College Admissions Testing: What You Need to Know.

College Admissions College Admissions Testing:Testing:

What You Need to KnowWhat You Need to Know

What colleges wantWhat colleges want

ApplicationApplication(essays, (essays,

extra extra curriculars, curriculars,

etc.)etc.)

StandardizeStandardized test d test scoresscores

Transcript (grades, and Transcript (grades, and what classes you take)what classes you take)

What is the PSAT?What is the PSAT? Practice version of the SATPractice version of the SAT

For many students, the first exposure to For many students, the first exposure to college admissions testingcollege admissions testing

PSAT is also a part of the National Merit PSAT is also a part of the National Merit Scholarship ProgramScholarship Program

Most importantly : a chance to figure out Most importantly : a chance to figure out areas of strength and weakness before areas of strength and weakness before the “real” tests!the “real” tests!

The PSAT The PSAT

Total Time:Total Time:2 hours, 10 minutes2 hours, 10 minutes

Critical Reading 1Critical Reading 125 minutes25 minutes

Critical Reading 2Critical Reading 225 minutes25 minutes

Math 2Math 225 minutes25 minutes

Going from the PSAT to SATGoing from the PSAT to SAT

Length is the single most important Length is the single most important difference – 4 hours + for the SAT!difference – 4 hours + for the SAT!

Essay section is added on the SATEssay section is added on the SAT

A handful of new Algebra 2 topics on the A handful of new Algebra 2 topics on the MathMath

The SAT Reasoning The SAT Reasoning TestTest

The SAT has three sub-sections : Math, The SAT has three sub-sections : Math, Critical Reading, and WritingCritical Reading, and Writing

Each sub-section is scaled from 200-800Each sub-section is scaled from 200-800

The national average for each section is The national average for each section is roughly 500roughly 500

The SAT Reasoning The SAT Reasoning TestTest

Critical Reading 1Critical Reading 125 minutes25 minutes

Math 1Math 125 minutes25 minutes

EssayEssay25 minutes25 minutes

Critical Reading 2Critical Reading 225 minutes25 minutes

Math 2Math 225 minutes25 minutes

Writing 1Writing 125 minutes25 minutes

ExperimentalExperimentalSectionSection25 minutes25 minutes

Writing 2Writing 210 minutes10 minutes

Critical Reading 3Critical Reading 320 minutes20 minutes

Math 3Math 320 minutes20 minutes

Total Time:Total Time:3 hours, 45 minutes3 hours, 45 minutes

SAT ScoringSAT Scoring Scoring Scoring

One raw score point gained for each correct answerOne raw score point gained for each correct answer 1/4 raw point taken away for each incorrect multiple choice answer1/4 raw point taken away for each incorrect multiple choice answer No penalty or gain for omitted questions or incorrect answers on No penalty or gain for omitted questions or incorrect answers on

grid-insgrid-ins Leaving Them

Blank 30 Questions

Guessing Randomly 30 Questions

Using POE 30 Questions

# Questions Correct 0 6 10

# Questions Incorrect 0 24 20

Positive Raw Points 0 6 10

Negative Raw Points 0 6 5

Total Raw Points 0 0 5

Total Scaled Points 0 0 30-50

SAT MathSAT Math

Math Topics on the SATMath Topics on the SAT Basic math concepts through Algebra IIBasic math concepts through Algebra II There is no difficult There is no difficult mathmath on the SAT, on the SAT,

but the but the testtest itself can be difficult itself can be difficult

Important TipsImportant Tips Never leave an easy question blankNever leave an easy question blank Hard problems have hard answers!Hard problems have hard answers! Accuracy is more important than speedAccuracy is more important than speed

SAT WritingSAT Writing

Multiple-Choice Grammar (~70% of score)Multiple-Choice Grammar (~70% of score) Improving SentencesImproving Sentences questions test ability to correct questions test ability to correct

sentences with mistakessentences with mistakes

Error IdentificationError Identification questions test ability to identify questions test ability to identify common grammatical errorscommon grammatical errors

Improving Paragraphs Improving Paragraphs questions test understanding of questions test understanding of proper diction, usage, organization, and grammarproper diction, usage, organization, and grammar

Essay (~30% of score)Essay (~30% of score) Looks for strong opinion and good organizationLooks for strong opinion and good organization

State your position, then back it up with relevant State your position, then back it up with relevant examplesexamples

SAT Critical ReadingSAT Critical Reading

Passage-based ReadingPassage-based Reading Long and dense passagesLong and dense passages Best way to improve skill is through Best way to improve skill is through

repeated practice with an active reading repeated practice with an active reading strategystrategy

Sentence CompletionsSentence Completions Process of elimination is key!Process of elimination is key!

SAT Subject TestsSAT Subject Tests Each test is one hour in lengthEach test is one hour in length Achievement-based tests, measuring Achievement-based tests, measuring

knowledge learned from college-level knowledge learned from college-level courses in the following areas:courses in the following areas:

ENGLISHENGLISH- Literature- LiteratureHISTORYHISTORY- U.S. History, World History- U.S. History, World HistoryMATHMATH- Mathematics Level 1, Mathematics Level 2- Mathematics Level 1, Mathematics Level 2SCIENCESCIENCE- Biology E/M, Chemistry, Physics - Biology E/M, Chemistry, Physics LANGUAGES LANGUAGES - Chinese, French, German, Spanish, Modern Hebrew, Italian, Latin, Japanese, - Chinese, French, German, Spanish, Modern Hebrew, Italian, Latin, Japanese,

Korean Korean

ACTACT

The ACT has four sections : English, The ACT has four sections : English, Reading, Math, and Science.Reading, Math, and Science.

Each section is scored on a scale from 1 Each section is scored on a scale from 1 to 36to 36

The national average for each section is The national average for each section is roughly 21roughly 21

ACTACT

EnglishEnglish45 minutes45 minutes

MathMath60 minutes60 minutes

ScienceScience35 minutes35 minutes

ReadingReading35 minutes35 minutes

Total Time:Total Time:

2 hours, 55 minutes 2 hours, 55 minutes oror

3 hours, 25 minutes with 3 hours, 25 minutes with optional essayoptional essay

ACT MathACT Math

Mathematics skills typically acquired Mathematics skills typically acquired through 11th grade:through 11th grade:

Pre-Algebra Pre-Algebra Elementary AlgebraElementary Algebra Intermediate Algebra Intermediate Algebra Coordinate GeometryCoordinate Geometry Plane Geometry Plane Geometry TrigonometryTrigonometry

ACT EnglishACT English

Usage/MechanicsUsage/Mechanics Long prose passagesLong prose passages PunctuationPunctuation Grammar & usage (standard written English)Grammar & usage (standard written English) Sentence structure & formationSentence structure & formation

Rhetorical SkillsRhetorical Skills Writing StrategyWriting Strategy OrganizationOrganization StyleStyle

ACT ReadingACT Reading

Reading ComprehensionReading Comprehension Direct statements & statements with implied meaningDirect statements & statements with implied meaning Determining main ideasDetermining main ideas Making comparisonsMaking comparisons Understanding sequence of eventsUnderstanding sequence of events Drawing generalizationsDrawing generalizations Analyzing author’s/narrator’s voice and methodAnalyzing author’s/narrator’s voice and method

Passage TypesPassage Types Prose FictionProse Fiction HumanitiesHumanities Social StudiesSocial Studies Natural SciencesNatural Sciences

ACT ScienceACT Science

Science ReasoningScience Reasoning Three passage formats:Three passage formats:

Data Representation (graphs & tables)Data Representation (graphs & tables) Research Summaries (descriptions of related experiments)Research Summaries (descriptions of related experiments) Conflicting Viewpoints (expressions of related hypotheses Conflicting Viewpoints (expressions of related hypotheses

or inconsistent viewpoints)or inconsistent viewpoints) Passages cover the following content areas: Passages cover the following content areas:

biology, chemistry, physics and earth/space biology, chemistry, physics and earth/space sciencessciences

Basic knowledge of scientific terms and Basic knowledge of scientific terms and concepts neededconcepts needed

EssayEssay

Writing composition skills:Writing composition skills: Well-developed point of viewWell-developed point of view Consideration of counter argumentConsideration of counter argument Use of specific examplesUse of specific examples Sentence structure Sentence structure Strong conclusionStrong conclusion

ACT v. SATACT v. SAT

ACTACT SATSAT

science reasoning sectionscience reasoning section no science reasoning sectionno science reasoning section

math includes trigonometrymath includes trigonometry no trigonometry questionsno trigonometry questions

entirely multiple-choiceentirely multiple-choice non multiple-choice questions non multiple-choice questions includedincluded

no guessing penaltyno guessing penalty guessing penaltyguessing penalty

math accounts for 25% of math accounts for 25% of your scoreyour score

math accounts for 33% of math accounts for 33% of your scoreyour score

easy and hard questions easy and hard questions mixed within sectionsmixed within sections

questions go from easy to questions go from easy to hard in most sectionshard in most sections

SAT to ACT SAT to ACT ConversionConversion

313113801380

323214201420

333314701470

343415201520

353515501550

363616001600

ACTACTOLD OLD SATSAT

NEW NEW SATSAT

24002400

23202320

22802280

22002200

21302130

20702070 252511401140

262611801180

272712201220

282812601260

292913001300

303013401340

ACTACTOLD OLD SATSAT

NEW NEW

SATSAT

20102010

19501950

18901890

18301830

17701770

17101710 1818870870

1919910910

2020950950

2121990990

222210301030

232310701070

ACTACTOLD OLD SATSAT

NEW NEW SATSAT

16001600

15401540

14801480

14201420

13601360

13001300 1212590590

1313640640

1414690690

1515740740

1616790790

1717830830

ACTACTOLD OLD SATSAT

NEW NEW

SATSAT

12401240

11801180

11101110

10301030

960960

880880

Testing TimelineTesting Timeline

Sophomore YearSophomore Year

Junior YearJunior Year

Senior YearSenior Year

Test PreparationTest PreparationFind the best option for youFind the best option for you

1) Prep on your own1) Prep on your own

2) Classroom program2) Classroom program

3) Hybrid program3) Hybrid program

4) Individual Tutoring4) Individual Tutoring