Making sense of your act scores 11th grade – January 2019 CCMR Lesson 0:00-5:00 Hand out everyone’s ACT score sheet Ask students if they remember the very first week of school talking about ACT Preparation in the very first CCMR lesson. In the first CCMR lesson in August the following was covered: -the different subject tests for the ACT – how many questions and how much time for each test - an overview of how the ACT would be scored – based on right answers, no penalty for guessing -multiple choice questions in each section except for the writing part -the highest possible composite score is 36 on the ACT Also several websites were given as a way to prepare for the ACT

Objectives for the day What does my score mean? How do my scores relate to the ACT College Readiness Benchmarks? How do my scores relate to other students in the United States and in Texas? What do I do with my scores? Should I retest? 5:00-7:00 Review the objectives with the students Ask students to see if they can answer any of the listed questions

Your Composite Score Your composite score is the average of your four subject test scores converted into a score that ranges from 1 to 36. No points were taken off for incorrect answers. 7:00-8:00 Ask students to turn to the side of the answer sheet that match the picture on the screen Review the information on the slide The next few slides are reviewing the different parts of the score sheet and what each means for the student.

Your score is represented by the line. For the subject tests Your score is represented by the line. Your score is an estimate and the shaded area represents this scoring range. 8:00-9:00 Ask students to note the line for each of their subject tests

Your Writing Score The writing test is graded by two raters who score your essay on a scale of 1 to 6. Your score ranges from 2 to 12 and is a sum of the two raters’ scores. 9:00-11:00 Make sure all students can locate their writing test score. Review the information on the left that explains their writing score. Your score represents essential skills and abilities that are necessary to meet the writing demands of college and career.

Your STEM and ELA Score These scores represent your overall performance on the specific subject tests. STEM looks at science and math to produce a combined score and ELA for the English, reading, and writing tests. 9:00-11:00

ACT College Readiness Benchmarks The purple line for each subject provides information on your scoring a certain score on a specific first-year college course in the corresponding subject areas. Chance of a B or higher – 50% Chance of a C or higher – 75% 11:00-14:00 TEACHER: Ask students to review each of their subject scores and check to see if they are near or pass any of the Readiness Benchmarks. **Be sure to read the information in the Readiness Benchmark box. Ask students that are close or above any of the Readiness Benchmarks, what do they believe has helped them to be “college ready” in this course(s)? Possible answers – 1. I have taken Pre-AP or AP courses in those subjects or dual credit in those subjects 2. I have had really good teachers in that subject 3. I am really interested in that subject and have worked really hard in classes in that subject. Hopefully a few will say #1 and #2 – Research says….. One of the best ways to prepare for college is to take more rigorous courses (PreAP, AP, or Dual Credit) Readiness Benchmark if your score is above the Benchmark, you will likely be ready for first-year college courses in that subject area.

US and State Ranks for each of your scores Example: US Rank – 56% of students earned the same Composite score of 21 or below as this student did. The higher your score the better. 14:00 – 15:00 Ask students to check to see if they are “smarter” than 40%, 50% or 75% of the rest of the US students – don’t ask them to raise their hand or report out

Detailed Results This graphic shows your percentage of correct answers. The purple area also shows if your score fell within the ACT Readiness Range for each subject. 15:00-18:00 Readiness Range – this range shows where a student has met the ACT College Readiness Benchmark on this subject test would typically perform Ask students what areas in math did they have the highest scores in Math? Science? English? Reading? Be sure to point out to students that in math the Preparing for Higher Math had 35 questions and Integrating Essential Skills has 25. Ask students what sections had the most questions in Science? Interpretation of data English? Conventions of standard English (punctuation, usage, and sentence structure) Reading? Key ideas and details Ask students why it would be important to know these details? -if they wanted to retake the test they know what areas to study

What Your ACT Score Means to Colleges Some colleges use ACT or SAT scores to determine if you can be accepted to their college or university Colleges use ACT scores to identify scholarship/loan qualified candidates Colleges use ACT scores to decide if you need college remediation classes or not To be considered “college ready” in TEXAS and not have to take a remediation course, students’ ACT scores must be: Composite Score – 23 or higher AND at least English – 19 or higher and/or Math – 19 or higher 18:00-24:00 TEACHER: Review each line with the students – For Line 1 – remind students ACT/SAT scores are only part of what they consider for students to be accepted What are some of the things that colleges consider when accepting students? (remind them of the admissions game during the 3rd six weeks CCMR lesson) Remind them of “positive” items such as: strong academic program, you are the first in your family to attend college, you wrote “an essay of the year”, an enrichment program in the summer, a varsity athlete, involved in community service For Line 2 – remind students they need to complete the FAFSA – must have this completed to qualify for scholarships For Line 3 – remind students – if you have to take remediation classes, you have to pay for them, attend them for a semester and they do not count toward your degree For Line 4 – review the information then ask students to circle their composite score and then write “23 needed to be college ready” on their sheet next to their composite score. Ask students to circle their English score and then write “19 needed to be college ready” on their sheet next to their composite score. Ask students to circle their Math score and then write “19 needed to be college ready” on their sheet next to their composite score. Special note---Students must score a 23 on the composite AND a 19 on either test to be considered college ready in that subject.

What if my ACT scores are too low? Your options: Retake the ACT Free study materials www.collegeboard.org www.march2success.com www.act.org (includes a study guide and practice for subject tests) PLATO (all WISD students) www.actstudent.org 24:00- 27:00 Ask students to return to their “Detailed Results” section of their score sheet and mark with a “star” the top 2 areas of each subject test they could go back and review and improve their score. Ask students to record at least 2 of these websites on their answer document. There are also half sheets for students to remind them of how to log onto PLATO for review of the ACT, SAT, or TSI.

Retaking the ACT – ACT Fee Waiver You can qualify for two ACT fee waivers (means you can take it free two times) ACT Fee Waiver Eligibility Criteria: Be enrolled in high school (11th or 12th grade) Be a U.S. citizen Meet one or more of the indicators: Enrolled in a federal free or reduced-price lunch program Enrolled in a program for economically disadvantaged students such as GEAR UP or Upward Bound You reside in a foster home or are homeless You family receives low-income public assistance or lives in federally subsidized public housing See your counselor for information 27:00 – 29:00 Review the information on the PowerPoint slide Remind students to see their counselor if they are interested in trying to get an ACT fee waiver

Other options to be “college ready” Take the TSI to be considered “college ready” TSI reading minimum score – 351+ TSI writing minimum score – 4 on essay with a 340 multiple choice score OR Less than 340 then the essay 5+ TSI math minimum score – 350+ Free study/review options on PLATO 29:00 – 31:00 Both high schools are offering the TSI – STUDY before you take it Remember to be “college ready” you need to pass the math, reading, and writing TSI tests Handout for PLATO study materials

ACT, SAT, and TSI testing dates ACT – Next tests: Feb. 9; Deadline-Jan. 11 April 13; Deadline-March 8 SAT – Next tests: March 9; Deadline-Feb. 8 May 4; Deadline- April 5 TSI – check with your college readiness counselor for testing days of the week and how to sign up **handouts for reminder of how to log in and prepare for ACT/SAT/TSI – if needed, many students already have this information**

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