STUDENTS

DID YOU KNOW? OCTOBER 1 That nearly all four-year colleges require a college entrance exam, and some “test-optional” schools do, in fact, consider SAT or ACT scores in the admission process when students submit them? Data provided by colleges and universities to college-planning sites such as BigFuture.org show that many test-optional schools receive SAT or ACT scores from more than 70% of students as part of the admission process.

DID YOU KNOW? OCTOBER 2 The weight placed on SAT and ACT scores varies from school to school? Colleges and universities also consider high school grade point average and academic transcript, letters of recommendation, interviews, and personal essays when deciding on admissions. In addition, virtually all U.S. colleges and universities will accept ACT scores in lieu of SAT scores. For more specific information about the weight of your scores, contact the admissions offices of the schools to which you will apply.

DID YOU KNOW? OCTOBER 3 The SAT is given 7 times per year in January. March/April, May, June, October, November, and December. The ACT is given only 6 times per year in February, April, June, September, October, and December. It is smart to take both the ACT and SAT since every college in the country will take either score. You can use the score of whichever test you score higher on.

DID YOU KNOW? OCTOBER 6 Neither the SAT nor the ACT is harder than the other – but each test benefits a different type of student. It’s essential that you figure out which test is best for you if you want the best scores possible. For example: The SAT emphasizes vocabulary far more than the ACT does. Whereas The ACT tests slightly more complex, more advanced math. Both the SAT and ACT require nearly identical grammatical and writing skills for the English / Writing sections, and for the essays. And The ACT “science” section could be more accurately named the “using information in graphs and charts properly” section.

DID YOU KNOW? OCTOBER 7 You should take the SAT or ACT, depending on your test preference, 2-3 times before applying to colleges? The most common plan is to take the ACT ASPIRE your freshman year, the PSAT you sophomore year, and the PSAT again in October of your junior year. Then, you should take the SAT or ACT at least once in the spring of your junior year, and then again in the fall of your senior year.

DID YOU KNOW? OCTOBER 8 Your PSAT scores are a qualifier for Dual Credit courses? You must score a 50 on both the reading and math subject tests and a composite score of 107. Here at Klein Collins we offer 4 Dual Credit English courses, 2 Dual Credit History courses, 2 Dual Credit Science courses, and 1 Dual Credit Math course. Students can start taking Dual Credit courses to earn college credit starting the summer before their junior year of high school.

DID YOU KNOW? OCTOBER 9 That as part of their commitment to access and equity in education, both the SAT and ACT offer a fee waiver program to assist those students for whom test fees present an obstacle in the college-going process. Today, more than 20% of SAT and ACT takers utilize fee waivers, including more than 350,000 students in the graduating class of 2011 alone. So, if the financial burden is preventing you from taking the SAT or ACT, stop by and speak with your counselor about the fee waiver program.Today

DID YOU KNOW? OCTOBER 10 That SAT and ACT registration deadlines fall approximately 5 weeks before each test date. These dates are posted on the Klein Collins website under College Readiness Testing. Keep in mind you can register by mail or online.

DID YOU KNOW? OCTOBER 14 You should give yourself 5 to 12 weeks to prepare for the SAT or ACT. The prep programs provided to you through Tiger Den using the Method test Prep Program usually require approximately 2 hours of work per week for 8 weeks. There are tutorials for both the SAT and ACT including a huge pool of practice questions where you can receive instant feedback upon completion of each question, and develop a study plan for your unique needs. Good luck tomorrow Tigers!prepare for the SAT