Grand prairie fine arts academy

1. Grand prairie fine arts academy Testing Overview 2013-2014 Parent University

2. National Test Information • *Readi Step • *PSAT • *SAT • *ACT • *AP Exams

3. ReadiStep • Offered to all 8th grade students in class. There are 3 timed multiple choice sections: critical reading, mathematics and writing skills • The test provides insight into academic progress and feedback on skills where students excel and areas that may need improvement • Taking the test allows the family free access to My Road – an online tool to prepare for high school, college and career • Visit www.readistep.collegeboard.org

4. PSAT • All 10th graders and registered 11th graders • The test is offered mid October • It is a preliminary SAT practice exam for college admissions • The test gives students an opportunity to qualify for scholarships from the National Merit Scholarship Corporation as a junior (11th grade) • There are 5 timed sections: critical reading, math and writing • You must take the actual SAT or ACT for college • www.collegeboard.com

5. SAT • The SAT is a standardized test used for college admissions. • Test questions cover critical reading, mathematics and writing • 2400 is the highest score • $51.00 / waiver for free or reduced lunch • www.collegeboard.org

6. ACT • The ACT is another standardized test used for college admissions. • Test questions cover English, reading, mathematics and science reasoning • There is an optional writing section • 36 is the highest score • $52.50/ waiver for free or reduced lunch • www.actstudent.org

7. Comparison SAT ACT Penalty for guessing No penalty for guessing Math 50% of score Math 25% of score No science Science 25% of score ELA 50% of score ELA 25% of score No reading section Reading 25% of score 2400 high score 36 high score Average 990 Average 21 GPAFAA SCHOOL CODE 442955

8. AP Exams • College board offers more than 30 AP courses • Courses are taught by highly qualified teachers on a college level • Teachers prep the students for the exam throughout the year • Scores may be accepted for college credit hours – varies by each university • Exams take place May 5th-16th • More information to come in the spring

9. AP and Dual Credit You Have OPTIONS!

10. EXPLORE YOUR OPTIONS • AP Courses at GPFAA • Test is paid by the district • Dual Credit—a future goal of the district to offer more course on all high school campuses • Take TSI Assessment/formerly Accuplacer Saving Time Saving Money! by Getting Ahead

11. Dual Credit Opportunities at Dallas County Community Colleges • FREE TUITION • Offered at the High School & Community College Campus • TSI standard required • Earn up to two dual credit courses per semester • Can begin as early as the summer after a student’s sophomore year

12. Dual Credit Opportunities at the University of Texas at Arlington Honors College • For motivated high school students to enroll in university courses • Earn up to 8 dual credit hours per semester ($150 per course) • Annually Renewable Scholarshipsfor students who: • Score 1200 on the SAT (CR and Math) • Complete at least 6 hours of UTA credit prior to graduation • Maintain at least a “B” average in each UTA course

13. https://apscore.collegeboard.org/creditandplacement/search-credit-policieshttps://apscore.collegeboard.org/creditandplacement/search-credit-policies

14. GPISD Advanced Placement Program • GPISD offers college-level AP courses taught in a wide variety of subject areas • Opportunities for students to earn college credit with an exam score of 3 or higher • 511 qualifying AP scores in 2013, saving parents thousands of dollars in tuition costs • Over 1900 exams were administered to GPISD students during the first two weeks of May 2013

15. Acceleration in ELA • Offered to GT identified 7th grade ELA students • Students will be taking AP course as a sophomore and taking the AP Exam that year. • Students will be asked to perform the following tasks: AP English Literature and Composition Course Description • The exam is approximately three hours and 15 minutes long and has two parts — multiple choice and free response. The multiple choice section is worth 45% and the free response section is worth 55% of the final exam grade.  • Section I: Multiple Choice — 55 questions; 1 hour • The multiple choice section tests your ability to read closely and analyze the rhetoric of prose passages. • Total scores on the multiple-choice section are based on the number of questions answered correctly. Points are not deducted for incorrect answers and no points are awarded for unanswered questions. • Section II: Free Response — 3 essays; 2 hours plus a mandatory 15 minute reading period • The free response prompts test your skill in composition and require close reading, thoughtful rhetorical analysis, and purposeful argumentation. This section also includes a synthesis prompt that tests your ability to effectively compose an argument of your own by combining and citing several supplied sources, including at least one visual source Delayed not Denied

16. GPISD Pre-Advanced Placement Program

17. Acceleration of Math /ELACourses MATH GT identified 7th grade students may take the English I Placement Exam offered in May

18. Participating in Opportunities for Distinguished Level of Achievement and Performance Acknowledgements develop a student’s 21st century skills

19. What is STAAR? • The state’s student testing program for 6th, 7th, and 8th grades. • Reading, Writing, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies. • Not all subjects are tested every year.

20. EOC (End of Course) • Students MUST PASS each EOC assessment for Graduation • Students will retake the EOC until passed: 3 Opportunities per year • Middle school students enrolled in a high school course will take their grade level STAAR AND the EOC.

21. STAAR (State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness) No retakes unless enrolled in a High School EOC course 8TH GRADERS MUST PASS READING & MATH TO ADVANCE TO THE 9TH GRADE.

22. District Level • 3 weeks assessment = quiz • 6 weeks assessment = quiz • 9 weeks assessment = major grade