The ABC’s of SAT PSAT ACT AP Exams MEAP/MME

Exam Information and Exam Information Resources PHS Morning Announcements Teachers Counselors PTSO Newsletter Ms. Joyce Williams, Director, External Testing, PHS Career Center, (SAT) (ACT) (MEAP)

SAT I Scholastic Assessment Test I Reasoning Tests

SAT I What is the SAT I? National college admissions test Considered a standard way of measuring a student’s ability to do college-level work Assesses verbal and math reasoning abilities Ten sections – Three critical reading sections – Three mathematical sections – Three writing sections including one 25 minute essay – One non-scored “equating” section which can be verbal or math. This section is used to try out new questions or set the scoring scale.

SAT I Who should take the SAT I? SAT I scores may be required for admission to a college Many students choose to take the SAT I in their junior year, particularly if they plan on applying for early admission to a college in the fall of their senior year. If the SAT I scores are a college admission requirement, a student should plan on taking the test no later than December of his/her senior year.

SAT I When is the SAT I given? Administered on seven national test dates throughout the year: – October – November – December – January – March or April – May – June Testing takes place on Saturday Sunday testing is available for students whose religious faith prohibits testing on Saturday.

SAT I Registration Fee Online registration is available and encouraged by the College Board – – use major credit card for payment of fee – certain circumstances where online registration cannot be used Fee waivers available – apply through counselor

SAT I Registration Registration deadline is approximately five weeks prior to the test date Additional cost for late registration Provisions for: – students with disabilities Students can register to take the SAT I at any testing center.

SAT I Scoring SAT I Scores – reported on a scale from 200 to 800 – Three scores: Verbal, Mathematics, and Writing – Raw scores are calculated as follows : Questions answered correctly receive one point Unanswered questions receive no points A fraction of a point is subtracted for incorrect answers to multiple-choice questions. No points are subtracted for incorrect answers to the SAT I math questions requiring student-produced responses

Score Reports Score Reports available about three weeks after the test – View scores online – Receive scores by – Scores available by telephone

SAT I Sending Score Reports When registering, you can request scores be sent to colleges and/or scholarship programs. – Scores sent include the current and all previous SAT I scores For a fee, additional score reports may be sent to colleges and/or scholarship programs: – Online using SAT Score Sender – By Telephone at SAT-SCORE

SAT II Scholastic Assessment Test II Subject Tests

SAT II What is the SAT II? Test in a specific subject One hour, primarily multiple-choice Some colleges recommend or require applicants to take 1 to 3 of these subject tests Students should be aware of the college admission requirements

SAT II Subject Tests Biology Ecological/Molecular Chemistry Physics English Literature US History World History Mathematics Level IC Mathematics Level IIC French-reading German-reading Modern Hebrew-reading Italian-reading Latin-reading Spanish-reading Chinese-with listening French-with listening German-with listening Japanese-with listening Korean-with listening Spanish-with listening

SAT II When is the SAT II given? Registration for SAT II same as for SAT I Given most dates that the SAT I is given Some SAT II tests are not available on every testing date “With listening” language tests are only offered in November at specified centers – Portable CD player with earphones required. SAT II should be taken when content is fresh in the student’s mind, at the end of a recently completed course like chemistry and world history SAT II tests can be retaken

SAT II Scoring and Score Reports Scoring for SAT II is similar to scoring for SAT I Scores sent to colleges and scholarship programs by designating them on the registration form Scores can be released: – Online – By telephone request SAT-SCORE

PSAT PSAT/NMSQT Preliminary SAT/ National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test

PSAT What is the PSAT? Co-sponsored by the College Board and the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) PSAT/NMSQT measures verbal reasoning, critical reading, mathematics problem-solving, and writing skills. The PSAT/NMSQT includes five sections: – Two verbal sections – Two math sections – One writing skills section

PSAT Who should take the PSAT? The PSAT/NMSQT will be administered to all juniors tomorrow 10/16.

PSAT Why take the PSAT? Help prepare for SAT Program tests Forecast SAT scores Opportunity to qualify to enter competitions for scholarships and participate in recognition programs such as: – National Merit Scholarship Program – National Hispanic Recognition Program – National Scholarship Service and Fund for Negro Students – Telluride Association Participate in the Student Search Service to get educational and financial information from colleges Compare yourself with other students

PSAT Registration For the last 3 years Pioneer has been providing the PSAT to all Juniors to give them an opportunity to compete for the various scholarships and also practice a standardized test. Provisions for students with disabilities

PSAT Test Results PSAT/NMSQT score reports are mailed to the High School at the end of November. Each school decides how and when to distribute the scores to students. At Pioneer, results are sent to PHS and distributed to students by the counselors. Score reports are not mailed home.

PSAT Score Reports and Scoring SCORE REPORT – Scores reported on a scale from 20 to 80 Three scores: Verbal, Mathematics, Writing Raw scores are calculated as follows : –Questions answered correctly receive one point –Unanswered questions receive no points –A fraction of a point is subtracted for incorrect answers to multiple-choice questions. –Each incorrect answer to a student-produced response question receives no points – Selection Index - sum of Verbal, Mathematics, and Writing scores – Percentiles allow comparison to scores of other juniors. A student with a percentile of 53 has earned a score better than 53 out of every 100 juniors who took the test. Score Report will show the correct answers and the student’s answers and the difficulty level of each question. To convert to a comparable SAT I score, add a zero to the PSAT/NMSQT score (verbal and mathematics, only). For example, a PSAT/NMSQT score of 56 is similar to an SAT I score of 560.

National Merit Scholarship Program National Merit Scholarship Program Enter the Merit Program by taking the PSAT/NMSQT in the junior year of high school. NMSC will provide scholarship application materials to Semifinalists through their high schools in the fall of the student’s senior year To qualify as a finalist: – Complete NMSC scholarship application includes essay about contributions to school and community, personal characteristics, activities, plans, and goals – Take the SAT I and earn qualifying scores – Notify NMSC of plans to enroll in college 8,000 National Merit Scholarships of $2,500 are awarded

National Merit Scholarship Program Other Scholarship Awards Corporate-sponsored Merit and Special Scholarships Awards – Provided by corporate sponsors in the National Merit Scholarship Program – A list of corporate organizations that sponsor both Merit and Special Scholarships is given in the PSAT/NMSQT Student Bulletin. College-sponsored Merit Scholarship Awards – Officials of a NMSC sponsored institution choose award recipients from among finalists who have applied for admission and have informed NMSC that the sponsor college is their first choice

ACT American College Testing Assessment

ACT What is the ACT? National college admissions examination Measures knowledge, understanding, and skills acquired throughout student’s education Tests cover four skill areas: English, Mathematics, Reading, Science Reasoning, and optional Writing (beginning 2005) 215 multiple choice questions

ACT Who should take the ACT? ACT scores may be required for admission to college Many colleges recommend taking the ACT during the second half of the student’s junior year of high school. Many students take the ACT once as a junior and then as a senior.

ACT When is the ACT given? Administered on five national test dates: – October – December – February – April – June Testing takes place on a Saturday Sunday and Monday testing is available for students whose religious faith prohibits testing on Saturday.

ACT Test Locations Ann Arbor test sites include : – Pioneer High School – Huron High School – Washtenaw Community College – Concordia University – Skyline High School

ACT Registration Fee Online Registration is available and encouraged – – use major credit card for payment of fee – certain circumstances where online registration cannot be used Fee waivers are available – see a counselor to receive a form

ACT Registration Registration deadline is approximately five weeks prior to the test date Additional cost for late registration Provisions for: – changing the test date – missing the test – changing the test center – students with disabilities Students can register to take the ACT at any testing center.

ACT Scoring and Score Reports Scores are mailed four to seven weeks after the test date. View scores online for $8.00 fee Scores reported for each of the four tests (English, Mathematics, Reading, Science Reasoning) – Scores reported on a scale from 1 (lowest) to 36 (highest) – To determine scores on each of the four tests, the number of questions answered correctly is counted. – Points are not deducted for incorrect answers – These raw scores are converted to scale scores. The composite score is an average of the four test scores rounded to the nearest whole number. If the ACT is taken more than once, a separate record is maintained for each test date.

ACT Sending Score Reports When registering, you can request scores be sent to colleges and scholarship programs. For a fee, additional score reports to colleges and/or scholarship programs may be sent by completing an Additional Score Report (ASR) found on the last page in the student booklet. Only the records from designated test dates will be released. – Online ASR Request Form – Download ASR Request Form – Telephone Express Service – Request a form by mail – Submit a letter of request to ACT

SAT vs. ACT SATACT Test StructureSeven-section exam: Three Verbal, three Math, and one Experimental. The Experimental section is masked to look like a regular section. Four-section exam: English, Math, Reading, and Science Reasoning. An experimental section is added to tests on certain dates only, and is clearly experimental. Test ContentMath: up to trigonometry. No science section Reading: one or two passages per section, with roughly one minute to answer each question. Stresses vocabulary A test of strategy and ability to take tests. Math: up to trigonometry. Science section included. Reading: four passages with less than one minute to answer each question. Stresses grammar. A test of time management and studiousness. Penalty for Wrong Answers? YesNo

SAT vs. ACT SATACT How the test is scored/highest possible score for each subject, added together for a combined score. A 1600 is the highest possible score for each subject, averaged together for a composite score. A 36 is the highest possible composite score. Are all scores sent?Yes. A score report will include all of the scores the student received on every SAT taken. No. Students can choose which scores are to be sent. For more informationEducational Testing Service (ETS) (609) The College Board ACT, Inc. (319)

AP Advanced Placement Courses Advanced Placement Exams

AP Courses Advanced Placement Courses give students a chance to try college level work in specific subjects while in high school. Courses offered by Pioneer High School which would prepare students for AP examinations include: – AP English (preparation for English Literature AP Exam) – AC English (preparation for English Language AP Exam) – BC Calculus – AP Analysis, AB Calculus (preparation for Calculus (AB) AP Exam) – AP U.S. History – AP Biology – AP Chemistry – AP Physics – AP American Government and Politics – AP Computer Science – AP Statistics – AP Latin – AP Spanish – AP French – AP German – Humanities (preparation for AP Exams in Art History, English Literature, World History )

AP Exams What are AP Exams? AP Exams test a student’s ability to perform at a college level. Exams contain either an essay or problem-solving section and a section of multiple-choice questions. The modern language exams also have a speaking component. “Qualifying” scores on Advanced Placement Exams may entitle a student to credit or advanced placement at college.

AP Exams Except where designated, PHS offers courses designed to prepare the student for the AP Exam Art History (PHS: Humanities) Biology Calculus AB Calculus BC Chemistry Computer Science A Computer Science B Economics English Language English Literature Environmental Science (no PHS course) European History French German Language Government and Politics (Comparative) (U.S.) Human Geography (no PHS course) Latin (Virgil) Music Theory Physics (C) Psychology (no PHS course) Spanish Statistics Studio Art U.S. History World History*

AP Exams Who takes the AP Exams? Any student can register to take an AP exam. A student does not have to take an AP course to take an AP exam. AP courses and exams typically taken in the junior and senior year. Students can take an exam more than one time. Students taking AP exams will miss class time.

AP Exams When are the AP Exams given? Administered on a national schedule in May of each year. – AP Exams are usually scheduled during the first two weeks in May Suggested starting times are 8:00 AM for the morning session and 1:00 PM for the afternoon session. Some exams are scheduled for the same time slot. If your student has a scheduling conflict, contact Joyce Williams. Calendar of exam times available at

AP Exams Test Locations Large convention facilities in the Ann Arbor area Local High Schools Buildings and Room Numbers are available from Joyce Williams at PHS Career Center

AP AP Exam Registration Fee – approximately $100 Register at Pioneer High School at the General Office Registration for AP Exams begins in February Fee reductions are available for students demonstrating financial need.

AP Exams Test Day Most exams take two to three hours to complete Students should have: – No. 2 pencils with erasers – black or dark blue pen – Pioneer code number – Approved calculator for the Calculus, Chemistry, Physics, or Statistics exams – Ruler/Straight edge for Physics Exam – Social Security Number Receive AP Candidate Pack – numbers on pack will be the official AP number for that testing period

AP Exams Scoring AP Exams are scored from 1 to 5 as follows: – 5 - Extremely well-qualified – 4 - Well-qualified – 3 - Qualified – 2 - Possibly qualified – 1 - No recommendation For a score of 2 or greater, a student may qualify to receive college credit or advanced placement It is at the discretion of the individual college as to whether or not college credit or advance standing (i.e. sophomore placement in a particular subject area) will be given.

AP Exams Grade Reports Grade reports online in July Grade report sent to the college the student designated on the exam answer sheet Grade report sent to PHS Grade reports are cumulative, included are grades on AP Exams taken in the current year and in previous years unless a request has been made to withhold previous grades For a fee, additional grade reports can be sent: – Complete second part of AP Grade Report – Telephone or request to send AP Transcripts

AP Exams Withholding a Grade Canceling a Grade A written request can be made to withhold an AP grade from a report. To permanently cancel an AP grade, complete an AP Cancellation Form and return it to AP Services no later than June 15 following the exam.

MEAP / MME MEAP Fall 2013 MME Spring 2014

MEAP What is the MEAP High School Test? Subject areas tested: Social Studies 9th grade. This Wednesday 10/16

MME What is the MME? The Michigan Merit Exam is the revised state assessment program for the high school level. Full implementation of the program started in the Spring of The MME is based on the ACT college entrance exam, Work Keys, plus several Michigan components developed to assess Michigan curriculum which is not assessed by the ACT.

MME Timeline The full MME will be administered in Spring 2014 to high school juniors. The ACT will be administered on one common day statewide The next day the Work Keys and Michigan mathematics assessment will be administered The third day the Michigan science and social studies assessment will be administered

Produced by Pioneer High School PTSO and Joyce Williams, Director, External Testing