1. Welcome to ACT/SAT Informational Night
Matt Barber
Counselor

2. Tonight’s Agenda SAT I SAT II Subject Area Tests ACT SAT v ACT PSAT
ACT Aspire
Colleges/Extras
Questions

3. Timeline 7th,8th and 9th Graders: Can take the PSAT (Accelerated)
Fall: Take the PSAT (Scholarships)
Spring: Take the ACT and/or SAT
12 Graders:
Fall: Retake the ACT and/or SAT

4. The Road to the SAT/ACT SAT (11-12) PSAT (10-11) READISTEP(8-9)
ACT Aspire (Early High School)
ACT Aspire(8)

5. SAT I Typically taken for the first time spring of your Junior year
It tells students how well they use skills and knowledge they have attained in and out of the classroom. Including how they think, solve problems, and communicate. The SAT is more of an aptitude test, testing reasoning and verbal abilities.
3 hour and 45 minute exam
10 sections
3 critical reading sections
3 math sections
3 writing sections
1 experimental section
Scored range is a in three sections
Total score is between
Between (Only R/M)
National average for the SAT is 1500.

6. SAT I Offered 7 times a year
January, March, May, June, October, November, December
Students can register at
SAT Fee Waivers are available
Cost is $52.50 and includes 4 score reports.
Test is given on Saturday mornings at selected high schools all over Arizona.
¼ point deducted for each wrong answer.

7. SAT I The Math Section Score range is between a 200-800.
Two 25-minute sections and one 20-minute section
There’s 5-choice multiple choice questions and student produced responses.
It’s on number and operations, algebra and functions, geometry, statistics, probability, and data analysis
It includes mathematics topics through a 3rd year college prep course (algebra 2).
Students may use a calculator
There are formulas at the top of each math section.

8. SAT I The Critical Reading Section
Score range is between points.
Two 25-minute sections and one 20-minute section
There is reading comprehension, sentence completion, and paragraph-length critical reading.
It includes critical reading and sentence-level reading.

9. SAT I The Writing Section Score range is between 200-800.
60 minute section
There are multiple choice questions (35 min) and student-written essay (25 min).

10. SAT II Subject Area Tests
Subject area tests measure your knowledge and skills in particular subject areas. Cost is $26.00, add $26 for language and listening add $16 for others.
SAT Subject Tests fall into five general subject areas:
English
Languages
Literature
Chinese with Listening
History
French
US History
French with Listening
World History
German
Mathematics
German with Listening
Mathematics Level 1
Spanish
Mathematics Level 2
Spanish with Listening
Science
Modern Hebrew
Biology E/M
Italian
Chemistry
Latin
Physics
Japanese with Listening
Korean with Listening

11. Collegeboard’s list of schools that require SAT Subject Area Tests
Click on the website below
Always double check with the schools website.

12. ACT Typically taken for the first time spring of your junior year.
The ACT is an achievement test, measuring what a student has learned in school.
The ACT has up to 5 components: English, Mathematics, Reading, Science, and an optional Writing Test.
Scale scores range from 1(low) to 36(high) for each of the four multiple-choice tests and the Composite score.
Two scores are reported for the optional Writing Test: a Combined English/Writing score on a scale of 1-36 and a Writing sub-score on a scale of ACT also provides Comments from one of the trained readers who scored each student’s essay.
The ACT national average is between a 20 and 21.
College Readiness (Eng 18, Math 22, Read 22, Sci 23)

13. ACT Offered 6 times a year
February, April, June, September, October, December
Students can register at
Cost is $38.00 for no writing and $54.50 with writing
ACT Fee Waivers are available
Tests are given on Saturday mornings at selected high schools in Arizona
No point deducted for a wrong answer

14. ACT The English Section Score range is between 1-36.
Test is a 75-question, 45-minute test
Covers punctuation, grammar and usage, sentence structure, strategy, organization, and style

15. ACT The Math Section Score range is between a 1-36
Test is a 60-question, 60-minute test designed to measure the mathematical skills students have typically acquired in courses taken by the end of 11th grade (Algebra 2). Includes trigonometry.
Students may use calculators.
No formula sheet given.

16. ACT The Reading Section Score Range is 1-36
Has a 40-question, 35-minute test that measures your reading comprehension.
You’re asked to read four passages and answer questions that show your understanding of
what is directly stated.
Statements with implied meanings

17. ACT The Science Section Score range is 1-36
Has a 40-question, 35-minute test that measures the skills required in the natural sciences: interpretation, analysis, evaluation, reasoning , and problem solving.
The test assumes students have completed a course in Earth Science and/or physical science and a course in biology.

18. ACT The Writing Section
Two scores are reported for the optional Writing Test: a Combined English/Writing score on a scale of 1-36 and a Writing sub-score on a scale of 2-12.
The Writing Test is a 30-minute essay test that measures your writing skills-specifically those writing skills emphasized in high school English classes.
Test consists of one writing prompt that will define an issue and describe two points of view on that issue. You are asked to respond to a question about your position on the issue described in the writing prompt.

19. ACT
Every Junior in the Chandler Unified School District will be given the ACT this spring.
4 Free Score Reports
***Writing Section will not be given**
April 23?

20. SAT vs ACT SAT ACT Aptitude Test Achievement Test
Given 7 times per year
Reading, Math, and Writing
¼ of a point deduction for wrong answer on multiple choice
per section, for a score of
ACT
Achievement Test
Given 6 times per year
English, Math, Reading, Science Reasoning, and optional Writing
No penalty for wrong answer
1-36 for each subject, averaged for a composite score, 2-12 for the Writing Test

21. SAT VS ACT
SAT
Math section includes Algebra I, Geometry, and Algebra 2
Sends 4 free reports to colleges of your choice, each additional report is $
Formulas given for math section
ACT
Math section includes Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra 2, and Trigonometry
Sends 4 free reports to colleges of your choice, each additional report is $
No formulas given for math section

22. ACT/SAT Comparison Chart
ACT Composite Score
Estimated SAT CR+M+W
SAT CR+M (Score Range) 36
1600 35 34 33 32 31 30 29 28 27 26 25 24 23 22

23. ACT/SAT Comparison Chart
ACT Composite Score
Estimated SAT CR+M+W
SAT CR+M (Score Range) 21 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11

24. SAT vs ACT
So how do I know whether my son/daughter will score higher on the ACT or SAT????

25. PSAT
The PSAT is a standardized test that provides first hand practice for the SAT.
Also gives you a chance to enter National Merit Scholarship Corporation scholarship programs and gain access to college and career planning tools. Only available to high school juniors
AP Potential for high school AP courses
Is given on Wednesday, October 15th or Saturday, October 18th of this year depending on the high school.
Basha High School is giving the test on October 18 th. Cost is $20. Students can sign-up and pay in the school bookstore.
**First come first serve**

26. PSAT The PSAT/NMSQT measures Critical reading skills
Math problem-solving skills
Writing skills
Scholarships
National Merit Scholarship
National Hispanic Recognition Program
National Achievement Scholarship Program

27. PSAT
Students who take the PSAT/NMSQT receive a free, personalized college and career planning kit. This allows students to:
Access your enhanced online score report
Prepare for the SAT with a customized study plan, based on PSAT results
View a starter list of colleges determined by your home state and indicated choice of major
Connect to detailed profiles of colleges, majors, and careers

28. ACT Aspire

29. Can’t Take the PSAT or Practice ACT
Princeton Review will be coming on the Basha campus this spring to give a practice SAT and ACT
ACT, January 27th from 3 – 7pm in the Auditorium.
SAT, February 24th from 3 – 7pm in the Auditorium.
Sign ups will start after Christmas Break on the Princeton Review website.

30. SAT vs ACT
How do I know whether my son/daughter will score higher on the SAT or ACT?
Have your son/daughter take the PSAT and ACT practice test. They will give you a predictor of what they will score. Then you can compare.

31. Additional Info Redesigned SAT Schools with highest SAT scores
Schools with highest SAT scores

32. Colleges
The following schools are looking for ACT/SAT scores around this mark.
ASU/NAU- 22 ACT and 1040 SAT (CR/M)
BYU- ACT Score in the high 20’s, SAT 1170 – 1380 R/M to be competitive for admission
Florida State- ACT Score 24 – 29, and SAT 1680 – 1929 R/M/W to be competitive for admission.
USC – ACT score in the high 20’s, SAT 1910 – 2220 to be competitive for admission
All other schools please visit their website!!

33. Extras How to study?? Free practice tests in career center.
Use your PSAT or ACT practice test.
Try the SAT and/or ACT Question of the Day!
Buy a SAT/ACT practice book at a local bookstore.
Take a free practice exam.
Take an SAT/ACT prep class.

34. Websites College Information
CSO College Center:
The College Board:
Peterson’s:
The Common App:
Hobson’s Collegeview:
Colleges That Change Lives:

35. Websites Testing ACT: www.act.org
ACT Fee Waiver Instructions:
SAT: The College Board:
SAT Fee Waiver Instructions:
Preliminary SAT(PSAT):
Free Test Prep from Number2.com:
The Princeton Review:
Kaplan’s Test Prep:
Zapps/Rmass:

36. For Up Coming SAT/ACT Information and more…
Visit the Basha High School Counseling Webpage at: