Standardized
Testing
Please be sure to pick-up your:
* Test Booklet
* Score Report
(inserted in the test booklet)
* Using Your Results pamphlet
(for the EXPLORE & PLAN)
Standardized
Testing
- EXPLORE (8 & 9)
- PLAN (10)
- PSAT (10 & 11)
EXPLORE
- Grades 8 & 9
- Administered in the Fall
-Predictor test for the ACT (achievement)
-No
penalty for guessing
PLAN
- Grade 10
- Administered in the Fall
-Predictor test for the ACT (achievement)
-No
penalty for guessing
Why Take EXPLORE/PLAN?

EXPLORE /PLAN helps you see:
where you stand academically
 what career and educational paths
are available to you
 how to develop a plan for meeting
your career and academic goals.

Early awareness of academic strengths and
weaknesses, plus a rigorous high school
course plan are the keys to success.
EXPLORE/PLAN Score Reports



Similar layout of score reports
for EXPLORE/PLAN
Scores compared to nation-wide
test takers (not local)
Differences in score reports:

EXPLORE score range 1-25


Subscores 1-12 (English)
PLAN score range 1-32

Subscores 1-16 (English & Math)
Test Comparisons
Program
Grade Level
Composite
Score Range
EXPLORE
8 and 9
1 to 25
PLAN
10
1 to 32
10 - 12
1 to 36
ACT
ENGLISH TEST

The EXPLORE/PLAN English Test

measures your understanding of
standard written English





punctuation
grammar and usage
sentence structure (Usage/Mechanics)
measures your understanding of the use
of strategy, organization, and style in
writing (Rhetorical Skills)
You receive a total score for the
English test and separate scores
("subscores") for Usage/Mechanics
and Rhetorical Skills.
MATH TEST

The EXPLORE/PLAN Math Test



measures your mathematical
reasoning
not memorization or involved
computations
Questions on the test cover four
areas




knowledge and skills
direct application
understanding concepts
integrating your understanding of
concepts
READING TEST

The EXPLORE/PLAN Reading Test



measures your ability to understand
written material from different subjects
skills measured include referring to
details in the passage, drawing
conclusions, and making comparisons
and generalizations
the test does not cover information
outside the passages, vocabulary taken
out of context, or formal logic
SCIENCE TEST

The EXPLORE/PLAN Science Test



measures your scientific reasoning skills
ability to understand scientific information and
draw conclusions from it
Formats include



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data representation (graphs, tables, and other
forms)
research summaries (descriptions of several
related experiments)
conflicting viewpoints (two or more hypotheses
that are inconsistent with one another).
The test emphasizes your scientific
reasoning skills rather than how well you
can recall scientific facts, or your skills in
mathematics or in reading.
EXPLORE
Subject &
Benchmark
Number of
Questions
How Long It
Takes
English-13
40
30 minutes
Math-17
30
30 minutes
Reading-15
30
30 minutes
Science-20
28
30 minutes
PLAN
Number of
Questions
Time Allowed
English-15
50
30 minutes
Usage /
Mechanics
30
Rhetorical Skills
20
Math-19
40
Pre-Algebra /
Algebra
22
Geometry
18
Reading-17
25
20 minutes
Science-21
30
25 minutes
Subject &
Benchmark
40 minutes
Your Scores
EXPLORE Interpretive Visuals
10/2005
7
Your Estimated PLAN Composite
Score Range
EXPLORE Interpretive Visuals
10/2005
8
Your High School Course Plans
Compared to Core
EXPLORE Interpretive Visuals
10/2005
9
Areas in Which You Would Like
Additional help
EXPLORE Interpretive Visuals
10/2005
10
College Readiness
EXPLORE Interpretive Visuals
10/2005
12
Your Career Possibilities
EXPLORE Interpretive Visuals
10/2005
13
Score Report
Side 2
What do I do now?
Now that you’ve taken EXPLORE, you know much
more about your skills, career interests, and
readiness for college. Using your Score Report, ask
yourself some questions:
 Does my high school course plan include
challenging college prep courses?
 What skills do I need to work on to be sure I am on
target for college?
 How can I learn more about careers that interest me?
EXPLORE Interpretive Visuals
10/2005
18
How do my courses and scores relate to my educational and career plans?
PSAT
- Grades 10 & 11
- Administered in the Fall
-Predictor test for the SAT (aptitude)
-Minus
¼ point for wrong MC ques
PSAT Measures



Critical reading (draw inferences,
main and supporting ideas,
vocabulary)
Mathematics (number and
operations, algebra and functions,
geometry and measurement, data
analysis, statistics, and probability
Writing Skills (identify expressions,
detect faults in usage/structure,
choose revisions, recognize
appropriate writing strategies)
PSAT Converts to SAT


The PSAT is reliable preparation
for the same types of questions
on the SAT
The PSAT scale of 20 to 80 is
comparable to the SAT scale of
200 to 800
National Merit Scholarship
Qualifying Test



PSAT is also a scholarship
qualifying test for JUNIORS
Qualification is based on the
Selection Index Score
This qualifying number differs
each year depending on the
scores of JUNIORS nation-wide
A National Merit Finalist will often be accepted to the
school of his/her choice and receive full tuition, plus!
PSAT SCORE REPORT

Scores and Benchmarks

11th GRADE
Critical Reading – 50
 Mathematics - 50
 Writing – 49
 Selection Index - 152


10th GRADE
Critical Reading – 49
 Mathematics - 47
 Writing – 48
 Selection Index - 145

PSAT SCORE REPORT



Selection Index (NMSC)
Your Skills (online access code)
Your answers




Difficulty
Scoring
Online explanations
Next Steps (career path)
WHAT’S NEXT???



Review your test booklet
Utilize the online tools available
Continue to prepare for
standardized tests (and ultimately,
the ACT and SAT)
Once a student has completed at least one
semester of Algebra 2 (typically 10th grade),
he/she should start taking the ACT and/or SAT.
WEBSITES

EXPLORE


PLAN


www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/psat
ACT


www.actstudent.org/plan
PSAT


www.actstudent.org/explore
www.act.org
SAT

www.collegeboard.org
Mrs. Matthews’ website has additional information
on preparing for college and the ACT/SAT.
QUESTIONS?
Thank you for coming and have a wonderful week!
Bonnie S. Matthews, School Counselor
bmatthews@lee-scott.org