Admissions Testing ( Don’t panic! ) PSAT/NMSQT (10 th & 11 th ) SAT Reasoning Test (11 th & 12 th ) ACT Assessment (11 th & 12 th ) SAT Subject Tests (optional) AP (Advanced Placement) Tests (The PSSA Reading, Mathematics, Writing and Science Assessments are not currently used by colleges in their admissions deliberations.)

PSAT/NMSQT (10 th & 11 th )

SAT Reasoning Test (11 th & 12 th )

ACT Assessment (11 th & 12 th )

SAT Subject Tests (optional)

AP (Advanced Placement) Tests

(The PSSA Reading, Mathematics, Writing and Science Assessments are not currently used by colleges in their admissions deliberations.)

SAT Facts … The SAT is the nation’s most widely used college admissions test – a standard used by the majority of colleges and universities in the U.S. for more than eight decades.

SAT Facts What it measures … The SAT tests what students know and how well they can apply that knowledge – drawing on the same subjects taught every day in high school classrooms, such as geometry, grammar, algebra, and critical reading.

SAT Facts Validity … Because of its emphasis on what students learn in high school, the SAT is one of the best predictors of college success. Combining the SAT with high school grades, which best predict college success, colleges find high correlations with first-year college GPA. New research indicates that the recently added Writing component is the most predictive section of the SAT for every subgroup.

SAT Reasoning Test SAT is intended to supplement students’ secondary school record in college admissions considerations Formerly called the SAT-I, the SAT Reasoning Test was implemented in March 2005 Critical Reading Section (formerly Verbal ) Emphasis on critical reading , sentence-level reading Reading comprehension, sentence completions, paragraph-length critical reading items Mathematics Section Emphasis on number & operations, algebra I & II and functions, geometry, statistics, probability, and data analysis Multiple-choice & student-produced responses Calculator use permitted, but not required Writing Section Emphasis on grammar, usage, and word choice Multiple-choice questions and student written essay

SAT is intended to supplement students’ secondary school record in college admissions considerations

Formerly called the SAT-I, the SAT Reasoning Test was implemented in March 2005

Critical Reading Section (formerly Verbal )

Emphasis on critical reading , sentence-level reading

Reading comprehension, sentence completions, paragraph-length critical reading items

Mathematics Section

Emphasis on number & operations, algebra I & II and functions, geometry, statistics, probability, and data analysis

Multiple-choice & student-produced responses

Calculator use permitted, but not required

Writing Section

Emphasis on grammar, usage, and word choice

Multiple-choice questions and student written essay

SAT Reasoning Test Scores reported on scale of 200 (low) to 800 (high) for each scale Percentile rankings reported for each scale Offered at national test centers on seven Saturdays during year Administered at SWHS annually in October, November, & June Consists of 10 separately timed sections (3 hours and 45 minutes total testing time) Includes three kinds of questions: multiple-choice questions, student-produced responses (math only), and essay question

Scores reported on scale of 200 (low) to 800 (high) for each scale

Percentile rankings reported for each scale

Offered at national test centers on seven Saturdays during year

Administered at SWHS annually in October, November, & June

Consists of 10 separately timed sections (3 hours and 45 minutes total testing time)

Includes three kinds of questions: multiple-choice questions, student-produced responses (math only), and essay question

SAT Subject Tests Formerly called “SAT-II,” are one-hour, multiple-choice specific subject tests (e.g., math, literature, chemistry, history), some with special features (i.e., language listening, required calculator use) Used by some colleges for admission, course placement, and/or student advising Scores reported on scale of 200 (low) to 800 (high) for each scale Percentile rankings reported for each scale Offered at national test centers on most Saturday test dates during year (not in March) Administered at SWHS annually in October, November, & June

Formerly called “SAT-II,” are one-hour, multiple-choice specific subject tests (e.g., math, literature, chemistry, history), some with special features (i.e., language listening, required calculator use)

Used by some colleges for admission, course placement, and/or student advising

Scores reported on scale of 200 (low) to 800 (high) for each scale

Percentile rankings reported for each scale

Offered at national test centers on most Saturday test dates during year (not in March)

Administered at SWHS annually in October, November, & June

Keeping tests in perspective … The College Board recently surveyed four-year colleges to determine what admissions criteria they consider “very important”… based on responses from nearly 2,000 institutions: School Achievement – 83% Test Scores – 59% Recommendations – 19% Application Essay – 17% Interview – 14% Activities – 4%

The College Board recently surveyed four-year colleges to determine what admissions criteria they consider “very important”… based on responses from nearly 2,000 institutions:

School Achievement – 83%

Test Scores – 59%

Recommendations – 19%

Application Essay – 17%

Interview – 14%

Activities – 4%

Prepping: Using Resources PSAT/NMSQT @ SWHS CHOICES Planner® (SWSD - Internet) to access testGEAR Test Prep Program WWW Resources www.collegeboard.com * www.hanoverlibrary.org * Test prep from the test makers

PSAT/NMSQT @ SWHS

CHOICES Planner® (SWSD - Internet) to access testGEAR Test Prep Program

WWW Resources

www.collegeboard.com *

www.hanoverlibrary.org

* Test prep from the test makers

PSAT/NMSQT Taken during school day on designated Wednesday in October (fee = approx. $15) Measures critical reading, math, and writing skills needed for college & many career fields Opportunity to compare student performance with college-bound peers nationally For juniors, serves as National Merit Scholarship qualifier Student Search Service puts college admission & financial aid info in your mailbox Best opportunity to practice for SAT under real test conditions Yields excellent score report highlighting strength areas and those needing improvement Excellent follow-up tools: MyRoad ™ and My College QuickStart ™

Taken during school day on designated Wednesday in October (fee = approx. $15)

Measures critical reading, math, and writing skills needed for college & many career fields

Opportunity to compare student performance with college-bound peers nationally

For juniors, serves as National Merit Scholarship qualifier

Student Search Service puts college admission & financial aid info in your mailbox

Best opportunity to practice for SAT under real test conditions

Yields excellent score report highlighting strength areas and those needing improvement

Excellent follow-up tools: MyRoad ™ and My College QuickStart ™

PSAT/NMSQT Critical Reading : sentence-level & critical reading passages ( like the SAT) Math : algebra, geometry, functions, probability, statistics, data analysis (like the SAT) Writing : grammar, usage, word choice, identify sentence errors, improve sentences, improve paragraphs (like the SAT, but without the essay) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Scores reported on 20-80 scale with percentile rankings Test-taking hints and practice test provided at registration Recommended for students in both sophomore & junior years Results available as early as mid-December

Critical Reading : sentence-level & critical reading passages ( like the SAT)

Math : algebra, geometry, functions, probability, statistics, data analysis (like the SAT)

Writing : grammar, usage, word choice, identify sentence errors, improve sentences, improve paragraphs (like the SAT, but without the essay)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Scores reported on 20-80 scale with percentile rankings

Test-taking hints and practice test provided at registration

Recommended for students in both sophomore & junior years

Results available as early as mid-December

Test Prep: Using testGEAR within CHOICES Planner® CHOICES Planner ® ( www.bridges.com ): SWHS Site ID: 0100502 Password: western (all lowercase) Create a Portfolio (personal account) – the ultimate “toolbox” Self-assessment of interests, skills, career-related aptitudes; career exploration, planning, and decision-making; educational exploration, planning, and decision-making All integral parts of SWHS Graduation Project! Access testGEAR Customizes test preparation for SAT, PSAT, ACT “ Brain Scan” identifies strengths and areas most in need of improvement Permits self-paced individualization

CHOICES Planner ® ( www.bridges.com ):

SWHS Site ID: 0100502 Password: western (all lowercase)

Create a Portfolio (personal account) – the ultimate “toolbox”

Self-assessment of interests, skills, career-related aptitudes;

career exploration, planning, and decision-making;

educational exploration, planning, and decision-making

All integral parts of SWHS Graduation Project!

Access testGEAR

Customizes test preparation for SAT, PSAT, ACT

“ Brain Scan” identifies strengths and areas most in need of improvement

Permits self-paced individualization

Previewing Your Toolbox: A Peek at Web Resources CHOICES Planner - testGEAR Free -- courtesy of South Western SD CollegeBoard.com for Students CollegeBoard.com for Parents

CHOICES Planner - testGEAR

Free -- courtesy of South Western SD

CollegeBoard.com for Students

CollegeBoard.com for Parents

Wrapping up … Q: What do Admissions Officers look for in applicants? (Hint – it’s NOT just about test scores …) A: The very same traits that produce success across one’s career and life span...

Key Traits for College, Career, & Life Success: Strong academic achievement Potential for intellectual growth & academic success Communication skills Interpersonal skills Involvement (extracurricular & community activities) Demonstrated initiative & ambition Independence & leadership Personal responsibility for decisions Accountability for choices and their consequences Time & task management skills

Strong academic achievement

Potential for intellectual growth & academic success

Communication skills

Interpersonal skills

Involvement (extracurricular & community activities)

Demonstrated initiative & ambition

Independence & leadership

Personal responsibility for decisions

Accountability for choices and their consequences

Time & task management skills

Think “College Bound” … Nurture scholastic achievement – encourage appropriate reading and foster good “academic” behavior! Monitor and guide your student’s course selections – remember, QUALITY is key, but balance rigor and reality! Insist that your college-bound student takes: the PSAT/NMSQT in 10 th and 11 th grades; the SAT (or ACT) at the end of 11 th grade; and some practice tests! Get your student involved and get yourself involved - take an active approach, and insist on QUALITY ! REMEMBER THIS:

Think “College Bound” …

Nurture scholastic achievement – encourage appropriate reading and foster good “academic” behavior!

Monitor and guide your student’s course selections – remember, QUALITY is key, but balance rigor and reality!

Insist that your college-bound student takes: the PSAT/NMSQT in 10 th and 11 th grades; the SAT (or ACT) at the end of 11 th grade; and some practice tests!

Get your student involved and get yourself involved - take an active approach, and insist on QUALITY !