College Admissions Testing A Roadmap for the SAT, ACT, and Other Tests Summit Educational Group
Test Scores Relative Importance Percentage of Colleges Reporting Considerable or Moderate Importance Grades in college prep courses Grades in all courses Admission test scores (SAT & ACT) Strength of curriculum 92% 91% 88% 87% Essay or writing sample Counselor recommendation Student s demonstrated interest Class Rank 61% 60% 59% 52% 2015 NACAC State of College Admissions
Test Optional Schools We want outstanding students from all over the world and from all different backgrounds regardless of their standardized scores. - Karen Stroud Felton Former Dean of Admissions George Washington University
400 440 480 520 560 600 640 680 720 760 800 840 880 920 960 1000 1040 1080 1120 1160 1200 1240 1280 1320 1360 1400 1440 1480 1520 1560 1600 Why the SAT/ACT? Consistent Curve 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 ACT Composite Scores, 2012 SAT Total Scores, 2016
Create a Testing Plan Which tests should I take? When should I take them? How and when should I prepare for them?
Which Tests Might I Take? PSAT SAT ACT Subject Tests AP Tests
PSAT is Practice for the SAT SAT (200-800) PSAT 10, PSAT/NMSQT (160-760) PSAT 8/9 (120-720) 120 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 PSAT scores show what you would have scored on the SAT on that same day.
PSAT Score Report PSAT scores show what you would have scored on the SAT on that same day. Percentiles give a sense of relative standing among students in the same grade. The Benchmark shows whether you will, with average levels of improvement, achieve a College Readiness score on the SAT (typically about 500 per section)
PSAT Score Report Subscores provide more focused information for how students can focus their test preparation. Cross-Test Scores are primarily used as assessment tools for schools.
PSAT Score Report Students who score in the top 1% in their state will qualify for the National Merit Scholarship.
PSAT Score Report The score report includes tips for how a student at your skill level can most effectively improve scores.
PSAT Score Report The last page of the PSAT report shows the answer, difficulty, and question type for each question.
The College Board vs. ACT, Inc SAT/ACT Test-Takers 2010-2016 2200000 2100000 ACT students 2,090,342 2000000 1900000 1800000 1700000 SAT students 1,637,589 1600000 1500000 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 SAT ACT
Dimensions of Standardized Testing Aptitude Test Old PSAT & Old SAT Speed Test Power Test ACT PSAT & SAT Subject and AP Tests Curriculum-Based Test
SAT/ACT Similar in Structure SAT (3 hours 50 minutes) 200-800 200-800 optional Reading (65 min) Writing & Language (35 min) Math (No Calc) (25 min) Math (Calc) (55 min) Essay (50 min) ACT (3 hours 35 minutes) 1-36 1-36 1-36 1-36 optional English Math Reading Science Writing (45 min) (60 min) (35 min) (35 min) (40 min)
Writing & Language / English
SAT/ACT Writing & Language / English SAT ACT Very similar tests. Both require strong grammar and editing skills and emphasize correcting sentence structure and punctuation. Essays ranging in complexity from grades 9-10 to early college level Essays resemble what might be written by a high school student Inclusion of Data Graphics 48 seconds / question 36 seconds / question
SAT/ACT Writing & Language / English ACT In 2009, Libbrecht and Arnold s experiments revealed that triangular snowflakes begin with the same process of chemical bonding and forms a hexagonal shape. The triangular shape is an illusion resulting from one significant addition to the process dust. 8 9 8. F. NO CHANGE G. were they to form H. if they formed J. form 9. A. NO CHANGE B. process is C. process: D. process; ACT Form 1572CPRE
SAT Data Graphics Questions SAT As of 2010, there were approximately 40,300 urban and regional planners employed in the United States. The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics forecasts steady job growth in this field, 6 projecting that 16 percent of new jobs in all occupations will be related to urban and regional planning. Population growth and concerns about environmental sustainability are expected to spur the need for transportation planning professionals. Which choice completes the sentence with accurate data based on the above graph? A) NO CHANGE B) warning, however, that job growth in urban and regional planning will slow to 14 percent by 2020. C) predicting that employment of urban and regional planners will increase 16 percent between 2010 and 2020. D) indicating that 14 to 18 percent of urban and regional planning positions will remain unfilled. College Board: Test Specifications for the Redesigned SAT
Reading
SAT/ACT Reading SAT ACT More nuanced reading for deeper understanding Quick, efficient reading for comprehension Complexity ranges from grade 9-10 to early college level 13 minutes per passage Complexity ranges from grade 9-10 to early college level 8 minutes per passage 3 4 Data Graphics
SAT/ACT Reading SAT ACT What can reasonably be inferred about gliding animals from the passage? Which choice provides the best evidence for the answer to the previous question? The passage points to which of the following as a characteristic of trap-jaw ants mandibles that prevents the ants from harming themselves with their powerful bite? College Board SAT #3 ACT Form 1572CPRE
Mathematics
SAT/ACT Math SAT ACT Narrow and Deep Algebra about 60% of Math 1 Calculator Section 1 No-Calculator Section 83 seconds / question Broad and Shallow Algebra about 30% of Math Relatively even spread Calculator allowed throughout 60 seconds / question
SAT/ACT Math SAT ACT The graph of the linear function f has intercepts at (a, 0) and (0, b) in the xy-plane. If a + b = 0 and a b, which of the following is true about the slope of the graph of f? A) It is positive. B) It is negative. C) It equals zero. D) It is undefined. If two lines in the standard (x, y) coordinate plane are perpendicular and the slope of one of the lines is 3, what is the slope of the other line? A. 3 B. 1 C. 1/3 D. 1/3 E. 3 College Board SAT #2 ACT Form 1163E
Science
SAT/ACT Science SAT ACT No Science section, but 21 science-related questions appear throughout the test. Does not require knowledge of specific science concepts Dedicated Science Test. Measures interpretation, analysis, and reasoning skills. Biggest challenge is timing. Students must navigate mazes of information to find the relevant portions. About 3-4 questions require knowledge of basic science concepts
TEMPERATURE ( C) 0 1000 2000 3000 4000 5000 6000 DEPTH (km) CASCADES TRENCH SAT/ACT Science NORTH AMERICA LITHOSPHERE (Crust + Rigid Mantle) PACIFIC OCEAN DENSITY (g/cm 3 ) 2.7 continental crust 3.0 oceanic crust ATLANTIC OCEAN MID-ATLANTIC RIDGE Rigid Mantle CRUST Stiffer Mantle ASTHENO-SPHERE (Plastic Mantle) Outer Core Core 3.3 3.5 9.9 12.1 According to Figure 1, the temperature of the Outer Core is approximately between: A. 1000º C and 2500º C 6000 5000 Inner Inner Core Core 12.7 13.0 B. 2500º C and 5000º C C. 4800º C and 6300º C D. 6200º C and 6500º C 4000 3000 2000 1000
Essay / Writing
SAT/ACT Essay/Writing SAT Essay Prompt The ACT essay assignment asks you to WRITE an argumentative essay, whereas the SAT essay assignment asks you to ANALYZE an argumentative essay.
Is SAT the ACT in Sheep s Clothing? 4 answer choices Rights-only scoring Writing Test very similar to ACT English Test Test of achievement rather than aptitude Incorporates science Similar skills tested
Comparing the SAT and ACT More challenging SAT Questions Require deep understanding Narrower focus of skills More time per question Straightforward ACT Questions Require instant recognition Broader scope of skills Require constant, rapid pace
Choosing SAT or ACT
Choosing SAT or ACT Best way to make this decision is by taking each one and comparing scores using a Concordance Table.
Concordance Tables ACT New SAT ACT New SAT ACT New SAT 36 1600 1380 24 1160 1590 1370 1150 29 1580 1360 23 1140 35 1570 1350 1130 1560 1340 1120 1550 1330 22 1110 28 1540 1320 1100 34 1530 1310 1090 1520 1300 1080 21 1510 27 1290 1070 33 1500 1280 1060 1490 1270 1050 1480 1260 1040 26 20 1470 1250 1030 32 1460 1240 1020 1450 1230 1010 1440 1220 1000 25 19 31 1430 1210 990 1420 1200 980 1410 1190 970 30 1400 24 1180 18 960 1390 1170 950
Check Your Colleges Requirements Colleges Requiring Subject Tests 2013-2017 35 30 25 29 25 20 18 15 10 12 11 5 0 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017
Subject Tests Math Science History English Language Math Level 1 Biology (E/M) US History Literature Chinese Math Level 2 Chemistry World History French Physics German Hebrew Italian Japanese Korean Latin Spanish
When Should I Take Them?
Test Dates 2017/2018 PSAT SAT and Subject Tests ACT October 25, 2017 October 7, 2017 September 9, 2017 November 4, 2017 October 28, 2017 December 2, 2017 December 9, 2017 March 10, 2018 (SAT only) February 10, 2018 May 5, 2018 April 14, 2018 June 2, 2018 June 9, 2018 August 25, 2018 July 14, 2018
Sample Testing Plans Sophomore Year Junior Year Senior Year Sample Plan #1 May or June Subject Tests (if appropriate) Diagnostic SAT and ACT tests during summer between sophomore and junior years October PSAT/NMSQT March & May SATs or February & April ACTs June Subject Tests (as needed) Final SAT as needed Most students should take the SAT or ACT twice in their junior year and again once, if necessary, in the fall of their senior year.
Score Choice All Scores Required* Carnegie Mellon Cornell Georgetown Stanford Yale Score Choice Allowed* Amherst Brown Dartmouth Duke Harvard MIT Northwestern Princeton Swarthmore Univ. of Chicago Wellesley College Wesleyan Williams * These lists provide just a sampling of schools and their score use policies.
Superscoring Reading & Writing January Math 580 570 1150 Reading & Writing May Math 580 650 1230 Reading & Writing October Math 640 620 1260 Superscore Reading & Writing Math
How Should I Prepare for Them?
Choose a Starting Date Test prep should allow for at least 6-15 weeks of study and practice before the official test date.
Foundations of Test Preparation Content Mastery Strategy Practice Tests
Guiding Principles Most students will score the same, no matter what tests they take, but it s worth looking for a student s best test. A good testing plan prioritizes school work over test prep. Testing early and often is generally not sensible. Prepping for one test helps prepare for the other. Students score their best at end of junior year and fall of senior year. It is the RARE student who is finished by January of junior year, even high scorers.
Last, But Not Least Maintain perspective. It s just a test.
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