Counselor Breakfast Cracking the SAT and ACT

Counselor Breakfast

Cracking the SAT and ACT

Edward Carroll

National Content Director of SAT

The Princeton Review

Welcome

• Today’s Agenda• The SAT and the ACT

• What are the differences between the tests? • Which test is better?

• Quick note about some recent changes in admissions• What can The Princeton Review do for your school?

SAT and ACT in the USA

First, the SAT

• SAT *used* to stand for Scholastic Aptitude/Assessment Test—it doesn’t stand for anything anymore• 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 200-800 in three sections• Total score is between a 600 and a 2400

The SAT

• Offered 7 times a year• January*• March/April (in 2008, March 1st) • May*• June• October*• November• December

• Students can register for the SAT through College Board’s website: www.CollegeBoard.com

• The SAT costs $43 and includes 4 score reports; Question and Answer Service available in January, May, and October for $18

The SAT: Math Section

• The Math Section• Score range is between a 200-800. The average for class of

2007 was 515.• Two 25-minute sections and one 20-minute section • 44 multiple-choice and 10 grid-ins • Geometry, Algebra, and Arithmetic

• A couple of Algebra II questions• While triangles are tested on the SAT, students won’t need

trigonometry to solve them

• Students can use calculators

The SAT: Critical Reading

• The Critical Reading Section• Score range is between 200 and 800 points. The average score

for class of 2007 was 503.• Two 25-minute sections and one 20-minute section

• 48 reading comprehension questions • 19 sentence completion questions

• Passage-Based Reading • Students asked to read short and long passages followed by some

multiple-choice questions.

• Sentence Completions • Students are presented with an incomplete sentence and are asked to

finish it with the correct word or words.

The SAT: Writing Section

• The Writing Section• Score range is between 200 and 800 points. The average score

for class of 2007 was 494.• Two multiple-choice writing sections: one 25 minute section,

one 10 minute section • 49 multiple-choice questions

• Identifying sentence errors• Improving sentences• Improving paragraphs

• One 25-minute essay

The SAT: Writing Section

Sample Essay Prompt:

• Directions: Consider carefully the following excerpt and the assignment below it. Then, plan and write an essay that explains your ideas as persuasively as possible. Keep in mind that the support you provide—both reasons and examples—will help make your view convincing to the reader.

Intellectuals in America and abroad have debated over the concept of success in American culture. Success can be defined quite differently by different people, but few people argue that being successful is not considered valuable. However, some people also advocate the view that something considered unsuccessful can also have some value.

Assignment: What is your view of the claim that something unsuccessful can still have some value? In an essay, support your position by discussing an example (or examples) from literature, the arts, science and technology, current events, or your own experience or observation.

Next, the ACT

• ACT *used* to stand for American College Testing—today it doesn't stand for anything

• Test length: 2 hours and 55 minutes, unless students choose to take the optional 30 minute Writing Test in which case the total testing time increases to 3 hours, 30 minutes • 5 tests (the ACT refers to sections as tests)

• 1 English Test• 1 Math Test• 1 Reading Test• 1 Science Test• 1 Optional Writing Test

• Students receive a composite score between 1 and 36.

Scoring of the Writing Test

• Writing Test Scores

• Taking the ACT Plus Writing provides students with two additional scores beyond what they receive if they take only the ACT multiple-choice tests. They receive a Writing Test subscore and a Combined English/Writing score.

• The Combined English/Writing score is created by using a formula that weights the English Test score two-thirds and the Writing Test score one-third to form a combined score. This combined score is then reported on a 1-36 scale.

• Taking the Writing Test does not affect subject area scores or the Composite score.

The ACT

• Offered 5-6 times a year• February (not offered in New York) • April* • June*• September (Available only in Arizona, California, Florida,

Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, and Washington )

• October• December*

• Students can register on the ACT website: www.ACT.org

• The cost is $30.00, which includes four score reports• The ACT Plus Writing is $44.50.

The ACT: The English Test

• The English Test• Score range 1-36. The average is about a 20.6.• One 45 minute section • 75 multiple-choice questions • The English Test includes 5 passages to read.

• Portions of the passages will be underlined and students must decide whether these portions are correct as they stand or whether one of the answer choices is better.

• Examples of English Content• Usage/Mechanics • Rhetorical Skills

The ACT: Math Test

• The Math Test• Section is scored between 1 – 36. The average is about a 20.8.• One 60 minute section• 60 multiple-choice questions• Questions on the ACT Math Section are pretty straightforward

and cover topics from a typical high school math class. • Pre and Elementary Algebra • Intermediate Algebra/Coordinate Geometry • Plane Geometry/Trigonometry

• Students can use calculators• Unlike the SAT, ACT does not provide students with a formula

sheet

The ACT: The Reading Test

• The Reading Test• Score range 1-36. The average is about a 21.4• One 35 minute section• 40 multiple-choice questions • The Reading Section is based on 4 types of passages.. The

passages are usually excerpts from various books and magazines.• Prose Fiction • Social Studies • Humanities • Natural Sciences

The ACT: The Science Reasoning Test

• The Science Reasoning Test, average about a 20.9• Score range 1-36• One 35-minute section • 40 multiple-choice questions • Even though the word "science" appears in the title, this

section doesn’t resemble the science tests students have had in high school. This section presents students with science-based passages and requires that they answer questions about them. • Data Representation • Research Summaries • Conflicting Viewpoints

The ACT: The Writing Test

• The Writing Test

• 1 optional essay • 30 minute section • The Writing subscore is a number between 2 and 12. • Essay will be made available to students, their high school,

and colleges

The ACT: The Writing Test

Writing Test Example

In some high schools, many teachers and parents have encouraged the school to adopt a dress code that sets guidelines for what students can wear in the school building. Some teachers and parents support a dress code because they think it will improve the learning environment in the school. Other teachers and parents do not support a dress code because they think it restricts the individual student's freedom of expression. In your opinion, should high schools adopt dress codes for students?

• In your essay, take a position on this question. You may write about either one of the two points of view given, or you may present a different point of view on this question. Use specific reasons and examples to support your position.

• ACT says:

Some colleges require the Writing Test; others do not. Most colleges will accept scores from the Writing Test even if they do not require it.

Our Take

Students should confirm directly with Admissions Offices regarding their policies and requirements.

ACT: Writing Test Requirements

The SAT vs. ACT

When is it administered?

Seven times per year Six times per year

What is the test structure?

Ten-section exam: Three Critical Reading, three Math, three Writing, and one Experimental. The Experimental section is masked to look like a regular section.

Four-test exam: English, Math, Reading, and Science Reasoning. An Experimental section is added to tests on certain dates only, and is clearly labeled experimental; the Writing Test (essay) is optional.

What is the test content?

Math: up to 9th grade basic geometry and Algebra II. Science: none.Reading: sentence completions, short and long critical reading passages, reading comprehension. Writing: an essay, and questions testing grammar, usage, and word choice.

Math: up to trigonometry. Science: charts, experiments. Reading: four passages, one each of Prose Fiction, Social Science, Humanities, and Natural Science. English: stresses grammar; an optional essay.

The SAT The ACT

The SAT vs. ACT

Is there a penalty for wrong answers?

Yes No

How is the test scored?

200-800 per section, added together for a combined score. A 2400 is the highest possible combined score.

1-36 for each test, averaged for a composite score. A 36 is the highest possible composite score.

Are all scores sent to schools?

Yes. If a student requests a score report be sent to specific colleges, the report will include the scores the student received on every SAT taken.

No. There is a "Score Choice" option. Students can choose which schools will receive their scores AND which scores the schools will see.

The SAT The ACT

The SAT vs. ACT

Are there other uses for the exams?

Scholarship purposesScholarship purposes.

Certain statewide testing programs

Best time to register?

At least six weeks before the test date

At least four weeks before the test date

Need more information?

Educational Testing Service (ETS)(609) 771-7600www.ETS.orgThe College Boardwww.CollegeBoard.com

ACT, Inc.:(319) 337-1000www.ACT.org

The SAT The ACT

SAT vs. ACT Math

Which question is an ACT math problem?

The “Harder” ACT Math

SAT vs. ACT Reading

Which one is an ACT reading passage?

SAT vs. ACT Reading Questions

ACT or SAT?

ACT Grammar

SAT Grammar

ACT Science Passage

Why 2 Tests?

• Competition is a good thing

• Exams not only used for college admissions, but also used as exit exams

• Most colleges accept either score

• Which test should your students take? • It depends

Why Students Should Take The ACT?

• Replaces Subject Tests (for some schools)

• More friendly extended time

• No vocabulary memorization

• Shorter test

• No guessing penalty

• Score Choice

• Accepted by more colleges

• Optional essay

• More straightforward math

• Students who do well on the SAT, will do well on the ACT; but this isn’t the case in reverse. More students can score higher on the ACT.

• If a student doesn’t score well on a particular test (English, Math, Reading, Science Reasoning), she can ‘hide’ that in the composite score. Colleges look at the overall score, rather than the individual test scores.

Score Choice

• Which scores are reported if I test more than once?

• If you have taken the ACT or ACT Plus Writing more than once, we maintain a separate record for each test date. If you ask us to send a report to a college, we will release only the record from the test date you request. This protects you and ensures that you maintain control of your records.

• If you wish, you may ask us to report more than one test date record to a college. However, you may not select test scores from different test dates to construct a new record; you must designate an entire test date record as it stands. ACT does not create new records by averaging scores from different test dates.

ACT & SAT Subject Tests

• The Subject Tests• One-hour exams that measure specific knowledge in particular

academic areas• 20 different Subject Tests from which to choose• Usually 1-3 tests are required by competitive colleges and the

UC system

• ACT• Many schools will select the ACT in lieu of the SAT Subject

Tests, including Duke and Yale University

• Our Take: the fewer exams, the better

Advising Students

• The best way to determine how your students’ scores will stack up is to have them take a practice Princeton Review Assessment (PRA).

• The ACT is a great alternative to the SAT – almost all of the schools your students are likely to apply to accept the ACT.

• Some students will score higher on the ACT than on the SAT. Some score about the same.

• The ACT is not just a last-ditch option – if your students have the potential to score higher, have them take it in their junior year.

• Just like for the SAT, if students want to improve their score on the ACT, they should prepare.

1 test or 3?

• These schools accept either the SAT + SAT Subject tests OR the ACT.

Amherst CollegeBarnard College Boston College Brandeis University Brown University Bryn Mawr CollegeDuke University McGill University

Pomona College Swarthmore CollegeTufts UniversityUniversity of PennsylvaniaVassar CollegeWellesley CollegeWorcester Polytechnic InstituteYale University

What We Can Do

• PSAT, SAT, ACT and PRA Practice Exams We administer a full-length practice test to schools and

provide each student with a personalized score report. Each school receives a summary report detailing each student’s performance.

• Informational Seminars We offer free strategy sessions for parents and students,

either as part of an in-school assembly or as part of a Parent Night or other school-sponsored event.

• Professional Development Seminars We offer free in-service sessions for educators and

administrators to provide information about the SAT, ACT, PSAT, and SAT Subject Tests.

What We Can Do

• On-Campus PSAT, SAT, and ACT Courses We can bring our renowned prep courses to your

campus. Course schedules are flexible and written to best accommodate the needs of your school and students.

• The following publications are available to your students:

• The Princeton Review Roadmap to College Admissions

• SAT vs. ACT• No-Stress Guide to SAT Subject Tests

Counselor Breakfast Cracking the SAT and ACT

Documents

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