1. C O L L E G E S U C C E S S ™ College Admissions Testing Info Night September 27th, 2012.

2. AGENDA Overview of the tests: PSATSAT ACTSAT Subject Tests Preparation and free resources College planning, college admissions process

3. PSAT Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test Wednesday, October 17, 2012 at Edison Who takes it? All Sophomores and Juniors (free) Freshmen who register($14) No Seniors

4. PSAT CONTENT Five sections – total test time 2 hours, 10 minutes Three Content Areas: Critical Reading Sentence Completion13 questions Passage-Based Reading35 questions Math Problem Solving (inc. Algebra and Geometry) Multiple Choice28 questions Student-produced Response10 questions Writing Improving Sentences20 questions Identifying Sentence Errors14 questions Improving Paragraphs5 questions

5. Why Take the PSAT? Get feedback about critical academic skills Practice for the SAT Qualify for the National Merit Scholarship Program Enter other scholarship competitions Start the college planning process

6. The SAT Formerly known as SAT I Ten Sections – total test time 3 hours, 45 minutes (one of the ten is unscored) Three Content Areas – same as the PSAT: Critical Reading Mathematics Writing The SAT tests students’ reasoning based on knowledge and skills developed through their course work.

7. SAT Critical Reading Content Three sections, total 70 minutes, 67 questions Sentence completions Short reading passages (~100 words) Long reading passages (~500-800 words) Vocabulary in context Comprehension Extended reasoning

8. SAT Math Content Three sections, total 70 minutes, 54 questions Multiple choice and student produced response Number and Operations Algebra and Functions, including Algebra II Geometry Statistics Probability and Data Analysis

9. SAT Writing Content Multiple Choice – two sections, total 35 minutes, 50 questions grammar and usage questions Essay – 25 minutes Students will be given a prompt to respond to Students must first think critically about the issue presented in the essay assignment, then develop a point of view, and define and support their position, using reasoning and evidence based on their own experience, readings, or observations

10. More Essay Tips The essay will be graded on your ability to: Answer the question! Organize and express ideas clearly Develop and support the main idea Use appropriate word choice and sentence structure

11. Will Colleges Require a Writing Test? Some colleges have decided to use the new SAT writing test for admissions decisions, some for placement only, and some have made no decision yet Colleges may request students’ actual writing samples to use instead of, or in addition to, the traditional application essay

12. Scoring Procedures for the Essay Essays will be scanned and distributed to readers via the Web and scored online by trained high school teachers and college professors Each essay will be scored independently by two readers according to the holistic scoring guide Essays will be scored on a scale of 1 to 6 by each reader (total score of 2 to 12) If two readers’ scores differ by more than one point, the essay will be read by a third reader

13. Scoring – PSAT and SAT PSAT Total 240SAT Total 2400 Critical Reading CR 20–80CR 200–800 MathM 20–80M 200–800 Writing (Subscores) W 20–80 W 200–800 (Essay 2–12 ) (Multiple-choice 20–80)

14. SAT Subject Tests Formerly known as SAT II Tests Different requirements for each college; can be used by colleges for admission OR course placement Each test is one hour long; take up to 3 in one day Take subject tests at or near the end of a course Language Tests with Listening in November only

15. SAT Subject Tests Literature Biology E/M Chemistry Physics Math Level 1 or 2 U.S. History World History French Spanish Latin Other Languages: (German, Hebrew, Italian, Chinese, Japanese, Korean )

17. The ACT The ACT measures how well you can perform the skills necessary for college coursework in four curriculum areas: English Mathematics Reading Science

18. The ACT Writing Component The ACT includes an optional 30-minute writing assessment; all students taking the ACT should register for the writing component Students receive a subscore for each content area, plus a composite score Students taking the writing portion will receive a writing subscore that will not affect their composite score

19. ACT Test Format ACT 3 hours 25 minutes total time English 45 minutes 75 questions Math 60 minutes 60 questions Reading 35 minutes 40 questions Science 35 minutes 40 questions Writing 30 minute optional essay

20. ACT Scores ACT Subscores 1 – 36 for each section Composite Score 1 - 36 Writing (Subscores) 1 – 36 Writing 1 – 36 Combined Writing and English

21. Getting Ready for the Tests

22. Who Takes What? Class of 2013—SENIORS SAT and/or ACT once or twice this fall up to 3 SAT Subject Tests (as required by colleges) Class of 2014—JUNIORS PSAT October 17 SAT in April, May or June; also try the ACT SAT in fall of your senior year; SAT Subject tests as required Class of 2015 and 2016—SOPHOMORES, FRESHMEN PSAT October 17; no SATs this year.

23. FALL SCHEDULE 2012 October 17, 2012: PSAT Freshmen must register in school before October 1; sophomores and juniors don’t need to register; seniors will not test, nor will freshmen who do not register and pay November 3, 2012: Next SAT of the year Register by October 5 October 27, 2012: Next ACT of the year Register by September 21

24. How Students Can Prepare Students should: Challenge themselves by taking rigorous courses, including at least 4 years of math Read and write as much as possible—both in and outside of school Familiarize themselves with the SAT and ACT so they know what to expect on test day Familiarize themselves with the different types of questions, the directions, and the scoring Take the PSAT

25. Strategies ALL TESTS Take prep classes – materials also available through Family Connection Use process of elimination Look for context clues Edison’s test prep site: http://www.fcps.edu/EdisonHS/testprep/index.html SAT/PSAT Penalty for guessing Questions arranged from easy to hard ACT Answer every question Questions appear in random order Accommodations for Students with Disabilities

26. Free Resources at Edison Free online test prep through Family Connection- Method Test Prep Study Guides from College Board and ACT SAT Prep library – books to check out in Career Center Edison Career Center Website Kaplan.com Test prep site - http://www.fcps.edu/EdisonHS/testprep/index.html

27. How to Register Register for the PSAT in school Register for the SAT at www.collegeboard.com and for the ACT at www.actstudent.orgwww.collegeboard.comwww.actstudent.org Write down and save your username and password so you can access your scores and order more score reports online Don’t miss the registration deadlines! $$$$ Are you eligible for a fee waiver or accommodations?

28. Changes to Registration-SAT Registration Enhancements: Students will be required to provide the name of their attending high school during registration. Once SAT registration opens for the 2012-13 school year, registrations submitted without attending high school will not be processed. Students will be required to submit a current, recognizable photo during registration that will be included on a new photo admission ticket. Students registering online will be required to upload a digital photo. Students registering by mail will be required to enclose a photo with the paper registration form. Students who want to take the SAT at a different test center than the one designated during registration will be required to request such a change prior to test day. Test center changes will no longer be permitted on test day. Students who want to change the type of test they intend to take (i.e., SAT rather than SAT Subject Tests or vice versa) must do so in advance. Test-type changes will no longer be permitted on test day.

29. Changes to Registration-SAT Test-Day Enhancements: Students will be required to preregister for the SAT and SAT Subject Tests. Standby (walk-in) testing will no longer be permitted. Students will be required to test at the center designated on their admission ticket. Test center changes will no longer be permitted on test day. Students will be required to present their photo admission ticket for admittance to their designated test center. Students who registered online will be able to print out their admission ticket by logging onto their online College Board account. Students who registered by mail can choose to have the admission ticket mailed or emailed prior to test day. Students arriving at the test center without both their photo admission ticket and an acceptable form of photo ID will not be admitted to the test center.

30. Changes to Registration-ACT Students will upload or otherwise submit (via ACT website, mobile device, or mail) a recognizable head-and-shoulders photo of themselves when registering for the ACT. The photo will be printed on the student's ticket, which the student will be required to bring to the test center in order to be admitted. The student's photo will also be printed on the examinee roster that testing staff use to check in students on test day. In addition to their ticket, students will be required to bring and present an acceptable photo ID on test day. On test day, test center staff will match the name and photo on the student’s ticket, the test center roster, and the student’s photo ID to the student who arrives to take the test before granting the student admission. In addition to submitting a photo, students will provide ACT with their gender and identify the name of the high school they attend. ACT will use this information to help match the examinee’s identity throughout the testing process.

31. Photo Requirements For both the SAT www.collegeboard.org and ACT www.actstudent.org you will be asked to upload a digital photo during online registration.www.collegeboard.org www.actstudent.org The photo you provide will become part of your Admission Ticket. Your appearance in the photo must match how you will look on the day of the test or you will not be admitted to the test. SAT: http://sat.collegeboard.org/register/photo-requirementshttp://sat.collegeboard.org/register/photo-requirements ACT: http://www.actstudent.org/regist/add-photo.htmlhttp://www.actstudent.org/regist/add-photo.html ACT has a free mobile app ACTPhoto to use on your mobile device

32. 2012-2013 Fees SAT $50 PSAT $14 SAT Subject Tests $ 23 Basic Subject Test Fee (per registration) ACT $50.50 (inc. writing) SAT Late Fee $27 ACT Late Fee $22 Waivers no cost

33. What to Bring on Test Day No. 2 pencils (not mechanical pencils), eraser Photo ID and admission ticket (SAT and ACT) Watch Calculator Every question on the PSAT, SAT, and ACT can be solved without a calculator; however using a calculator on some questions may be helpful A scientific or graphing calculator is recommended, but not required

34. Score Reporting ACT Your scores are reported for one test date only SAT The scores for all previous test dates are reported with your current scores -Scores will now automatically be sent to the students high school -Students must still send scores to respective colleges WHEN REGISTERING FOR TESTS

35. College Planning

36. Use Family Connection!! Meet with your counselor! (Individual meetings at any time during the school day or immediately after school.) Know yourself Make your list of priorities Do your research – what colleges match? Keep up your grades; take the SAT/ACT Talk to people Visit some colleges Narrow your list

37. College Admissions Finalize your list Make a chart with all the requirements and deadlines Meet with your counselor Take your last tests File your applications WAY before the deadline Investigate financial aid and scholarships Keep your grades up!

38. www.collegeboard.com www.collegeboard.com SAT registration www.actstudent.org ACT registration www.fairtest.org Test-optional colleges www.actstudent.org www.fairtest.org