The ABC’s of SAT PSAT ACT AP Exams

1. The ABC’s of SAT PSAT ACT AP Exams

2. Exam Information and Exam Information Resources • PHS Morning Announcements • Teachers • Counselors • PTSO Newsletter • Ms. Joyce Williams, Director, External Testing, PHS Career Center, 994-2116 • www.collegeboard.com (SAT) • www.act.org (ACT) • www.meritaward.state.mi.us/ (MEAP)

3. SAT I Scholastic Assessment Test I Reasoning Tests

4. SAT I What is the SAT I? • National college admissions test • Considered a standard way of measuring a student’s ability to do college-level work • Assesses verbal and math reasoning abilities • Ten sections • Three critical reading sections • Three mathematical sections • Three writing sections including one 25 minute essay • One non-scored “equating” section which can be verbal or math. This section is used to try out new questions or set the scoring scale.

5. SAT IWho should take the SAT I? • SAT I scores may be required for admission to a college • Many students choose to take the SAT I in their junior year, particularly if they plan on applying for early admission to a college in the fall of their senior year. • If the SAT I scores are a college admission requirement, a student should plan on taking the test no later than December of his/her senior year.

6. SAT IWhen is the SAT I given? • Administered on seven national test dates throughout the year: • October • November • December • January • March or April • May • June • Testing takes place on Saturday • Sunday testing is available for students whose religious faith prohibits testing on Saturday.

7. SAT IRegistration • Fee • Mail • Registration Bulletin available at PHS career center • Online registration is available and encouraged by the College Board • www.collegeboard.com • use major credit card for payment of fee • certain circumstances where online registration cannot be used • Fee waivers available • apply through counselor

8. SAT IRegistration • Registration deadline is approximately five weeks prior to the test date • Additional cost for late registration • Provisions for: • changing the test date • changing the test center • changing the test (SAT I/SAT II) • students with disabilities • Students can register to take the SAT I at any testing center.

9. SAT I Test Day • Most PHS students will take the SAT I at Pioneer • Students should plan to arrive between 7:45 and 8:00 AM • Test room numbers will be posted on a list at the clock tower entrance • Student should have: • Admission Ticket • Acceptable Identification which would include a school ID, driver’s license, or passport • No. 2 pencils with erasers • permitted calculator which is almost any four-function, scientific, or graphing calculator • Actual testing time is 3 hours & 45 min • Testing starts about 8:30 AM and will end about 12:45 PM. • Breaks are scheduled between tests.

10. SAT I Scoring • SAT I Scores • reported on a scale from 200 to 800 • Three scores: Verbal, Mathematics, and Writing • Raw scores are calculated as follows: • Questions answered correctly receive one point • Unanswered questions receive no points • A fraction of a point is subtracted for incorrect answers to multiple-choice questions. • No points are subtracted for incorrect answers to the SAT I math questions requiring student-produced responses • Score Range – reflects how a student’s score might vary if the test was taken a number of times, +/- 30 to 40 points • Percentile – compares score to other students’ scores who took the test the same day. Percentiles are given for the nation and the state. A 62% would mean that the student did better that 62% of the group.

11. Score Reports • Score Reports available about three weeks after the test • View scores online • Receive scores by e-mail • Scores available by telephone

12. SAT ISending Score Reports • When registering, you can request scores be sent to colleges and/or scholarship programs. • Scores sent include the current and all previous SAT I scores • For a fee, additional score reports may be sent to colleges and/or scholarship programs: • Online using SAT Score Sender • By Telephone at 1-800-SAT-SCORE

13. SAT ITest Preparation Available • Students can familiarize themselves with the SAT I format by taking the PSAT. • Practice tests are available online and in the career center. • Free copy of “Taking the SAT I” available at the career center • SAT Prep Center at www.collegeboard.com • List of publications and software for sale • Practice questions • Mini-SAT • SAT question of the day • Test taking tips

14. SAT II Scholastic Assessment Test II Subject Tests

15. SAT IIWhat is the SAT II? • Test in a specific subject • One hour, primarily multiple-choice • Some colleges recommend or require applicants to take 1 to 3 of these subject tests • Students should be aware of the college admission requirements

16. Biology Ecological/Molecular Chemistry Physics English Literature US History World History Mathematics Level IC Mathematics Level IIC French-reading German-reading Modern Hebrew-reading Italian-reading Latin-reading Spanish-reading Chinese-with listening French-with listening German-with listening Japanese-with listening Korean-with listening Spanish-with listening SAT IISubject Tests

17. SAT IIWhen is the SAT II given? • Registration for SAT II same as for SAT I • Given most dates that the SAT I is given • Some SAT II tests are not available on every testing date • “With listening” language tests are only offered in November at specified centers • Portable CD player with earphones required. • SAT II should be taken when content is fresh in the student’s mind, at the end of a recently completed course like chemistry and world history • SAT II tests can be retaken

18. SAT IIScoring and Score Reports • Scoring for SAT II is similar to scoring for SAT I • Scores sent to colleges and scholarship programs by designating them on the registration form • Scores can be released: • Online • By telephone request 1-800-SAT-SCORE

19. SAT IITest Preparation Available • Free copy of “Taking the SAT II” available at the Career Center • SAT II Learning Center at www.collegeboard.com

20. PSAT PSAT/NMSQT Preliminary SAT/ National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test

21. PSATWhat is the PSAT? • Co-sponsored by the College Board and the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) • PSAT/NMSQT measures verbal reasoning, critical reading, mathematics problem-solving, and writing skills. The PSAT/NMSQT includes five sections: • Two verbal sections • Two math sections • One writing skills section

22. PSATWho should take the PSAT? • The PSAT/NMSQT should be taken in your student’s junior year. • Many students benefit from taking it earlier, typically in their sophomore year.

23. PSAT Why take the PSAT? • Help prepare for SAT Program tests • Forecast SAT scores • Opportunity to qualify to enter competitions for scholarships and participate in recognition programs such as: • National Merit Scholarship Program • National Hispanic Recognition Program • National Scholarship Service and Fund for Negro Students • Telluride Association • Participate in the Student Search Service to get educational and financial information from colleges • Compare yourself with other students

24. PSATRegistration • Fee • Students register for the PSAT/NMSQT at the General Office at Pioneer High School • Registration begins in mid-September • On-line registration is not available • Fee waivers available, by request, for juniors from low-income families. The student should consult a PHS counselor. • Provisions for students with disabilities

25. PSATTest Day • Test administered at Pioneer High School, usually on the third Saturday in October • Test location will change if there is a U-M football game on the testing day • Plan to arrive at the testing center at 7:45 AM • Students should have: • Admission Ticket • No. 2 pencils with erasers • Approved calculator • Acceptable Identification which would include a school ID, driver’s license, or passport • Testing begins at 8:00 AM and ends about 11:30 AM. • The actual test requires 2 hours,10 minutes.

26. PSATTest Results • PSAT/NMSQT score reports are mailed to the High School at the end of November. • Each school decides how and when to distribute the scores to students. • At Pioneer, results are sent to PHS and distributed to students by the counselors. • Score reports are not mailed home.

27. PSATScore Reports and Scoring SCORE REPORT • Scores reported on a scale from 20 to 80 • Three scores: Verbal, Mathematics, Writing • Raw scores are calculated as follows: • Questions answered correctly receive one point • Unanswered questions receive no points • A fraction of a point is subtracted for incorrect answers to multiple-choice questions. • Each incorrect answer to a student-produced response question receives no points • Selection Index - sum of Verbal, Mathematics, and Writing scores • Percentiles allow comparison to scores of other juniors. A student with a percentile of 53 has earned a score better than 53 out of every 100 juniors who took the test. • Score Report will show the correct answers and the student’s answers and the difficulty level of each question. • To convert to a comparable SAT I score, add a zero to the PSAT/NMSQT score (verbal and mathematics, only). For example, a PSAT/NMSQT score of 56 is similar to an SAT I score of 560.

28. PSATTest Preparation Available • PSAT/NMSQT Student Bulletin available at the Career Center • On first two Saturdays in October, PSAT examination simulations are conducted. One is held at Pioneer and one is held at Huron. • Tips and practice questions available at www.collegeboard.com

29. National Merit Scholarship Program • Enter the Merit Program by taking the PSAT/NMSQT in the junior year of high school. • NMSC will provide scholarship application materials to Semifinalists through their high schools in the fall of the student’s senior year • To qualify as a finalist: • Complete NMSC scholarship application • includes essay about contributions to school and community, personal characteristics, activities, plans, and goals • Take the SAT I and earn qualifying scores • Notify NMSC of plans to enroll in college • 8,000 National Merit Scholarships of $2,500 are awarded

30. National Merit Scholarship ProgramOther Scholarship Awards • Corporate-sponsored Merit and Special Scholarships Awards • Provided by corporate sponsors in the National Merit Scholarship Program • A list of corporate organizations that sponsor both Merit and Special Scholarships is given in the PSAT/NMSQT Student Bulletin. • College-sponsored Merit Scholarship Awards • Officials of a NMSC sponsored institution choose award recipients from among finalists who have applied for admission and have informed NMSC that the sponsor college is their first choice

31. ACT American College Testing Assessment

32. ACTWhat is the ACT? • National college admissions examination • Measures knowledge, understanding, and skills acquired throughout student’s education • Tests cover four skill areas: English, Mathematics, Reading, Science Reasoning, and optional Writing (beginning 2005) • 215 multiple choice questions • Students who achieve a qualifying score on the ACT and demonstrate financial need are eligible to apply to the Michigan Competitive Scholarship Program.

33. ACTWho should take the ACT? • ACT scores may be required for admission to college • Many colleges recommend taking the ACT during the second half of the student’s junior year of high school. • Many students take the ACT once as a junior and then as a senior.

34. ACTWhen is the ACT given? • Administered on five national test dates: • October • December • February • April • June • Testing takes place on a Saturday • Sunday and Monday testing is available for students whose religious faith prohibits testing on Saturday.

35. ACTTest Locations • Ann Arbor test sites include: • Pioneer High School • Huron High School • Washtenaw Community College • Concordia University

36. ACTRegistration • Fee • Mail • Registration packets available at PHS career center • Online Registration is available and encouraged • www.act.org • use major credit card for payment of fee • certain circumstances where online registration cannot be used • Fee waivers are available • must register using packet • see a counselor and complete a form

37. ACT Registration • Registration deadline is approximately five weeks prior to the test date • Additional cost for late registration • Provisions for: • changing the test date • missing the test • changing the test center • students with disabilities • Students can register to take the ACT at any testing center.

38. ACTTest Day • Most PHS students will take the ACT at Pioneer • Plan to arrive at 8:00 AM • Test room numbers will be posted on a list at the clock tower entrance • Student should have: • Admission Ticket • Acceptable Identification which would include a school ID, driver’s license, or passport • No. 2 pencils with erasers • permitted calculator for the math test (more restrictions than the SAT – see www.act.org) • Actual testing time is 3 hours and 25 minutes • Testing starts about 8:30 AM and ends about 12:30 PM • Breaks are scheduled between tests.

39. ACTScoring and Score Reports • Scores are mailed four to seven weeks after the test date. • View scores online for $8.00 fee • Scores reported for each of the four tests (English, Mathematics, Reading, Science Reasoning) • Scores reported on a scale from 1 (lowest) to 36 (highest) • To determine scores on each of the four tests, the number of questions answered correctly is counted. • Points are not deducted for incorrect answers • These raw scores are converted to scale scores. • The composite score is an average of the four test scores rounded to the nearest whole number. • If the ACT is taken more than once, a separate record is maintained for each test date.

40. ACTSending Score Reports • When registering, you can request scores be sent to colleges and scholarship programs. • For a fee, additional score reports to colleges and/or scholarship programs may be sent by completing an Additional Score Report (ASR) found on the last page in the student booklet. Only the records from designated test dates will be released. • Online ASR Request Form • Download ASR Request Form • Telephone Express Service • Request a form by mail • Submit a letter of request to ACT

41. ACTTest Preparation Available • “Preparing for the ACT Assessment” • booklet available at the career center, includes test-taking tips and a complete practice test • ACT Preparation Workshops offered through Ann Arbor Community Education and Recreation • On the Web Site (www.act.org) • Sample questions • Resources listed online include software and books

42. SAT vs. ACT

43. SAT vs. ACT

44. AP Advanced Placement Courses Advanced Placement Exams

45. AP Courses • Advanced Placement Courses give students a chance to try college level work in specific subjects while in high school. • Courses offered by Pioneer High School which would prepare students for AP examinations include: • AP English (preparation for English Literature AP Exam) • AC English (preparation for English Language AP Exam) • BC Calculus • AP Analysis, AB Calculus (preparation for Calculus (AB) AP Exam) • AP U.S. History • AP Biology • AP Chemistry • AP Physics • AP American Government and Politics • AP Computer Science • AP Statistics • AP Latin • AP Spanish • AP French • AP German • Humanities (preparation for AP Exams in Art History, English Literature, World History )

46. AP ExamsWhat are AP Exams? • AP Exams test a student’s ability to perform at a college level. • Exams contain either an essay or problem-solving section and a section of multiple-choice questions. The modern language exams also have a speaking component. • “Qualifying” scores on Advanced Placement Exams may entitle a student to credit or advanced placement at college.

47. Art History (PHS: Humanities) Biology Calculus AB (PHS: AP Analysis, Calculus AB) Calculus BC Chemistry Computer Science A Computer Science B Economics (no PHS course) English Literature (PHS: AP English, AC English) Environmental Science (no PHS course) European History (PHS: Humanities) French (Language) (Literature) German Language Government and Politics (Comparative) (U.S.) Human Geography (no PHS course) Latin (Literature) (Verel) Music Theory* Physics (B) (C) Psychology (no PHS course) Spanish (Language) (Literature) Statistics Studio Art* U.S. History World History* * help available on an individual basis AP ExamsExcept where designated, PHS offers courses designed to prepare the student for the AP Exam

48. AP ExamsWho takes the AP Exams? • Any student can register to take an AP exam. • A student does not have to take an AP course to take an AP exam. • AP courses and exams typically taken in the junior and senior year. • Students can take an exam more than one time. • Students taking AP exams will miss class time.

49. AP ExamsWhen are the AP Exams given? • Administered on a national schedule in May of each year. • AP Exams are usually scheduled during the first two weeks in May • Suggested starting times are 8:00 AM for the morning session and 1:00 PM for the afternoon session. • Some exams are scheduled for the same time slot. If your student has a scheduling conflict, contact Joyce Williams. • Calendar of exam times available at www.collegeboard.com

50. AP ExamsTest Locations • Large convention facilities in the Ann Arbor area • Washtenaw Intermediate School District • Local High Schools • Buildings and Room Numbers are available from Joyce Williams at PHS Career Center