Admission Testing
How to Prepare Students for the College Admission
Tests and Navigate Test Preparation
Post-Secondary & Career Education Conference
January 10, 2014 – Washington, DC
Akil Bello
Founder and CEO – Bell Curves
Akil Bello
Helping people fill in bubbles since 1990
Bell Curves
In 2003, Bell Curves was founded by Akil
and Hashim Bello.
Bell Curves
Provides test preparation services for
major admission tests (SAT, GMAT, GRE)
Bell Curves
In 2013: 6 employees, 8 cities, 40+ parttime instructors, 3000+ students
Bell Curves
Partners with public schools,
universities, NPOs, and CBOs.
ACT versus SAT
Avg ACT: 20.9
Avg SAT(m+cr): 1010
Math: 428
W: 417
CR: 428
Math: 448
W: 443
CR: 465
Math: 535
W: 517
CR: 527
Average SAT scores
By ethnicity
22.2
18.8
16.9
Average ACT scores
Composite ACT scores by ethnicity
Subject Tests 50 percen0le 75 percen0le 660 800 World History
630 710 Literature
620 690 Math Level I
630 690 Math Level II
690 770 Ecological Biology
640 700 Molecular Biology
680 740 Chemistry
680 750 Chineseformerly called
790 800 SAT Subject Tests,
Achievement Tests
Spanishand SAT IIs,
690 are used
760 by
fewer than 10% of colleges.
U.S. History
SAT Subject tests
SAT
vs..
ACT
The two tests are more similar than different,
though some students do better on one test
than the other.
Math ACT SAT Algebra
Geometry
! ! ! Trigonometry
4 ques0ons ! ! ! 0 Arithmetic
ques0ons ACT vs. SAT math
The topics tested are more than 80%
What
Math
topicsdifference
are tested?
the
same,
the biggest
is style
1. If 4x + 3 = 9x – 4, then x = ?
(A) 7/5
(B) 5/7
(C) 7/13
(D) 1/5
(E) – 1/5
2. What is the value of 10x + 5y, if
3(10x + 5y) + 5= 172 ?
(A) 167
(B) 122
(C) 55.66
(D) 11.13
(E) 0.37
ACT vs. SAT math
The topics tested are more than 80% the
same, the biggest difference is style
Verbal ACT SAT Reading
Comprehension
! ! Grammar
! ! ! Vocabulary
ACT vs. SAT verbal
They test the same verbal topics but the
SAT explicitly tests “advanced”
vocabulary.
Melissa McKnight's paintings are aptly
defined as -------: each is substantially
distinct from its predecessors in style,
emotions evoked, and subject matter.
(A) homogenous
(B) strident
(C) restive
(D) fulsome
(E) disparate
SAT Sentence Completions
The vocabulary tested is generally
found in college level reading.
Wri0ng ACT SAT Grammar
! ! Written Essay
Op0onal (Separately Scored) Required (Part of Wri0ng) ACT vs. SAT writing
Both tests contain multiple choice
grammar. The ACT essay is optional.
ACT Science
ACT science isn’t a test of science
knowledge and facts.
© Bell Curves 2013
ACT ! January
February
! ! March
April
! ! May
June
! ! August
September
! ! Scheduling
is Key
November
October
SAT ! ! Planning forDecember
and scheduling college
! ! admission testing is key.
Kill monsters and Beast
Decrease mystery, magic, and
boogeyman effect.
Score reports
SAT and ACT have online reports
The Essay is available a few weeks after
scores and provides additional insight.
Standard reports give limited
information. Additional services such
as QAS and SAS give better insight.
John Q. Student
Jennifer Jones
Attempted
67 (of 67)
36 (of 67)
Right
36
36
Wrong
31
6
Blank
0
25
Raw score
Reading Scaled
Score
Pacing Strategy
Know the scoring method of each test
in order to develop a pacing strategy.
John Q. Student
Jennifer Jones
Attempted
67 (of 67)
36 (of 67)
Right
36
36
Wrong
31
6
Blank
0
25
Raw score
29
35
Reading Scaled
Score
480
520
Skipping
increases
score
SAT Pacing Strategy
For most students skipping is better
than guessing randomly.
SAT Reading Scaled Score Raw Score (out of 67) Percen0le 650
53 90 600
47 80 500
32 51 450
23 34 400
16 18 350
9 8 300
5 4 250
1 2 Understand Conversions
Scaled scores, raw scores, and
percentiles each give different information
John Q. Student
Jennifer Jones
Attempted
60 (out of 60)
41 (out of 60)
Right
32
32
Wrong
28
9
Guesses
0
19
Raw score
Math Scaled Score
ACT Pacing Strategy
Never leave blanks on the ACT since no
points are deducted for wrong answers.
John Q. Student
Jennifer Jones
Attempted
60 (out of 60)
41 (out of 60)
Right
32
32
Wrong
28
9
Guesses
0
19
Raw score
32
37
Math Scaled Score
20
24
+5 Guesses
ACT Pacing Strategy
Never leave blanks on the ACT since no
points are deducted for wrong answers.
ACT Math Scaled Score Raw Score (out of 60) Percen0le 36
60 99 30
53 95 24
40 73 20
31 51 18
26 41 14
10 6 10
4 1 Understand Conversions
Percentiles compare students to other
students around the world.
Make sure students bring the right
tools. Proper ID, calculators with
batteries, and pencils.
Provide connections
Key grammar rules (pronouns, verbs,
modifiers, lists, and comparisons) can be
reinforced in multiple ways.
Engage underlying skills
All vocabulary is useful and all
vocabulary is SAT vocabulary.
Supporting Test Prep
With no knowledge of specific facts
tested you can support preparation.
" Redefine testing as a challenge
# Speak positively of the challenge even if
you have to tell “white lies”
$ Support and clarify pacing messages
% Build confidence in conquerability of the
test
& Integrate skills (vocab, grammar, RTFQ)
Supporting Test Prep
With no knowledge of specific facts
tested you can support preparation.
' Manage expectations (good score,
progress)
( Take test with them (empathy)
) Intervene with parents and school
* Create community
+ ,Point them to vetted tools
© Bell Curves 2013
Test Prep
Not all practice is preparation. Not all
test prep is created equal.
! Familiarization (practice tests,
workshops)
! Practice/Review (5 – 12 hours)
! Preparation (24+ hours)
! Mastery (40+ hours)
Practice vs. Preparation
Great “cheap” practice tools exists, though they
require more of the student to use effectively.
Challenges to test success
The typical challenges to testing
success.
" Lack of content knowledge
# Lack of test savvy (practice,
comfort, strategy, stamina)
$ Inability to adapt habits
% Overreliance on external support
Company A
Company B
Company C
Hours
24
18
18
Diagnostic
Tests
3
4
4
Materials
Proprietary
Proprietary
Barron’s &
CB Official
Guide
Students
20
25
25
Costs
$6,000
$6,250
$5,250
Preparation courses
Test prep is unregulated, thus options,
pricing, and quality vary greatly.
Developing an effective preparation
plan takes time and patience
© Bell Curves 2013
© Bellwww.bellcurves.com
Curves 2013
www.sat.collegeboard.org – QOTD, test
www.actstudent.org – QOTD, test
www.studyboost.com – questions via text
www.freerice.com
www.dictionary.com/worddynamo
www.vocabulary.com – headlines
www.pwnthesat.com – blog, Q&A
www.sat.bellcurves.com – blog, online practice
Online tools
Test prep is unregulated, thus options,
pricing and quality vary greatly.
© Bell Curves 2013
© Bellwww.bellcurves.com
Curves 2013
Akil Bello
Husband, Father, Entrepreneur, Teacher
www.bellcurves.com | akil@bellcurves.com