1. College Admissions Testing More than you ever wanted to know about the PSAT/ACT/Subject Tests/SAT GATE Meeting October 22, 2014

2. Presenter Mrs. Carlie McGinty is the school counselor for students with last names N-Sh (10 th -12 th ) O-Ste (9th grade) Over the past 10 years she has tutored over 1000 students for the PSAT/SAT/ACT. cmcginty@uscsd.k12.pa.us 412-833-1600 ext. 2404

3. Brief Overview of: PSAT ACT SAT Subject Tests SAT – current and redesigned

4. The PSAT/National Merit Scholarship Program

5. Why Take the PSAT? Prepare for the SAT Receive feedback on your strengths and weaknesses Students who take the PSAT score on average 136 points higher on the SAT than students who never took the PSAT Scholarship Opportunities

6. How is the PSAT scored? Three sections - Reading, Math, Writing Each section 20 - 80 AVERAGES CRMathWritingTOTAL 10 th 434341127 11 th 484846144

7. How do you become a National Merit Semi- Finalist? You must take the PSAT in October of your JUNIOR YEAR You must be a U.S. Citizen or be a U.S. lawful permanent resident and intend to become a U.S. citizen at the earliest opportunity allowed by law.

9. How do you become a National Merit Semi- Finalist? Your selection index must be in the 99% compared to students in Pennsylvania. Over the past five years the Selection Index for PA has been 214-217. Class of 2015 the cut-off for PA was 216. Class of 2014 it was 217. Class of 2013 it was 214.

10. What is the cutoff for a National Merit Semi- Finalist? Every state has a different cut-off. PA - 216 For the Class of 2015 WV & ND had a cut-off of 201 MA & NJ had a cut-off of 224

11. What is the cutoff for a Commended Student? For the past several years it has been 200 - 203. For the Class of 2015 it is 201. For the Class of 2014 it was 203. For Class of 2013 it was 200.

12. USC Finalists USC usually has 6-13 Finalists and 12-20 Commended Students (some years a few more, some years a few less) Class of 2015 = 9 semifinalists Class of 2014 = 5 finalists Class of 2013 = 14 finalists

13. Scholarship Opportunities Several schools offer significant merit scholarships to Finalists Finalists can apply for a $2,500 scholarship that can used at any school in the country

14. How Will the New SAT affect PSAT? Class of 2016 - no change The 10/18/14 PSAT was the current format Class of 2017 & beyond - The fall 2015 PSAT will be the new format

15. Opportunity for our 9 th graders Class of 2018 In February we will offer a pilot PSAT No charge Given on a Thursday morning Totally Optional Great opportunity

16. The ACT

17. What is the ACT? It is a standardized test used for College Admissions It is a competitor of the SAT Every school in the country accepts the ACT

18. Why Have I only Heard of the SAT? Because you live in Pittsburgh

19. WHO TAKES THE ACT?

20. Who takes the ACT & SAT? OSU Michigan Pitt Penn State SAT 39% 33% 87% 78% ACT83% 79% 43% 24%

21. Sample ACT Score English30 Math32 Reading32 Science28 AVERAGE30.5 Optional Writing section COMPOSITE31

22. Comparing the ACT to the SAT SATACT 1350 19 150021 National Average 165024 180026 195029 207031 228034

23. What is a “Good Score”? It depends on what University or College you plan to apply to

24. ACT scores for 50% of students WVU SRU PITT – JT 21-26 19-24 19-24 OSU Pitt Michigan Penn State 27-31 26- 31 28-32 24-29

25. ACT scores for 50% of students Penn Duke Stanford MIT 30-34 31-34 31-34 32-35

26. SAT Subject Tests

27. 20 Different Tests One hour in length Literature Math I and Math II Chemistry, Biology, Physics World and US History Languages: *Spanish, *German, *French, Latin, Korean, Chinese, Japanese, Hebrew, Italian

28. SAT Subject Tests Only @ 20 universities require tests Many will take ACT in place of (BU & Duke) About 30 “strongly recommend” such as Stanford, U Penn Many “will consider if submitted”

29. SAT Subject Tests When to take? Take them in the spring when you are completing a course such as AP World History, US History, AP Biology, AP Chemistry Literature and Math are not curriculum based so you can take at any time

30. SAT

31. SAT Test Currently out of 2400 Reading, Math and Writing – each section 800 Will stay this way thru January 2015 Class of 2016 can only take current Class of 2017 can take current and redesigned Class of 2018+ only take redesigned

32. Why is the SAT Changing?* The ACT surpassed the SAT in 2011 ACT 1,666,017 SAT 1,664,479 Every 4 year university in the country will accept the SAT or the ACT * The views and opinions expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Upper St. Clair School District.

33. SAT Test – What are the changes? Current Redesigned 3 hours 45 min.3 hours + 50 min. optional essay No Sub scoresSub scores Essay at beginningEssay at end – optional required

34. SAT Test – What are the changes? Current Redesigned Critical ReadingEvidenced based reading & MathWriting Writing(includes Essay)Math Optional Essay Emphasis on general reasoning skillsClearer focus on skills for college Emphasis on Tier 3 vocabularyTier 2 vocab in context Complex scoringRights – only scoring

35. SAT Test – What are the changes? One passage will always be from the “Founding Documents” such as the Bill or Rights or Declaration of Independence Evidence based reading will include charts and graphs and students will be asked to edit and revise text from social and natural sciences. Find sample questions and detailed information about the changes at: https://www.collegeboard.org/delivering- opportunity/sat/redesign

36. Show Don’t Tell (review sample questions)

37. How to Prepare for the Tests Take a prep class Work with a tutor Establish a schedule and work on your own: Khan Academy “Official Guide to the SAT” or “ACT” books Take timed practice tests

38. Suggested Study Guides

39. Most Important Thing Remember when you are 40, NO ONE will care how you did on the ACT or SAT!!!

40. Thank you! Questions? Carlie McGinty cmcginty@uscsd.k12.pa.us