COLLEGE ADMISSIONS TESTS

SAT/ACT/SUBJECT TESTS

Outcomes:

1. To understand the differences between the various college admissions tests.

2. To determine which test would be the most appropriate for your student to take.

3. To identify exactly how to sign up for an admissions test.

4. To become aware of the various resources (prep courses, Princeton Review Assessment) offered to students in order to improve testing performance.

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Admissions TestsPSAT SAT ACT SAT

Subject Tests

Is it Required

?

Length

Subjects and

Sections

Scoring and

Penalties

Score Choice

No –Juniors only- score is used for the NMSQT

Yes Yes Sometimes

2.5 hours

3 hours, 20 minutes plus 25 min. for essay -160 questions

3 hours 30 min. with short break including essay-215 questions

1 hour

Can take up to three tests.

Two 25 min. CR

Two 25 min. M

One 30 min. W

10 Sections-

Critical Reading (3), Math (3), Writing (3), and 1 Experimental which is un-scored

4 Sections –

English, Math , Reading , Science

Optional Essay

By subject

20-80 each section, 60-240 overall, +1 right, +0 blank, -1/4 wrong

200-800 each section, 600-2400 overall,+1right, +0 blank, -1/4 wrong-

1-36 is average of scores from all parts of test, no guessing penalty

200-800, +1 right, +0 blank, -1/4 wrong

No

My College Quickstart

Yes Yes Yes

SAT or ACT: Which test is best suited for you?

FIRST…….

Take the PRA- Princeton Review Assessment!

Next test -February 2nd 2013Can sign up on PR website.

SAT or ACT: Aptitude vs. AchievementWhich test is best suited to you?

The SAT may be a better fit if:

You did great on the PSAT.You have a killer vocabulary. You prefer starts and stops when taking tests. There are nine sections and an essay on the SAT.You can ace grammar. You consider yourself “quick-thinking.”

Students must exercise educated guessing on the SAT because you lose ¼ point for each incorrect answer. If students can

rule out one or more answer choices for multiple-choice questions –

they should guess.

The ACT may be a better fit if:

SAT or ACT: Which test is best suited to you?

Your PSAT or SAT score is inconsistent with your academic performance in school.Your vocabulary is not as strong as your reading. You read relatively quickly.You are more academic than test savvy. (The ACT test is more like a test you would take in school.)You prefer four longer sections (English, Math, Reading, and Science) to having interruptions and breaks during the test.You are great at writing papers but do not have formal grammar instruction. Students are not penalized for incorrect answers and should

answer as many test questions as possible.

SAT SUBJECT TESTSDemonstrate to colleges mastery of specific subjects: English, History, Mathematics, Science, and World Language.

20 Subject Tests• English – Literature

• History and Social Studies-United States History & World History

• Mathematics-Mathematics Level 1 & Level 2• Science – Biology E/M, Chemistry, & Physics• Languages- French, German, Modern Hebrew,

Italian, Latin, & Spanish• Languages With Listening: Chinese, French,

German, Japanese, Korean, and Spanish

May be required or recommended*Scores are used by colleges as an indicator of your ability to

succeed in college.

*Academic ability to handle their curriculum.

*If interested in a specific major or program of study.

*Colleges may use these scores for placement purposes.

*Nearly one million SAT Subject Tests are taken by students.

Stand out to colleges

*Subject Tests allow you to highlight a student ‘s strength in particular subjects or programs of study.

SAT SUBJECT TESTS

SAT/ACT/SUBJECT TESTSWhich test to take and when?PRA•Sophomore Year: Take the Princeton Review Assessment•Plan to take a prep course.

SAT or ACT:•Sign up to take a prep course.•Register for either the SAT or ACT test.•Juniors: Take the SAT or ACT test two times•Most sign up for the administrations between December– June•Remember to use our CEEB code: 210745

Subject Tests:•Take after completion of the most closely related high school course.•Focus on areas of academic success•Take history and science after completing the highest level course work.•Take languages after at least two years of study.

•ALL SCHOOLS ACCEPT either test (SAT or ACT) for College Admissions!

How Do You Register?

SAT test: www.collegeboard.orgDates: Oct., Nov., Dec., Jan., Mar., May, June

• Given 7 times a year• MR test site-Dec., March & June• Subject Tests – Given 6 times a year

ACT test: www.actstudent.orgDates: Sept, Oct, Dec, Feb, April, June• Given 6 times a year

Admission Ticket Guidelines Effective October 2012• New Guidelines initiated by College board• Students are prompted to provide an

acceptable photo during registration. Photo will appear on admission ticket.

• No ticket, no ID, no admission!• Standby test-takers will not be admitted.• Changes to test center, test date or test type

will not be permitted on test day.Effective March 2013• Required to provide a photo in order to

register for the SAT and SAT Subject Tests

RESOURCESPRA – Princeton Review Assessment• Only $10 dollars!• Next administration is in February 2013• Register online at www.princetonreview.com/pra

SAT/ACT Prep Courses: Flyers available• Academic Coaches- register online – www.

academic-coaches.com• The Answer - www.theanswerclass.com

Marriotts Ridge Student Services Newsletter:• Provides a wealth of information on upcoming events and new

resources for students and parents.