SAT/ PSAT ACT/ PLAN 2010

How prepared are you for college level work? How prepared are you for TAKS? How prepared are you for the classes you are taking?

ACT EXPLORE (8 th ) PLAN (10 th ) SAT PSAT (11 th )

4 Tested Areas English Math Reading Science Scoring: ACT = 36 PLAN = 32

P L A N E n g l i s h T e s t 30 minutes Content/Skills Number of Items Usage/Mechanics 30 Punctuation 7 Grammar and Usage 9 Sentence Structure 14 Rhetorical Skills 20 Strategy 6 Organization 7 Style 7 Total 50 P L A N M a t h e m a t i c s T e s t 40 minutes Content Area Number of Items Pre-Algebra/Algebra 22 Pre-Algebra 14 Elementary Algebra 8 Geometry 18 Coordinate Geometry 7 Plane Geometry 11 Total 40

P L A N R e a d i n g T e s t 20 minutes Content Area Number of Items Prose Fiction 8 Humanities 9 Social Studies 8 Total 25 P L A N S c i e n c e T e s t 25 minutes Content Area Format Number of Items Biology Earth/Space Sciences Data Representation 10 Research Summaries 14 Chemistry Physics Conflicting Viewpoints 6 Total 30

PLAN shows you your strengths and weaknesses in English, math, reading, and science PLAN lets you know if you’re on target for college PLAN helps you find careers that match your interests PLAN helps you prepare for the ACT

Thursday, November 18 th 10 th Grade Students ONLY FREE

September 11, 2010 October 23, 2010 December 11, 2010 February 12, 2011 April 9, 2011 June 11, 2011

SEE COUNSELOR BLOG SPOT

The test assesses the academic skills that you’ve developed over the years, primarily through your course work. These skills are considered essential for success in high school and college: Critical Reading Mathematics Writing Skills

Question Types: The same, except the PSAT/NMSQT does not have an essay component. Length: The PSAT/NMSQT is 2 hours, 10 minutes. The SAT is 3 hours, 45 minutes. Level of Difficulty: The PSAT/NMSQT does not have 11 th grade-level math questions.

Critical Reading Questions Use content from: -humanities -social studies -natural sciences -literature 13 Sentence Completions 35 Passage-Based Reading Questions (100- to 800-word passages) Critical Math Questions Use content from: -number and operations -algebra and functions; -geometry and measurement -data analysis -statistics -probability 28 Multiple-Choice Questions 10 Student-Produced Response Questions (“Grid-ins”)

Critical Writing Questions Focus on editing, grammar, usage, and organization. 20 Improving Sentences Questions 14 Identifying Sentence Error Questions 5 Improving Paragraph Questions Scoring: Multiple-choice questions:  1 point for each correct ¼ point deducted for each incorrect Math grid-ins: 1 point for each correct 0 points for each incorrect 0 points for omitted questions  Scale:  for each test section Averages: 11 th Graders: th Graders: Younger Students: 38-42

Wednesday, Oct. 13, 2010 $5 All Eligible 9 th, 10 th and 11 th (Only 11 th can qualify as NMSQ)

Take the PSAT/NMSQT during your junior year of HS Your Selection Index score must be at qualifying standard (approx. 215) Scores of 215, student is considered a semifinalist and will then submit an application for the NMS Student must then register to take the SAT. Semifinalist and Finalist are put in direct contact with 2 Universities of their choice. Schools are provided with lists of students meeting the criteria for Semifinalist.

October 9, 2010 November 6, 2010 December 4, 2010 January 22, 2011 March 12, 2011 May 7, 2011 June 4, 2011

/home SEE Counselor BLOG SPOT

You MUST score at least a 2200 on your TAKS in the areas of Math and ELA and have a 2 on your writing to be considered college ready. Students NOT scoring this can show they are college ready with their ACT/SAT or ACCUPLACER test. Cisco will NOT allow you to enroll in classes without meeting college readiness standards. ACCUPLACER is an ONLINE assessment that is $10 and is given at Cisco or TSTC. (also a collegeboard test) This specifically applies to Dual Credit courses.

In accordance with Texas Education Code (TEC), §51.803, a student is eligible for automatic admission to a college or university as an undergraduate student if the applicant earned a grade point average in the top 10 percent of the student's high school graduating class, or the top 8 percent for admission to the University of Texas at Austin, and the applicant: (1) successfully completed the requirements for the Recommended High School Program (RHSP) or the Distinguished Achievement Program (DAP); or (2) satisfied ACT's College Readiness Benchmarks on the ACT assessment or earned on the SAT assessment a score of at least 1,500 out of 2,400 or the equivalent. To qualify for automatic admission an applicant must: (1) submit an application before the deadline established by the college or university to which the student seeks admission; and (2) provide a high school transcript or diploma that indicates whether the student has satisfied or is on schedule to satisfy the requirements of the RHSP or DAP or the portion of the RHSP or DAP that was available to the student. Colleges and universities are required to admit an applicant for admission as an undergraduate student if the applicant is the child of a public servant who was killed or sustained a fatal injury in the line of duty and meets the minimum requirements, if any, established by the governing board of the college or university for high school or prior college- level grade point average and performance on standardized tests.

ACTSAT Top 10% No Minimum First Quarter Second Quarter Third Quarter Fourth Quarter Application Review

SAT Critical Reading: SAT Math: SAT Writing: ACT Composite:

SAT Critical Reading: SAT Math: SAT Writing: ACT Composite:

READ! Continuous reading improves vocabulary and develops essential skills. Read more books than just those required for class. Take Challenging Courses! This will help you to develop and strengthen your critical thinking skills. Take the practice test in the Official Student Guide to the PSAT/NMSQT. Understand scoring and “educated guessing.” Familiarize yourself with the test’s format, questions types, and directions.

When you sit down to take the test: Read all of the directions. Read all of each question’s answer choices. Do scratch work in the test book. Work at a steady pace. If you skip a question: Note it in the test book. Leave it blank on the answer sheet. Return to it if there is time. Remember: you don’t have to answer every question to score well. In most sections, the questions are arranged from easy to more difficult (except for passage-based reading in the critical reading section and improving paragraphs in the writing skills section). Wild guessing is discouraged, but students should make educated guesses when answer choices can be eliminated.

Set a regular time and place to study each day and throughout the week. Keep a daily “to do” list. Set goals for yourself. Do your reading assignments before the material is discussed in class. Pay close attention and take good notes in class. Prepare for tests during your regular study times instead of cramming at the last minute.

Start learning now about how much college will cost Learn about different forms of financial aid available Start saving now for college Think about how good grades and ACT scores can help make college more affordable

Take challenging college prep courses in high school. Explore the many career options available to you and think about how your career choices will affect your future. Set career goals and develop an educational plan to achieve them.