College Testing Info College Testing Info NightNight

Gardner HumphreysCollege & Career Center SpecialistGeorge C. Marshall HS

Question:Question:

1.1.Standardized tests are a lot of fun:Standardized tests are a lot of fun:

What are the TestsWhat are the Tests

SAT, ACTSAT, ACT, (TOEFL, ASVAB, etc.), (TOEFL, ASVAB, etc.) Trying to measure content Trying to measure content

learned, aptitude; about 4 hourslearned, aptitude; about 4 hours Provide a Provide a common yardstickcommon yardstick Both SAT Both SAT and and ACT widely ACT widely

acceptedaccepted Not an IQ test, not the final word!Not an IQ test, not the final word!

Role in AdmissionsRole in Admissions Most schools say Most schools say grades grades and and

strength of schedule strength of schedule are are

what’s most importantwhat’s most important Scores used as check on a Scores used as check on a

college's view of you; one more college's view of you; one more data data pointpoint

"Competitive" scores often mean a "Competitive" scores often mean a rangerange, not a threshold, not a threshold

Value can depend on Value can depend on context: context: intended major, geographic region, intended major, geographic region, gender, etc.gender, etc.

What’s InsideWhat’s Inside

SAT

3 scores: ReadingMathWriting

Scored 200 - 800

ACT

5 scores:ReadingMath(Writing)ScienceEnglish

Scored 1 - 36

DifferencesDifferences

SAT 

vs. ACTNo science

CONTENT35-min Science section

Algebra 2 and functions, formulas provided

MATH LEVELSome trigonometry, no formulas provided

Lose ¼ point SCORING / GUESSING

No deduction

DemandingLANGUAGE

Plain

IncreasesDIFFICULTY

LEVEL

Random

ACT Sections - ACT Sections - ScienceScience

One 35-minute sectionOne 35-minute section 40 multiple-choice 40 multiple-choice

questionsquestions Not like a school science Not like a school science

test.test. Read science-based Read science-based passages and answer questions passages and answer questions about the passages. about the passages. Data RepresentationData Representation Research SummariesResearch Summaries Conflicting Viewpoints Conflicting Viewpoints

SAT Sections - SAT Sections - EssayEssay

Essay measures your ability to:Essay measures your ability to:

develop a develop a point of view point of view on an issue on an issue presented in an excerpt presented in an excerpt

support your point of view using support your point of view using reasoning and reasoning and examples examples

follow standard written English follow standard written English Essay about 30% of your Writing Essay about 30% of your Writing

scorescore

SAT Subject TestsSAT Subject Tests

Only some colleges require SAT Subject Tests

Up to 3 subjects per dateUp to 3 subjects per date Cannot be taken the same Cannot be taken the same

day as the SAT Testday as the SAT Test Consider taking Subject Consider taking Subject

Tests at the Tests at the endend of an of an advanced courseadvanced course

NotNot offered all dates offered all dates Sometimes ACT is enoughSometimes ACT is enough

SAT – Subject TestsSAT – Subject Tests LanguagesLanguages

Reading OnlyReading Only Reading and ListeningReading and Listening

LiteratureLiterature U.S. HistoryU.S. History World HistoryWorld History Mathematics Level 1Mathematics Level 1

(Thru Geometry)(Thru Geometry) Mathematics Level 2Mathematics Level 2

(Thru precalc and/or trig)(Thru precalc and/or trig) Biology E/M Biology E/M

(Ecological/Molecula(Ecological/Molecular)r)

ChemistryChemistry PhysicsPhysics

Languages: Reading Languages: Reading OnlyOnly

FrenchFrench GermanGerman Modern HebrewModern Hebrew ItalianItalian LatinLatin SpanishSpanish

Languages: Reading and Languages: Reading and ListeningListening

ChineseChinese FrenchFrench GermanGerman JapaneseJapanese KoreanKorean Spanish Spanish

Practice TestsPractice Tests

At GCM: At GCM: 9th Grade - ACT Explore9th Grade - ACT Explore10 & 11th Grade - PSAT (1110 & 11th Grade - PSAT (11thth - - NSMQT)NSMQT)Reports back to class in DecemberReports back to class in December

GCM should have extra GCM should have extra copycopy

SAVE THAT REPORT or SAVE THAT REPORT or CODE!!CODE!!

The COMPOSITE SCORE is the average The COMPOSITE SCORE is the average of the four core subject scores of the four core subject scores (rounded).(rounded).

ACT ExploreACT Explore

……SKILLSSKILLS to work on to to work on to improve!improve!

ACT Explore, cont.ACT Explore, cont.

What’s next?

Use the access code on your report to log in to My College QuickStart, a personalized college and career planning kit. There you can:

•Search for colleges•Get a personalized SAT study plan•Take a personality test to find majors and careers that fit you

www.collegeboard.com/quickstart

PSAT ReportPSAT Report

See how you did on each skill. The same skills are tested on the SAT.

PSATPSAT

You can try hundreds of practice questions, organized by skill, online in My College QuickStart (www.collegeboard.com/quickstart).

Make a PlanMake a Plan1.1. What What level of scores level of scores are my are my

goal? goal? use Family Connection, other toolsuse Family Connection, other tools

2.2. WhichWhich tests are best? tests are best?

3.3. Focus on low areasFocus on low areas

4.4. Try ACT Try ACT andand SAT SAT

5.5. Make a Make a calendarcalendar

6.6. Try differentTry different methods, methods, strategiesstrategies

Family Connection & Family Connection & PrepMePrepMe

Create a Create a Parent View Parent View account account fcps.blackboard.comfcps.blackboard.com

Family Connection & Family Connection & PrepMePrepMe

Create a Create a Parent View Parent View account account fcps.blackboard.comfcps.blackboard.com

GCM RangesGCM Ranges

SATSATMath 530-670Math 530-670Reading 520-650Reading 520-650Combined 1070-1310Combined 1070-1310

ACTACTComposite 22-29Composite 22-29

(Not this kind)

The Middle The Middle 50%50%

SATSATACTACT

*VCU*VCU 980-1190980-1190 20-2620-26

*GMU*GMU 1050-12501050-1250 23-2823-28

UVAUVA 1240-14601240-1460 28-3228-32

TuftsTufts 1360-15001360-1500 30-3330-33 Beware Scattergram averagesBeware Scattergram averages Look at context: school, region, major, Look at context: school, region, major,

etc. etc.

StudentsStudents register at: register at:

ACTACTwww.actstudent.orgwww.actstudent.org

SATSATwww.collegeboard.cowww.collegeboard.co

mm

RegisteringRegistering

Registration StepsRegistration Steps

1.1. Pick Pick datedate carefully carefully

2.2. Get a Get a fee waiver fee waiver if you qualifyif you qualify

3.3. Select your Select your 4 FREE 4 FREE collegescolleges

4.4. Register online -- Register online -- GCM not a siteGCM not a site

5.5. Use Use officialofficial name and address name and address

6.6. Decide if you want lots of Decide if you want lots of mailmail! ! (SSS won’t send SSN, phone # or (SSS won’t send SSN, phone # or

scores)scores) Sign up for “Sign up for “Question of the DayQuestion of the Day”” ChangesChanges only until deadline, with feeonly until deadline, with fee

Test DayTest Day

You slept, right? You slept, right? Practice Practice finding sitefinding site, visit , visit

the room = less unkowns, the room = less unkowns, more knowns!more knowns!

What to bring:What to bring: Ticket, ID, calculator, pencils, Ticket, ID, calculator, pencils,

snacksnack Checklist onlineChecklist online

2013 Dates2013 Dates((no summerno summer))

SATSAT ACTACT February 9 February 9 April 13April 13 June 8June 8

ACT has ACT has “standby” SAT “standby” SAT has “waitlist”, has “waitlist”, require pre-require pre-registrationregistration

Fees Fees 2012-132012-13

SAT Reasoning TestSAT Reasoning Test $50.00 for regular and$50.00 for regular and

$77.00 for late $77.00 for late registrationregistration Includes 4 score Includes 4 score

reports selected reports selected within 9 days of within 9 days of test. test.

SAT Subject TestSAT Subject Test $23 basic registration, $23 basic registration, PLUS $12.00 per PLUS $12.00 per

subject tests, Except subject tests, Except is PLUS $23 for is PLUS $23 for Listening testsListening tests

Extra Reports = $11 eachExtra Reports = $11 each

ACTACT $35.00 for basic test$35.00 for basic test

Includes 4 score Includes 4 score reports selected at reports selected at test timetest time

$50 for basic + writing$50 for basic + writing Add $21 for late Add $21 for late

registrationregistration Extra Reports = Extra Reports =

$11.00 each$11.00 each

* See about Fee Waivers for FRL or special circumstances

Sending ScoresSending Scores

Student responsibilityStudent responsibility Remember the Remember the 4 Free4 Free?? Sent Sent 3 weeks 3 weeks +/- after test date +/- after test date

and posted online; after that 1-2 and posted online; after that 1-2 weeks after request, plus weeks after request, plus processingprocessing

Most use Most use SuperscoreSuperscore for SAT for SAT BewareBeware of Score Choice and of Score Choice and

RushRush

Cost: 11$ per schoolCost: 11$ per school

Common QuestionsCommon Questions NCAA Division I Sliding Scale 400-NCAA Division I Sliding Scale 400-

1010, 3.550-2.000 GPA1010, 3.550-2.000 GPA AP and IB test scoresAP and IB test scores Scores and admission calendar Scores and admission calendar

(ED, rolling, deferred, waitlist, etc.)(ED, rolling, deferred, waitlist, etc.) TransferringTransferring Community CollegeCommunity College Schools outside U.S. Schools outside U.S.

FREE TEST PREPFREE TEST PREP fcps.blackboard.comfcps.blackboard.com - (SAT) - (SAT) Family Family

ConnectionConnection: : PrepMePrepMe gcmhslibrary.comgcmhslibrary.com – (ACT & SAT Subject – (ACT & SAT Subject

Tests) Tests) GCM LibraryGCM Library\Databases\Career, \Databases\Career, College, Lifeskills\TestingCollege, Lifeskills\Testing

collegeboard.org/practicecollegeboard.org/practice -- PSAT code -- PSAT code at at My College QuickStart My College QuickStart and SAT and SAT “Question of the Day” email or iTunes app“Question of the Day” email or iTunes app

actstudent.org/sampletestactstudent.org/sampletest – practice – practice questions and sample writing prompts and questions and sample writing prompts and essaysessays

FREE study guides (!) and practice FREE study guides (!) and practice tests in Career Center tests in Career Center – Learn, after – Learn, after school, school, MondaysMondays

Teacher Workdays Teacher Workdays – Jan. 28 & 29 PrepMe– Jan. 28 & 29 PrepMe

Merit Aid & Merit Aid & ScholarshipsScholarships

Examples:Examples: Longwood – 1200 SAT/3.5 gets $8,500/yrLongwood – 1200 SAT/3.5 gets $8,500/yr Ferrum – Ferrum – 1200 SAT/3.5 gets $20,000/yr1200 SAT/3.5 gets $20,000/yr

Check Check Family ConnectionFamily Connection; ; finaid.orgfinaid.org; ; meritaid.commeritaid.com

Check with admissions and Check with admissions and financial aidfinancial aid

Priority Dates: e.g. Priority Dates: e.g. GMU is Dec. GMU is Dec. 1 !1 !

Test Optional Test Optional CollegesColleges

VerifyVerify with each college.with each college.Often have requirements in order to Often have requirements in order to qualify (e.g. GMU: qualify (e.g. GMU: 3.5, course 3.5, course strength, extracurriculars, teacher strength, extracurriculars, teacher letter, estimated top 20%letter, estimated top 20%))

List of some colleges at List of some colleges at www.fairtest.org www.fairtest.org

Questions?Questions?

(survey) (survey)

For the latest, follow us on:For the latest, follow us on:

facebook.com/mstatesmenfacebook.com/mstatesmen

twitter.com/MStatesmen twitter.com/MStatesmen