline 11th Grade Take the official SAT or ACT exam Continue doing well in the classroom Begin college exploration process The summer after 10th grade is a great time to start preparing for the SAT or ACT. You’re not in school so you have more time to devote to practice. There’s nothing you’ll learn in 11th grade that we can’t teach you that will help you on these tests. Remember, they’re not testing what you know as much as they’re testing how well you take the tests.

College Admissions Timeline 12th Grade Fall: apply to colleges Spring: evaluate your options and decide next steps! The summer after 10th grade is a great time to start preparing for the SAT or ACT. You’re not in school so you have more time to devote to practice. There’s nothing you’ll learn in 11th grade that we can’t teach you that will help you on these tests. Remember, they’re not testing what you know as much as they’re testing how well you take the tests.

What Can I Do NOW to Stay Test Ready? “Word Of The Day” – sign up at www.collegeboard.org. Focus on your academics. Do well in your classes. Read, read, read! The summer after 10th grade is a great time to start preparing for the SAT or ACT. You’re not in school so you have more time to devote to practice. There’s nothing you’ll learn in 11th grade that we can’t teach you that will help you on these tests. Remember, they’re not testing what you know as much as they’re testing how well you take the tests.

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