2. What are EXPLORE and PLAN?  The EXPLORE® program: 8th and 9th grades  The PLAN® program: 10th grade  Nationally normed tests that: are aligned to the new curriculum standards check course-specific academic progress toward college and career readiness  Designed to: improve students' preparation for education, training, and work after high school while there is time to adjust high school courses prepare for the ACT, a college admissions test required for all juniors in NC

3. How EXPLORE and PLAN help…  Point out academic strengths and areas where improvement is needed  Let students know if they're on track for college  Plan high school coursework needed to prepare for college and careers  Find careers that match their interests  Connect students with colleges interested in them  Prepare for the ACT college admissions test

4. Definitions:  Core = Minimum number of high school courses recommended to prepare for college compare with NC high school graduation requirements (Future Ready Core)  Composite Score =Average of the English, Mathematics, Reading and Science Test Scores

5. What Do My Scores Mean?  EXPLORE Scores are between 1 (the lowest score you can receive) and 25 (the highest score you can receive)  PLAN Scores are between 1 (the lowest score you can receive) and 32 (the highest score you can receive)  Your scores can be compared with benchmark college readiness scores established for each grade level and each tested area

6. What do my scores mean?  The two sub-test scores directly under English and Math only range from 1 to 12 on EXPLORE and 1 to 16 on PLAN  They tell you how well you did in two specific areas of each subject  These scores added together do NOT necessarily equal your English or Math Test score

7. Percentiles???  EXPLORE and PLAN scores allow students to see how they scored compared to students in their school, as well as nationally  For example, if a student scores a 63%ile in English, this means the student scored as high or higher than 63% of students in his/her comparison group

8. “Your Skills” -Student Report  Allows students to see what questions they marked correctly/incorrectly  Points out strengths and weaknesses  Suggests specific ways to improve skills based on individual student scores  Reports needs the student him/herself identified

9. The next steps…  Discuss these ideas with your counselors, teachers and parents  Use this information in planning your high school coursework

10. More information & resources http://www.act.org/explore/downloads.html http://www.act.org/plan/downloads.html http://www.act.org/explorestudent http://www.act.org/planstudent