Standardised Tests!

What’s the difference? Examinations: Cambridge IGCSE Cambridge A Level International Baccalaureate (IB) Advanced Placement (AP) etc... Standardised Tests: College Readiness SAT ACT English Language IELTS TOEFL Cambridge

What are they? Tests where all participants answer the same questions that are scored in a standard / consistent manner Many universities ask for them in addition to school results: *To allow them to make international comparisons *To guarantee basic skills e.g. English / numeracy *To fulfill immigration requirements for visas

College Readiness

Scholastic Aptitude Test ( I & II) SAT I SAT Reasoning Test *Reading (History, Social Science, Science) *Writing and Language *Maths (calculator & no calculator) *Essay (optional) *Scored /1600 (average 1050) SAT II SAT Subject Test *Literature *History US / World *Maths 1 or 2 *Biology E / M *Chemistry *Physics *Languages Ecological / Molecular

Essay - read a passage and... Write an essay in which you explain how [the author] builds an argument to persuade [his/her] audience that [author’s claim]. In your essay, analyze how [the author] uses one or more of the features listed above (or features of your own choice) to strengthen the logic and persuasiveness of [his/her] argument. Be sure that your analysis focuses on the most relevant features of the passage. Your essay should not explain whether you agree with [the author’s] claims, but rather explain how the author builds an argument to persuade [his/her] audience.

SAT II tests? Look at what universities require Identify what fits the intended major Play to strengths Look carefully at the topics – recommended preparation is 1 year of college prep course (i.e. AP World History) Be realistic

ACT (short for nothing!) English Maths (with calculator) Reading Science Essay (optional) Score / 36 (average = 21)

English

Maths

Reading

Science

Essay Write a unified, coherent essay about the increasing presence of intelligent machines. In your essay, be sure to: clearly state your own perspective on the issue and analyze the relationship between your perspective and at least one other perspective develop and support your ideas with reasoning and examples organize your ideas clearly and logically communicate your ideas effectively in standard written English Your perspective may be in full agreement with any of those given, in partial agreement, or completely different. Intelligent Machines Many of the goods and services we depend on daily are now supplied by intelligent, automated machines rather than human beings. Robots build cars and other goods on assembly lines, where once there were human workers. Many of our phone conversations are now conducted not with people but with sophisticated technologies. We can now buy goods at a variety of stores without the help of a human cashier. Automation is generally seen as a sign of progress, but what is lost when we replace humans with machines? Given the accelerating variety and prevalence of intelligent machines, it is worth examining the implications and meaning of their presence in our lives.

180 minutes 175 minutes New from 2016

Choices – SAT or ACT? Doesn’t matter for USA - 98% of US colleges accept either SAT historically more popular SAT more accepted outside USA ACT currently more popular in US Have become more similar Get Princeton Review to help

Neither: test optional?

Help your child prep for tests: Use: Class work Read and write Learn section instructions in advance Know the question types Understand the scoring – no penalties for wrong answers Do practice tests e.g. PSAT Test 2-4 times Remember - test scores are less important than school course grades College Board Khan Academy

International dates: SAT PSAT here at HeadStart: October 16th 2019 SAT I First Saturday: March May October December SAT II First Saturday: May June October November December Students cannot do SAT I & II in the same sitting!

International dates: ACT Dates not released for 2019/20 yet September 7–8 October 26–27 December 7–8 February 8–9 April 12–13 June 7–8

Final points; Student should test 2-4 times – most colleges will take the best score Some universities SUPERSCORE You can check a university’s average SAT/ACT score for incoming freshman Not all want ESSAYS Some will want to see ALL SAT/ACT scores Know the last date SAT/ACT scores can be submitted

English Language Proficiency

Language Tests: Reading / Writing / Speaking / Listening IELTS (Academic) Preferred in UK / Australia / Canada Scored 1-9 (most universities will ask for 6.5/7 - depends on course) 2 Year “shelf life” TOEFL Preferred in US Scored /120 (average requirement is 80) Easier! 2 Year “shelf life” CAMBRIDGE PET / FCE / CAE / CPE (CAE - usual requirement) Merit / Pass / Fail or A / B / C “Lifetime” certificate Students must: *Check requirements *Know timings *Book tests *Prepare for tests *Send scores School will help with: *Interpreting websites *Planning testing *Waivers TOEIC - mostly for work

13. Look at the four letters (A, B, C, and D) that indicate where the following sentence could be added to the passage in paragraph 6. This is the criterion emphasized by Darwin’s theory of evolution by natural selection. Where would the sentence best fit? Impacts by meteorites represent one mechanism that could cause global catastrophes and seriously influence the evolution of life all over the planet. (A) According to some estimates, the majority of all extinctions of species may be due to such impacts. (B) Such a perspective fundamentally changes our view of biological evolution. (C) The standard criterion for the survival of a species is its success in competing with other species and adapting to slowly changing environments. (D) Yet an equally important criterion is the ability of a species to survive random global ecological catastrophes due to impacts. Choose the place where the sentence fits best. a. Option A b. Option B c. Option C d. Option D

Speaking Let’s talk about your home town or village. What kind of place is it? What’s the most interesting part of your town/village? What kind of jobs do the people in your town/village do? Would you say it’s a good place to live? (Why?) Let’s move on to talk about accommodation. Tell me about the kind of accommodation you live in? How long have you lived there? What do you like about living there? What sort of accommodation would you most like to live in?

Costs TOEFL - 6,200฿ IELTS - 6,900฿ SAT - 1600 / 2000฿ ACT - 1400 / 1900฿

So…? Makes sure you know if your child needs to do tests! Know the timeline Help plan preparation Make sure your child keeps on top of school work… don’t abandon everything for tests! ASK IF YOU AREN’T SURE!

Useful websites Questions now? https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/sat https://parents.collegeboard.org/college-board-programs/sat https://parents.collegeboard.org/ http://www.act.org/content/act/en/products-and-services/the-act.html http://www.act.org/content/act/en/students-and-parents.html https://thailand.ielts.britishcouncil.org/iorpsea/html/registration/selectExamTypeServlet.do https://www.ielts.idp.co.th/seat_th.aspx https://www.ets.org/toefl Questions now?

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