ACT COMPASS™ TESTING
HIGH SCHOOL OUTREACH
CAROLYN M. KELLEY
SUPERVISOR COMPASS™ TESTING
BY
College Tech Prep
•
•
•
•
•
•
Hamilton
Hughes (Zoo Academy)
U S Grant
Western Hills
Woodward
Taft
• Total 703 testing sessions
Purpose of High School Outreach
• Juniors
– Wakeup call
– Remedial work to help raise scores
– Early college/scholarship planning
• Seniors
– Test scores can be used for college admission
– Early admission to college
• Schedule appointment with advisor
• Financial
• New student orientation
Prepare for High School Testing
• Teachers/Principals need to “buy in” to the idea
• Students need to know when/where/why they are
testing
• Parents need to be informed of upcoming testing
and testing results
• Computers
– Reserve a computer room
– Software installed
– Test turned on/correct test selected
What is COMPASS™
• The ACT Computer-Adaptive Placement
Assessment and Support System (COMPASS) is
a comprehensive assessment, advising,
retention, and outcomes-oriented system of
services. It was developed to help
postsecondary institutions expand opportunities
and increase the likelihood that entering students
would achieve educational success and
retention.
ACT COMPASS™ TEST
• Numerical Skills/Prealgebra
– Students should be administered this test if they
have had a limited or an undetermined exposure
to algebra, have performed poorly in previous
algebra courses, or have not used their algebra
training for a long time.
Numerical Skills/Prealgebra
TECH PREP
‘09/’10
Domain
Score Range
Recommendation
Pre-Algebra ATB
0-25
DE 0020 Basic Math
216/0.439
Pre-Algebra
Domain 1
1-46
DE 0020 Basic Math
38
Pre-Algebra
Domain 1
47-99
63
Total Number of Math Test=491
DE 0024 Basic Algebra 1
MAT 1161 Applied Algebra
ACT COMPASS™ TEST
• Algebra
– Is most appropriate for students who have recently
completed a prealegra or basic algebra course
and for students whose current level of
performance suggests a lack of readiness for a
college-level algebra course.
Algebra
TECH PREP
‘09/’10
Domain
Score Range
Recommendation
17
55/0.112
Algebra
Domain 2
1-23
DE 0024 Basic Algebra 1
MAT 1161 Applied Algebra
192/0.391
Algebra
Domain 2
24-57
DE 0025 Basic Algebra 2
MAT 1105 Science Math
MAT 1108 Math for Food
Service
MAT 1121 Business Math 1
MAT 1171 Tech Math 1
9/0.018
Algebra
Domain 2
58-65
MAT 1124 Business Math
MAT 1151 Intermediate
Algebra
MAT 1171 Tech Math 1
5
Algebra
Domain 2
66-99
MAT 1111 Statistics 1
MAT 1152 Pre-Calculus 1.
MAT 1191 Alg & Trig 1
Total Number of Math Test=491
ACT COMPASS™ TEST
• College Algebra
– Is most appropriate for students who have recently
demonstrated proficiency in intermediate algebra
courses
College Algebra
TECH PREP
‘09/’10
Domain
Score Range
2
7/0.014
College Algebra
1-45
2
College Algebra
46-99
Total Number of Math Test=491
Recommendation
MAT 1111 Statistics
MAT 1152 Pre-Calculus 1
MAT 1191 Alg & Trig 1
MAT 1111 Statistics 1 or
MAT 1153 Pre-Calculus 2
MAT 1128 Business Calculus
MAT 1173 Alg & Trig 2 with
Stats
MAT 1192 Alg & Trig 2
ACT COMPASS™ TEST
• Trigonometry
– Assesses students’ understanding of trigonometric
concepts and their application in problem solving
Trigonometry
TECH PREP
‘09/’10
Domain
Score Range
Recommendation
MAT 1111 Statistics 1 or
MAT 1153 Pre-Calculus 2
MAT 1128 Business Calculus
MAT 1173 Alg & Trig 2 with
Stats
MAT 1192 Alg & Trig 2
6
8/0.016
Trigonometry
1-45
4/0.008
Trigonometry
46-99
Total Number of Math Test=491
MAT 1154 Calculus 1
MAT 1193 Analytical
Geometry & Calculus
ACT COMPASS™ TEST
• Reading
– Determine if the examinee has the reading skills
necessary to succeed in a standard entry-level
college course
Reading
TECH PREP
‘09/’10
159
Domain
Score Range
Recommendation
Reading ATB
1-62
DE 0010 College
Reading 1
4
Reading
1-60
DE 0010 College
Reading 1
180
Reading
61-80
DE 0011College
Reading 2
161
Reading
81-99
No Developmental
Classes Required
Total Number of Reading Tests=500
ACT COMPASS™ TEST
• Writing
– Assess student abilities in categories of
usage/mechanics
• Punctuation
• Basic grammar and usage
• Sentence structure
– Rhetorical skills
• Strategy
• Organization
• Style
Writing
TECH PREP
‘09/’10
Domain
Score Range
Recommendation
200
Writing ATB
1-32
DE 0003 Basic
Writing 1
259
Writing
1-21
DE 0003 Basic
Writing 1
150
Writing
22-54
DE 0004 Basic
Writing 2
55
Writing
55-69
DE 0005 Basic
Writing 3
153
Writing
70-99
ENG 1001English
Composition 1
Total Number of Writing Tests=499
RETEST
• Math
– 52% same level DE classes
– 30% scores higher but still in DE classes
– 17% tested out of DE
• Reading
– 49% same level DE classes
– 24% scored higher but still in DE classes
– 27% tested out of DE
• Writing
– 16% same level de classes
– 38% scores higher but still in De classes
– 47% tested out of DE
Reasons why student score low
• Students did not understand the value of testing
• They did not review sample questions prior to
testing
• They were not informed they were taking the test
• They did not have adequate time to take the test
• Computer/Internet problems
• Physiological issues
Reasons why students scored low
•
•
•
•
•
Psychological issues
They rushed
They did not read the directions
They did not take the test seriously
They may have taken algebra a few years ago