1. TESTING FOR COLLEGE January 14, 2014  TSIA  Texas Success Initiative Assessment  Designed to determine if student ready for college- level work  College Admissions Tests  ACT  SAT  Designed to determine readiness and predict future success in college courses

2. TSI ASSESSMENT  Replaces the old ACCUPLACER or THEA  New – September 2013  Three core areas: Reading, Math, Writing  Required for any incoming public college student in Texas, unless meet exemption  Mandatory Pre-Assessment Activity  Blinn College in Brenham is a testing facility

3. PRE-ASSESSMENT ACTIVITY  Not scored  Designed to inform you about the importance of the TSIA  Sample test questions  Upon completion, a certificate will be emailed. This certificate must be presented with payment when taking the TSIA. No certificate, No testing.

4. TSI REGISTRATION  Complete online pre-assessment activity  www.blinn.edu/counseling/testing/html  Contact Blinn/Brenham to reserve a day for testing (Monday-Thursday only)  979-830-4196  Students are encouraged to prepare academically before attempting to take any assessment.

5. WEBSITES FOR TSIA PREPARATION  While Blinn College does not endorse any one particular study agency, the following websites have proven to be valuable preparation tools:  www.studytips.org www.studytips.org  www.testpreview.com www.testpreview.com  www.studyguidezone.com www.studyguidezone.com  TSI Pre Assessment Activity Sample Questions found at www.blinn.edu/counseling/testing/html www.blinn.edu/counseling/testing/html  www.varsitytutors.com/practice-tests www.varsitytutors.com/practice-tests

6. WHAT TO EXPECT ON TEST DAY  Bring to test center  Certificate of Pre-Assessment Activity  Payment for test - $45. Keep receipt for payment.  Photo ID  Do not bring  Food/Drink  Cell phones  Calculators or any other electronic devices  Backpacks, large bags or purses  Hats / caps  Testing is untimed  Expect testing to take 4, 5 hours  Some testing has taken as long as 8 hours

7. TSIA PASSING SCORES  To be declared “college ready”  Reading  Scores of 351-390  Writing  Scores of 363-390  Math  Scores of 350-390

8. EXEMPTIONS FOR TSI ASSESSMENT  SAT  Math = 500, Critical Reading = 500, Combined Score = 1070  ACT  Exit Level TAKS (2013 grads only)  Math = 2200  ELA = 2200 + Written Composition Score of 3 or above HELPFUL WEBSITE www.thecb.state.tx.us

9. COLLEGE ADMISSIONS TESTING  Standardized tests  Timed  Measure academic abilities  Determine readiness for college-level work  Used to predict future success in college courses  Registration takes place online  Students required to provide gender information and a photo of themselves upon registering  Photo is included on admission ticket, test center roster, and score report sent to school  No changes allowed day of test  Students must provide high school code Bellville High School Code 440575

10. SAT  www.sat.collegeboard.org  Cost - $50  Three subjects  Critical Reading  Two 25-minute sections, One 20-minute section  Math  Two 25-minute sections, One 20-minute section  Writing  One 25-minute section, One 10-minute section  Essay – 25 minute section REQUIRED

11. SAT  Scoring  Individual subjects  Each subject score ranges from 200-800  Essay has separate score 2-12  Total  Composite of all three individual subjects added together  Critical Reading + Math + Writing  Highest Score possible = 2400  Penalties  Typically ¼ point deducted for wrong answers  If you can narrow down choices to 2, make a guess  Otherwise, leave blank

12. SAT TESTING DATES  March 8, 2014  Registration deadline - February 7  May 3, 2014  Registration deadline - April 4  June 7, 2014  Registration deadline - May 9

13. ACT  www.actstudent.org  Cost - $35  With Writing added - $50.50  Four subjects  English  45 minutes  Math  60 minutes  Reading  35 minutes  Science  35 minutes  Writing (OPTIONAL)  30 minutes

14. ACT  Scoring  Each subject score ranges 1-36  Composite or Total score – Average of the four sections together  Optional Essay – scores from 1-12  Penalties  No penalties for wrong answers  Since incorrect answers do not count against student, always attempt to make an education guess  Always select an answer

15. ACT TESTING DATES  February 8, 2014  Late Registration deadline – January 24  April 12, 2014  Registration deadline - March 7  June 14, 2014  Registration deadline - May 9

16. WEBSITES TO PREPARE FOR COLLEGE ADMISSIONS TESTING  www.collegeboard.org www.collegeboard.org  www.actstudent.org www.actstudent.org  www.march2success.com www.march2success.com  www.majortests.com www.majortests.com  www.sparknotes.com/testprep/news at www.sparknotes.com/testprep/news at www.sparknotes.com/testprep/news at