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Penncrest High School. Junior Parent Night 2012. Junior Year Calendar. PSAT / NMSQT October 17, 2012 Initiate college search: College fairs, Career Center, College Reps Financial Aid Night: January 9 , 2013 Junior Interviews begin in the first semester
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Penncrest High School Junior Parent Night 2012
Junior Year Calendar • PSAT / NMSQT October 17, 2012 • Initiate college search: College fairs, Career Center, College Reps • Financial Aid Night: January 9, 2013 • Junior Interviews begin in the first semester • Plan Spring Testing Schedule: SAT, ACT , AP • Prepare for the SAT, ACT , AP
PSAT • PSAT/NMSQT stands for Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. • Approximately 3.3 million students took the PSAT/NMSQT: 46% were eleventh graders, 53% were tenth graders or younger students.
Benefits of taking the PSAT The test provides: • The best preparation for the SAT • The entry point to compete for National Merit Scholarships • The option to receive information from colleges and scholarship services. • Personalized feedback on critical reading, mathematics and writing skills.
PSAT/NMSQT • Approximately 16,000 high school seniors qualify for Semifinalist status based on their performance on the PSAT • Semifinalist status is selected from the top 1% of Selection Index Scores. • The Selection Index is the cumulative total of the three sub tests. • This year Penncrest is proud to have a National Merit Semifinalist who will now compete for Finalist recognition. • 2012 Penncrest – 3, Strath Haven – 8 , Conestoga -26, Radnor - 7
What does the PSAT test? • Like the SAT, the test assesses the academic skills that students develop over the years, primarily through course work. • It measures critical reading, math reasoning, and writing skills that are critical for success in college.
What does the PSAT test? • Critical reading skills – using content from: humanities, social studies, natural sciences and literature. • Math reasoning skills-using content from: number and operations; algebra and functions; geometry and measurement; data analysis, statistics and probability. • Writing skills – focus on editing, grammar, usage and organization.
How does the PSAT compare to the SAT? • Same question types, except the SAT includes an essay assignment that does not appear on the PSAT • The PSAT is 2 hours, 10 minutes; the SAT is 3 hours, 45 minutes. • The SAT may have some math questions from third year math (Algebra II); the PSAT will not.
How is the PSAT scored? • Scores are reported on a scale of 20-80 for each section: critical reading, mathematics and writing skills. • For eleventh graders, 47-50 is the average range ; for tenth graders, 43-46 is the average range; for ninth graders, average range about 38-42.
How does the PSAT score compare to an SAT? • Some students add a “O” to the two-digit PSAT score to give a rough estimate of a three-digit SAT score. • High school students receive a more reliable SAT projected score range in their online SAT study plan. • Students who have taken the PSAT average higher scores on the SAT than those who have not.
PSAT / Recap • Taking the test can provide these benefits: • Scholarship opportunities. If you’re a junior, your score might qualify you for scholarships and recognition through the National Merit Scholarship Corporation and the National Hispanic Recognition Program. • SAT practice. The PSAT/NMSQT is great practice for the SAT. Both tests have the same types of questions, and taking the PSAT/NMSQT can help you get comfortable testing under timed conditions. • Information from colleges. You can get free information from colleges and scholarship programs by opting in to Student Search Service® when you take the test. • College and career planning help. By taking the test, you get free access to My College QuickStart™, an online tool that helps you plan for college and a career. It also gives you a free, personalized SAT study guide based on your PSAT/NMSQT results.
PSAT Review Sessions • PSAT Math Sessions: Joe Peleckis, PHS Math Teacher Lauren Newman, RTM teacher/SAT Tutor Tuesdays, 10/2 and 10/9 2:30-4:00 Room B207 • PSAT Combination Critical Reading/Writing Review Sessions: ChrissaKuntz, PHS English Teacher Mondays, 10/1 and 10/8 2:30-4:00 Room D105 • PSAT Critical Reading Only Review Session: Lauren Newman, RTM teacher/SAT Tutor Wednesday, 10/3 2:30-4:00 Room A109 • PSAT Writing Only Review Session: Lauren Newman, RTM teacher/SAT Tutor Wednesday, 10/10 2:30-4:00 Room A109
PSAT Scores / December 2012 • Student scores are returned directly to students in December. • In addition to scores students also receive an access code to My College Quickstart • Personalized feedback, practice and planning based on PSAT/NMSQT scores
Standardized Tests • Colleges use standardized testing in the form of the SAT and ACT to evaluate students • Not all colleges use SAT or ACT: www.fairtest.org • Colleges utilize grade point average and class rank. • Activities, letters of recommendation are important to most schools.
SAT / ACT • Juniors are recommended to take the ACT and /or SAT Reasoning and/or Subject Tests during the year. • www.collegeboard.org • www.actstudent.org
Penncrest SAT Scores • The average SAT scores for college bound seniors at Penncrest for the class of 2012 • Critical Reading – 526 • Math - 548 • Writing – 532 • Pennsylvania average SAT scores • Critical Reading – 492 • Math – 501 • Writing - 480
ACT • Five times per year : • October • December • February • April • June www.actstudent.org
SAT/ACT Comparison • SAT – ten sections: three Critical Reading, three Math, three writing, and one Experimental; the Experimental section is masked to look like a regular section. • ACT – five sections: English, Math, Reading, Science and Writing (optional)
SAT Writing: an essay and questions testing grammar, usage, and word choice ACT Writing: essay English: stresses grammar Science: charts, experiments SAT/ACT Comparison
SAT Math: up to 9th grade Geometry and Alg II Critical Reading: sentence completions, short & long passages, reading comprehension ACT Math: up to trigonometry Reading: four passages, one each Prose Fiction, Social Science, Humanities, and Natural Science SAT/ACT Comparison
SAT Scoring: 200-800 per section, added together for a combined score- a 2400 is the highest possible combined score ACT Scoring: 1-36 for each subject, averaged together for a composite score- a 36 is the highest possible composite score SAT/ACT Comparison
SAT Subject Tests • Subject Tests are designed to measure your knowledge and skills in particular subject areas, as well as your ability to apply that knowledge. • Colleges use the Subject Tests for admission, course placement, and to advise students about course selection. • Some colleges specify the Subject Tests that they require for admission; others allow applicants to choose which tests they take.
Subject Tests: Five Areas • English: Literature • History: U.S., World History • Mathematics: Level 1, Level 2 • Science: Bio, Chem, Physics • Languages: Chinese, French, German, Spanish, Hebrew, Italian, Latin, Japanese, Korean
Which Subject Tests Do I Take? • Before deciding to take the tests, make a list of the colleges that you are considering. Then find out if the school requires the Subject Tests. • Many colleges that don’t require Subject Test scores review them to gain a better picture of the student.
When should you take the tests? • Most students take the Subject Tests toward the end of their junior year or at the beginning of the senior year. • Take tests such as World History, Biology, Chemistry or Physics as soon as possible after completing the course while the material is still fresh in your mind. • Questions? See your guidance counselor.
AP Placement Program • College-level courses taught in high school by high school teachers • AP teachers use college-level materials and course descriptions developed by a committee of college faculty and AP teachers.
AP Examinations • Administered in May • Approximately three hours long • Composed of multiple-choice and free-response questions • Free-response questions are graded by college professors and AP teachers in June • AP exam grades range from 1 to 5
Important Dates • Financial Aid Night: January 9, 2013, 7:00 p.m. • FAFSA completion night January 9, 2013, 7:00 p.m. • College Night: February 20, 2013, 7:00 p.m. • AP Tests: May SAT March 10, June 2