Junior Meeting
Class of 2015
College Testing and Planning
What tests will I probably be taking this
year?
• Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test (PSAT)
(www.collegeboard.org)
• Also serves as the National Merit Scholar Qualifying Test (NMSQT)
• American College Testing Program (www.act.org)
• Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) (www.collegeboard.com)
This fall:
• PSAT on Wednesday, October 16 at HPHS
• Why should I take the PSAT?
• National Merit Scholarship Program
• National Hispanic Recognition Program
• National Achievement School Program
• It’s good practice for the college entrance tests
• It’s a practice SAT and will allow you to compare your score
against the PLAN results to determine which test may be
best suited for you in the future.
• NOTE: PSAT scores are NOT sent to colleges
PSAT Details
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Wednesday, October 16 at HPHS (rooms TBA)
2 hours and 10 minutes in length
Check-in 7:45am
Register on Rev Trak starting 9/9
Registration deadline is midnight, Friday, October 11th at
midnight. See details on what to bring, etc. in hand-out
• If you miss the registration period, spots are open on a “firstcome-first-serve” basis the morning of the exam
• You will attend classes in afternoon – see hand-out for special
schedule
Rev Trak PSAT Registration
• Rev Trak
• Cost $28
• Credit card, cash or check
• See your counselor for fee waiver
• On-line registration only
• Print receipt using high-school email
PSAT Content
• Overall: PSAT measures your ability to
reason with facts and concepts rather than
your ability to recall and recite
• Critical Reading: Two 25-minute sections, including
sentence completions and passage-based reading
questions
• Math: Two 25-minute sections, including multiple
choice and student-produced responses, or grid-ins
• Writing Skills: One 30 minute section, including
improving sentences, identifying sentence errors and
improving paragraphs
PSAT Scoring
• Three sets of scores
• Verbal 20 to 80
• Math 20 to 80
• Writing 20 to 80
• Perfect score = 240
• NO penalty for non-answered questions
• Minor penalty (i.e. ¼ pt. loss) for wrong answer to MC
questions SO make educated guesses only
• National Merit Scholarship “cut-off” score was 213 this year
Mandatory Practice ACT
• Thursday, October 17 from 8AM to 12PM
• All Juniors participate
• Benefit to you: Each student will receive an on-line
score report with detailed performance information
(at no cost)
• Opportunity to assess your own
strengths/weaknesses relative to ACT
• You will attend classes in the afternoon – see special
schedule in hand-out
ACT vs. SAT – What’s the Difference?
ACT
• Curriculum-based
content
• Math section carries
less weight
• No point deductions for
wrong answers
SAT
• Reasoning/Intelligence
Test
• Strong readers often
score higher
• Math section is
weighted more heavily
than SAT
• ¼ point loss per wrong
answer
Other Testing Information
• Hundreds of colleges and universities do NOT require
standardized tests, including both less selective and
highly selective schools -- see www.fairtest.org for a
full list of these schools.
• Some colleges have adopted new policies requiring
applicants to submit scores for all tests taken. This is
generally the most highly selective schools in the
country.
• Please be sure to list the high school when completing
the registration information. HPHS DOES NOT send
scores, only the student can release ACT or SAT scores.
We use test scores for counseling purposes only.
Test Optional?? Who are these guys??
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American University
Augustana College
Bates College
Bowdoin College
Denison University
DePaul University
Ithaca College
Knox College
Middlebury College
Pitzer College
Rollins College
Wake Forest University
Just to name a few….
College Board (SAT) Tests
• SAT
• Three hour test, primarily multiple choice.
• Critical Reading
• Mathematical Reasoning
• Writing.
• Scores range from 200 to 800 for each section, resulting in a total score of
600 to 2400.
• For more detail, see www.collegeboard.org
• SAT Subject tests (SAT II)
• “Required” “Recommended” or “Optional” by a small number of colleges,
usually most competitive
• Some colleges will accept ACT scores in lieu of SAT subject tests.
• Bottom line: Know what the colleges you wish to apply to require!
• Tests are one hour each, in a variety of subjects, e.g.
• Biology, Chemistry, Physics
• Chinese, French, Spanish
• Math, levels 1 and 2
• History, US and World
SAT Dates and Deadlines
• Test Date:
October 5, 2013
November 2, 2013
December 7,2013
January 25, 2014
March 8, 2014
May 3, 2014
June 7, 2014
• Register By:
September 6, 2013
October 3, 2013
November 8, 2013
December 27, 2013
February 7, 2014
April 4, 2014
May 9, 2014
American College Testing Program
(ACT)
• ACT consists of two parts; a student profile section, and a
standardized four-part examination of readiness in the
following areas:
• English
• Mathematics
• Reading
• Science Reasoning
• Writing (optional)
• Separate score is generated for each section, as well as a
composite score, averaging all the sections
• Scores range from 1 to 36.
Changes to ACT Process
• Walk-in policy has changed – you must be pre-registered
prior to test date in order to take the test
• Photo ID’s are required starting for the October 2012 test
date
• If you miss the photo upload deadline your registration
will be cancelled and you will NOT be admitted to the
test
• Photo guidelines include:
• You must be facing the camera with a plain background
• The photo must be a clear image of you – and only you!
• You may not wear dark glasses
ACT Photo Upload Deadlines
ACT TEST DATE
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September 21, 2013
October 26, 2013
December 14, 2013
February 8, 2014*
April 12, 2014
June 14, 2014
PHOTO UPLOAD DEADLINE
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September 13, 2013
October 18, 2013
December 6, 2013
January 31, 2014
April 4, 2014
June 6, 2014
ACT Dates and Deadlines
• Test Date:
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October 26, 2013
December 14, 2013
February 8, 2014
April 12, 2014
June 14, 2014
• Register by:
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September 27, 2013
November 8, 2013
January 10, 2014
March 7, 2014
May 9, 2014
When should I take it?
• The earliest date we recommend Highland
Park students take the ACT is February 2014.
• The fall test dates are designed for seniors in
high school – the questions will reflect this!
• On average, HP students score their highest
composite scores on the April exam date.
• ACT National Average Composite Score: 21
Other tests to think about
• Advanced Placement (AP) Program Evaluations
• Three hour tests, primarily used for college placement,
credit or advanced standing.
• Some highly selective colleges use as part of admissions
process (from Junior year)
• For more information, go to
www.collegeboard.org/testing/ap/about.html
• Test of Foreign Language (TOEFL)
• Designed for students who have been speaking English for
less than five years
• For more information, go to www.toefl.org
Important Dates
• “Calming the Nerves”: College and Communication:
September 26th
• PSAT: October 16
• Practice ACT: October 17
• Deadline to drop a course or change to pass/fail:
October 18
• Kick-off to College meeting: November 19
• Finals: January 21 – January 23
• Junior Registration: Week of February 10th
• College Planning 101: February 5
Focus for this Fall:
• PSATs:
• Register by October 11th
• Get a good night of sleep on October 15
• Eat a good breakfast on October 16
• Work hard in your current classes … Junior year is a key year
on the road to college success!
Miscellaneous
• Review Graduation Requirements
• Get to know your teachers this year. They
will be the people writing your letters of
recommendation next fall.
• Class Level change dates – October 21th –
November 16th
• Course drop date – Friday, October 18th