College Admissions Testing: What You Need to Know

What colleges want Application(essays, extra curriculars, etc.) Standardized test scores Transcript (grades, and what classes you take)

What is the PSAT? Practice version of the SAT Practice version of the SAT For many students, the first exposure to college admissions testing For many students, the first exposure to college admissions testing PSAT is also a part of the National Merit Scholarship Program PSAT is also a part of the National Merit Scholarship Program Most importantly : a chance to figure out areas of strength and weakness before the “real” tests! Most importantly : a chance to figure out areas of strength and weakness before the “real” tests!

The PSAT Total Time: 2 hours, 10 minutes Critical Reading 1 25 minutes Critical Reading 2 25 minutes Math 2 25 minutes

Going from the PSAT to SAT Length is the single most important difference – 4 hours + for the SAT! Length is the single most important difference – 4 hours + for the SAT! Essay section is added on the SAT Essay section is added on the SAT A handful of new Algebra 2 topics on the Math A handful of new Algebra 2 topics on the Math

The SAT Reasoning Test The SAT has three sub-sections : Math, Critical Reading, and Writing The SAT has three sub-sections : Math, Critical Reading, and Writing Each sub-section is scaled from Each sub-section is scaled from The national average for each section is roughly 500 The national average for each section is roughly 500

The SAT Reasoning Test Critical Reading 1 25 minutes Math 1 25 minutes Essay Critical Reading 2 25 minutes Math 2 25 minutes Writing 1 25 minutes ExperimentalSection Writing 2 10 minutes Critical Reading 3 20 minutes Math 3 20 minutes Total Time: 3 hours, 45 minutes

SAT Scoring Scoring Scoring One raw score point gained for each correct answer One raw score point gained for each correct answer 1/4 raw point taken away for each incorrect multiple choice answer 1/4 raw point taken away for each incorrect multiple choice answer No penalty or gain for omitted questions or incorrect answers on grid-ins No penalty or gain for omitted questions or incorrect answers on grid-ins

SAT Math Math Topics on the SAT Math Topics on the SAT Basic math concepts through Algebra II Basic math concepts through Algebra II There is no difficult math on the SAT, but the test itself can be difficult There is no difficult math on the SAT, but the test itself can be difficult Important Tips Important Tips Never leave an easy question blank Never leave an easy question blank Hard problems have hard answers! Hard problems have hard answers! Accuracy is more important than speed Accuracy is more important than speed

SAT Writing Multiple-Choice Grammar (~70% of score) Multiple-Choice Grammar (~70% of score) Improving Sentences questions test ability to correct sentences with mistakes Improving Sentences questions test ability to correct sentences with mistakes Error Identification questions test ability to identify common grammatical errors Error Identification questions test ability to identify common grammatical errors Improving Paragraphs questions test understanding of proper diction, usage, organization, and grammar Improving Paragraphs questions test understanding of proper diction, usage, organization, and grammar Essay (~30% of score) Essay (~30% of score) Looks for strong opinion and good organization Looks for strong opinion and good organization State your position, then back it up with relevant examples State your position, then back it up with relevant examples

SAT Critical Reading Passage-based Reading Passage-based Reading Long and dense passages Long and dense passages Best way to improve skill is through repeated practice with an active reading strategy Best way to improve skill is through repeated practice with an active reading strategy Sentence Completions Sentence Completions Process of elimination is key! Process of elimination is key!

SAT Subject Tests Each test is one hour in length Each test is one hour in length Achievement-based tests, measuring knowledge learned from college-level courses in the following areas: Achievement-based tests, measuring knowledge learned from college-level courses in the following areas:ENGLISH - Literature HISTORY - U.S. History, World History MATH - Mathematics Level 1, Mathematics Level 2 SCIENCE - Biology E/M, Chemistry, Physics LANGUAGES - Chinese, French, German, Spanish, Modern Hebrew, Italian, Latin, Japanese, Korean

ACT The ACT has four sections : English, Reading, Math, and Science. The ACT has four sections : English, Reading, Math, and Science. Each section is scored on a scale from 1 to 36 Each section is scored on a scale from 1 to 36 The national average for each section is roughly 21 The national average for each section is roughly 21

ACTEnglish 45 minutes Math 60 minutes Science 35 minutes Reading Total Time: 2 hours, 55 minutes or 3 hours, 25 minutes with optional essay

ACT Math Mathematics skills typically acquired through 11th grade: Mathematics skills typically acquired through 11th grade: Pre-Algebra Pre-Algebra Elementary Algebra Elementary Algebra Intermediate Algebra Intermediate Algebra Coordinate Geometry Coordinate Geometry Plane Geometry Plane Geometry Trigonometry Trigonometry

ACT English Usage/Mechanics Usage/Mechanics Long prose passages Long prose passages Punctuation Punctuation Grammar & usage (standard written English) Grammar & usage (standard written English) Sentence structure & formation Sentence structure & formation Rhetorical Skills Rhetorical Skills Writing Strategy Writing Strategy Organization Organization Style Style

ACT Reading Reading Comprehension Reading Comprehension Direct statements & statements with implied meaning Direct statements & statements with implied meaning Determining main ideas Determining main ideas Making comparisons Making comparisons Understanding sequence of events Understanding sequence of events Drawing generalizations Drawing generalizations Analyzing author’s/narrator’s voice and method Analyzing author’s/narrator’s voice and method Passage Types Passage Types Prose Fiction Prose Fiction Humanities Humanities Social Studies Social Studies Natural Sciences Natural Sciences

ACT Science Science Reasoning Science Reasoning Three passage formats: Three passage formats: Data Representation (graphs & tables) Data Representation (graphs & tables) Research Summaries (descriptions of related experiments) Research Summaries (descriptions of related experiments) Conflicting Viewpoints (expressions of related hypotheses or inconsistent viewpoints) Conflicting Viewpoints (expressions of related hypotheses or inconsistent viewpoints) Passages cover the following content areas: biology, chemistry, physics and earth/space sciences Passages cover the following content areas: biology, chemistry, physics and earth/space sciences Basic knowledge of scientific terms and concepts needed Basic knowledge of scientific terms and concepts needed

Essay Writing composition skills: Writing composition skills: Well-developed point of view Well-developed point of view Consideration of counter argument Consideration of counter argument Use of specific examples Use of specific examples Sentence structure Sentence structure Strong conclusion Strong conclusion

ACT v. SAT ACTSAT science reasoning section no science reasoning section math includes trigonometry no trigonometry questions entirely multiple-choice non multiple-choice questions included no guessing penalty guessing penalty math accounts for 25% of your score math accounts for 33% of your score easy and hard questions mixed within sections questions go from easy to hard in most sections

SAT to ACT Conversion SAT to ACT Conversion ACT OLD SAT NEW SAT ACT OLD SAT NEWSAT ACT NEW SAT ACT OLD SAT NEWSAT

Testing Timeline Sophomore Year Junior Year Senior Year

Test Preparation Find the best option for you 1) Prep on your own 1) Prep on your own 2) Classroom program 2) Classroom program 3) Hybrid program 3) Hybrid program 4) Individual Tutoring 4) Individual Tutoring