Informational Meeting with Juniors October 28, 2015

Background Information All juniors at SHS took the ACT on Monday, Sept. 28th. The score you received on this ACT is an accurate prediction of what score you might’ve received on an actual ACT. However, keep in mind that this test is just a starting point! The ACT is an achievement test, which means it is based on content you’ve learned in your classes. This also means that you CAN improve your score by practicing, doing test-prep work, studying, etc. Teachers in your core classes are now preparing materials to help you improve your score based on your performance on this practice test on September 28th.

Also remember, the ACT Prep Class is offered again this spring! If you’re interested in putting this into your schedule, see your counselor. Teachers are offering an ACT Prep Workshop in the evenings beginning on November 9 th. If you have or will be taking the ACT prep class, you should not enroll in this Workshop. The same material will be covered. See Ms. Kopp in the counseling center in order to register. The cost is $85 and registration is due November 6 th. The workshop dates are as follows: November 9, 10, 16, 17, 18, 19, 23, and 30 th. You may choose between one of two session times: 3:00pm – 5:00pm or 6:00pm – 8:00pm. More Background Info…

Please note: The Writing portion, which you also took on Sept. 10 th, is will be graded and returned to you by your Comm. Arts teacher.

At the top of the first page, you will see scores in this format: These are the 4 subject areas of the ACT Test. Writing is scored separately. For each subject area, a scaled score is given. The scale scores range from This is a percentile ranking, which compares your score to other juniors at SHS. For example, this student scored better than 28% of SHS students on the English ACT test. This is your composite scale score. It is almost an average of the 4 subject area scale scores. The range is This is your composite percentile ranking, so that you can see how your score compares overall to other SHS students who took the ACT test. This student scored better than 34% of SHS students overall.

College Readiness Benchmarks Now that you’ve seen your composite scores for each subject area… ACT has determined that your composite score in each subject area can predict college readiness for certain classes. (**Remember, you have plenty of time to work toward improving your scores!**) These are the benchmark scores. If you attain at least these scores in each subject area, you have a 50% chance of obtaining a B or better and a 75% chance of obtaining a C or better in that course in college. College CourseACT Subject-Area Test ACT Benchmark English CompositionEnglish18 College AlgebraMathematics22 Social SciencesReading22 BiologyScience23

Below your overall scores, you will see scores broken down into the 4 subject areas: Each subject area is broken down into categories. For each category and subject area, you will see the number of problems you got right, how many you got wrong, and how many you omitted (left blank). *Something important to notice: The total number of questions you got correct does not necessarily add up to your composite score for that section.

On the second page of your score report, you will see a breakdown of EACH QUESTION. This is a great resource for you to use! Subject Area Item #: Look in your test booklet to find the specific question. Category: This tells you what type of question it was (Usage/Mechanics or Rhetorical Skills). Correct: The correct answer choice. Yours: The answer you gave. If there is a + sign, you got it correct! If not, it tells you which wrong answer you chose.

YOUR PRACTICE ACT TEST BOOKLET You may access the Practice ACT test booklet online by visiting the Counseling Center from the Smithville High School Webpage. Please refer to this online test booklet in order to analyze the questions you got right/wrong and to determine the areas in which you need improvement.

Wrapping It All Up… The ACT is accepted at all colleges around the United States. Free ACT Test Prep is available online for students at All juniors in the state of Missouri will take an official ACT on April 19, This test will be given during the regular school day at Smithville High School and is at NO COST to you. You may use the score from this test for college admission purposes. All other ACT’s you wish to take will require that you register online at and pay a fee of $39.50 (ACT no writing). On April 19 th, you will take the 4 main subject areas (Reading, English, Science, Math), as well as the writing portion. Take your results sheet and booklet home, look through it with parents/guardians, and use this to help you understand where you can improve!