The ABC’s About the SAT’s And What About the ACT’s?

SAT Overview 3 hours and 45 minutes 3 hours and 45 minutes Includes Critical Reading, Math, Writing Includes Critical Reading, Math, Writing 10 sections: 3 CR, 3 M, 3 Wr, and 1 experimental 10 sections: 3 CR, 3 M, 3 Wr, and 1 experimental 25 minute essay—comes first 25 minute essay—comes first 10 min multiple choice Writing section —comes last 10 min multiple choice Writing section —comes last Five 25 min and two 20 min sections: 3 Critical Reading, 3 Math, 1 Writing Five 25 min and two 20 min sections: 3 Critical Reading, 3 Math, 1 Writing Test booklets differ from student to student Test booklets differ from student to student

Scoring: Critical Reading, Math, Writing each Critical Reading, Math, Writing each Writing: 2 subscores Writing: 2 subscores Essay: 1-6, 2 readers, total 2-12 Essay: 1-6, 2 readers, total 2-12 Writing multiple choice: Writing multiple choice: Total: 2400 Total: 2400 Most colleges still using CR+M score up to 1600 and consider Writing separately Most colleges still using CR+M score up to 1600 and consider Writing separately

The Writing Section Multiple Choice Questions Improving sentences (25 questions) Identifying sentence errors (18 questions) Improving paragraphs (6 questions)

Improving Sentences: Laura Ingalls Wilder published her first book and she was sixty-five then. Laura Ingalls Wilder published her first book and she was sixty-five then. A. and she was sixty-five years old then B. when she was sixty-five C. at age sixty-five years old D. upon the reaching of sixty-five years E. at the time when she was sixty-five

Writing Test: Essay—prompt and assignment Prompt: A sense of happiness and fulfillment, not personal gain, is the best motivation and reward for one’s achievements. Expecting a reward of wealth or recognition for achieving a goal can lead to disappointment and frustration. If we want to be happy in what we do in life, we should not seek achievement for the sake of winning wealth and fame. The personal satisfaction of a job well done is its own reward. A sense of happiness and fulfillment, not personal gain, is the best motivation and reward for one’s achievements. Expecting a reward of wealth or recognition for achieving a goal can lead to disappointment and frustration. If we want to be happy in what we do in life, we should not seek achievement for the sake of winning wealth and fame. The personal satisfaction of a job well done is its own reward.

Assignment: Are people motivated to achieve by personal satisfaction rather than by money or fame? Plan and write an essay in which you develop your point of view on this issue. Support your position with reasoning and examples taken from your reading, studies, experience, or observations. Are people motivated to achieve by personal satisfaction rather than by money or fame? Plan and write an essay in which you develop your point of view on this issue. Support your position with reasoning and examples taken from your reading, studies, experience, or observations.

Critical Reading: Sentence Completions (19 questions) Sentence Completions (19 questions) Passage-based Reading (48 questions) Passage-based Reading (48 questions)

Sentence Completions: Hoping to _______the dispute, negotiators proposed a compromise that they felt would be ______to both labor and management. A. enforce..useful B. end..divisive C. overcome..unattractive D. extend..satisfactory E. resolve..acceptable

Paragraph-based reading: Vocabulary in context Vocabulary in context Literal comprehension Literal comprehension Extended reasoning: measure ability to synthesize and analyze information as well as to evaluate assumptions made and the techniques used by the author. Extended reasoning: measure ability to synthesize and analyze information as well as to evaluate assumptions made and the techniques used by the author.

Extended reasoning: The narrator would most likely describe Mr. Jordan’s conduct during the evening as The narrator would most likely describe Mr. Jordan’s conduct during the evening as A. typically generous B. justifiably impatient C. passionate and irrational D. patronizing and self-centered E. concerned and gentle

The Math Section: Contains two types of questions: Standard multiple-choice (44 questions) Standard multiple-choice (44 questions) Student-produced response questions that provide no answer choices (10 questions) Student-produced response questions that provide no answer choices (10 questions) Calculators can be used. Calculators can be used.

Math Section Content: Arithmetic Arithmetic Algebra 1 Algebra 1 Geometry Geometry Algebra 2 Algebra 2

Examples: 1. If 4(t + u)+ 3= 19, then t + u = A. 3 B. 4 C. 5 D. 6 E Marbles are to be removed from a jar that contains 12 red marbles and 12 black marbles. What is the least number of marbles that could be removed so that the ratio of red marbles to black marbles left in the jar will be 4 to 3?

It’s free… The Official Online SAT Prep Course offered by the College Board is free courtesy of MCPS. The Official Online SAT Prep Course offered by the College Board is free courtesy of MCPS. Go to Go to In the “Students” box click “Register Now” In the “Students” box click “Register Now” B-CC student access codes are available in the counseling office. B-CC student access codes are available in the counseling office.

Montgomery College/MCPS SAT Prep Classes Montgomery College/MCPS SAT Prep Classes Spring schedule prepares for following SAT test dates: March 14, May 2, June 6 Spring schedule prepares for following SAT test dates: March 14, May 2, June 6 Registration begins Dec. 15, 2008 Registration begins Dec. 15, 2008 Meets at MCPS high schools two afternoons or Saturdays for 4 to 5 weeks Meets at MCPS high schools two afternoons or Saturdays for 4 to 5 weeks Brochure in all MCPS high schools Brochure in all MCPS high schools Info on Montgomery College web site. Go to Info on Montgomery College web site. Go to Cost: $275 and students must purchase textbook, Cost: $275 and students must purchase textbook, “The Official SAT Study Guide for the New “The Official SAT Study Guide for the New SAT” SAT”

The ACT English Test English Test 75 items, 45 minutes 75 items, 45 minutes Punctuation Punctuation Grammar and usage Grammar and usage Sentence structure Sentence structure strategy strategy organization organization style style Reading Test 40 items, 35 minutes Selections: Social Studies Natural Sciences Prose Fiction Humanities

The ACT Mathematics Test Mathematics Test 60 items, 60 minutes 60 items, 60 minutes Algebra 1 and 2 Algebra 1 and 2 Geometry Geometry Trigonometry Trigonometry Science Reasoning Test 40 items, 45 minutes Science Information Data Representation Research Summaries Conflicting Viewpoints

ACT Scores Each section of the ACT is scored from a low of 1 to a high of 36. Each section of the ACT is scored from a low of 1 to a high of 36. The composite score is comprised of the average of the four sections’ scores. The composite score also expressed in the range of 1 to 36. The composite score is comprised of the average of the four sections’ scores. The composite score also expressed in the range of 1 to 36. Many colleges accept the ACT in lieu of the SAT Subject Tests. Check with individual colleges. Many colleges accept the ACT in lieu of the SAT Subject Tests. Check with individual colleges.

ACT Optional Writing Section: Not required Not required Administered at the end Administered at the end Very similar to SAT Writing Very similar to SAT Writing Essay graded 2-12 after two readings Essay graded 2-12 after two readings Scored 1-36, which is based on combination of English section and essay. Scored 1-36, which is based on combination of English section and essay.

SAT Subject Tests (formerly SAT 2’s)  Designed to measure knowledge in particular subject areas.  Duration: one hour  Format: multiple choice  Students can take up to 3 subject tests at one administration.  Cannot be taken at the same administration as the SAT Reasoning Test.

More on the SAT Subject Tests…  Many colleges do not require.  Most public colleges to do not require.  Check each individual school to see if required, and how many are required. Three is the maximum.  Most students take at the end of 11 th or beginning of 12 th grade.  Take after the completion of most rigorous course in that subject area.  Many colleges so not require subject tests if you take the ACT.

Students with Disabilities Students with documented disabilities may be eligible for accommodations on both the SAT’s and the ACT’s. Students with documented disabilities may be eligible for accommodations on both the SAT’s and the ACT’s. Forms to request accommodations on the SAT’s and the ACT’s are available in the counseling office. Forms to request accommodations on the SAT’s and the ACT’s are available in the counseling office. Contact your child’s counselor right away if you believe your child is entitled to accommodations. Contact your child’s counselor right away if you believe your child is entitled to accommodations.

Accuplacer: Test used for placement at Montgomery College Test used for placement at Montgomery College Untimed Untimed Multiple Choice Multiple Choice Taken on computer Taken on computer Adaptive test Adaptive test Three sections: reading comprehension, sentence skills, math Three sections: reading comprehension, sentence skills, math

Accuplacer self-prep Information plus study guide book Information plus study guide book Other>Placement and Assessment Other>Placement and Assessment Google>Accuplacer Google>Accuplacer

How Do Colleges Select Students? High school grades/class rank High school grades/class rank Rigor of program Rigor of program Standardized test scores Standardized test scores Recommendations Recommendations Essays Essays Interviews Interviews Special talents Special talents Extracurricular activities Extracurricular activities Other Other

FairTest Provides a list of accredited, four-year colleges and universities that deemphasize the use of standarized tests in admissions decisions Provides a list of accredited, four-year colleges and universities that deemphasize the use of standarized tests in admissions decisions