The more
YOU know,
the better
THEY will do!
Overview of the Tests
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OGT & its successors
PSAT
PLAN
SAT
SAT Subject Tests
ACT
AP Tests
PSAT – Preliminary SAT
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Opportunities for practice prior to the SAT
10th and 11th graders participate
Next administration – Wednesday,
October 17, 2012
National Merit and National Achievement
Scholarships based on junior PSAT scores
PSAT – Preliminary SAT
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Class of 2012, Ohio high schools
– National Merit Semi-Finalists scored 214
and above
– Commended Scholars scored 202 to 213
inclusive
What’s the Score?
PSAT
PLAN – Preliminary ACT
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Opportunity for practice prior to the ACT
Sophomores participate
Post- review is critical
SAT
 A measure of critical thinking skills
 Sections of Critical Reading, Mathematics
and Writing Skills
 Mandatory 25 minute essay on prompt
 Scale of 200–800 for each of the three
subject areas; essay scale is 2-12
 Total testing time is 3 hours & 45 minutes
What’s the Score?
SAT
PLAN THE TESTING SCHEDULE WELL IN
ADVANCE SO THAT EXTRA CURRICULAR
ACTIVITIES DO NOT CONFLICT!!!!
PLAN THE TESTING SCHEDULE SO THAT
THE STUDENT TAKES THE SAT IN JANUARY
AND/OR IN MAY WHEN FOR AN EXTRA FEE
THE TEST BOOKLET WITH STUDENT
ANSWERS MAY BE ORDERED.
Look for the “QUESTION AND ANSWER”
service.
ACT
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Measures skills achieved in English
grammar & rhetoric, mathematics,
reading and science
Juniors MUST register for “ACT with
Writing” at each administration
Most widely-accepted college
entrance exam
Scale of 0 to 36 for each subject area
and for the composite; scale of 2-12
for the essay
What’s the Score?
ACT
PLAN THE TESTING SCHEDULE WELL IN
ADVANCE SO THAT EXTRA CURRICULAR
ACTIVITIES DO NOT CONFLICT!!!!
PLAN THE TESTING SCHEDULE SO THAT THE
STUDENT TAKES THE ACT IN DECEMBER,
APRIL OR JUNE WHEN FOR AN EXTRA FEE THE
TEST BOOKLET WITH STUDENT ANSWERS MAY
BE ORDERED. Look for the “TEST
INFORMATION RELEASE” service. For
optimum results taking the ACT three or four
times may be necessary…
Advanced Placement Tests
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Curriculum-based tests
Used for placement and/or credit at
some universities
Examinations administered in May
SAT Subject Tests
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Measure of knowledge and skills in particular
subject areas
Five general subject areas: English, History
& Social Studies, Mathematics, Languages,
Science
Required or recommended by about 15% of
universities
Scale of 200–800 for each test –
700+ should be achieved
Administered on select SAT test dates
Learn
GOOD test-taking
skills
•Know the directions ahead of time
•Have format familiarity
•Read the question carefully
•Underline what’s being asked
•Underline what is given
•SAT means SKIP; ACT means ANSWER
•Use the test booklet as scratch paper
•Check your work and your answer sheet
SEVEN TYPES
OF QUESTIONS
ON THE PSAT/SAT
1. Sentence Completions
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“single-blank” – mainly test of vocabulary
“double-blank” – test of vocabulary as well as
critical reading and grammar
Context clues:
1. Strong words – adjective + noun!
2. Punctuation – semicolon/colon signal
similar ideas within the clause
3. Conjunctions – signal cause and effect,
contrasting and similar ideas
2.
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Critical Reading
Underline as you read the passage: strong
words, negative statements, sentences
beginning with “and” or “but”
Treat the introduction with respect!
Consider content of at least 5 lines before
and 5 lines after the referenced line(s).
“Weigh the wording” of the answer choices
Only section in which the questions are not in
order of difficulty
Maturity is important!
Critical Reading
Answers: 9. (C) 10. (A) 11. (B) 12. (E)
3. Math – Multiple Choice
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TRANSLATE among “languages”:
English language, math language, and
diagrammatic language
Determine exactly what the problem is
asking and what is given – underline
these
Use the test booklet as scratch paper
Know the few formulas required
Calculator use is permitted
Try these SAT problems:
Answers: 15. (B)
37. 50
4.
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Math – Grid-Ins
Some questions can have more than one
answer; grid any one of the correct answers.
Answers can be only positive numbers and
zero.
Check your work! This section has a high
incidence of error due to carelessness.
5. Writing Skills - Improving
Sentences
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Remember that answer choice “A” always
repeats the underlined portion.
Look for most common grammatical
problems in sentences: subject-verb
agreement, parallelism, placement of
modifiers and use of relative clauses.
Answers: 17. (E) 18. (E) 19. (D) 20. (C)
6. Writing Skills –
Identifying Sentence Errors
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Select the error and mentally correct it.
Common errors: subject-verb agreement,
pronoun-antecedent agreement, adjective
and adverb confusion, modification, idioms,
passive voice, fragments and run-ons,
comparisons.
Writing Skills – Identifying Sentence Errors
7. Writing Skills Improving Paragraphs
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Read the entire essay quickly to
determine its overall meaning.
Questions will ask about how each
sentence relates to the other
sentences and to the essay as a
whole. Be certain that your answer
makes sense in context of the essay.
FOUR CONTENT AREAS
ON THE PLAN/ACT
English, Math
Reading
and SCIENCE……..
1. English Usage and
Rhetoric
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Passage-based format
“No change” = phrase as underlined in
passage
Some questions ask for the best place to
move a word or a sentence
Some questions ask how the addition or
deletion of a word affects meaning
ACT English Test –
usually only one concept tested at a time.
Answers: 17. C. 18. J 19. B. 20. G. 21. B 22. J.
2. Math
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Formulas must be memorized—
especially slope.
Use ample margins for computations.
Look at the answer choices: sometimes
you can identify the correct answer
after working part of the problem
Calculators are permitted
Try these ACT problems:
Answers: 33. D
34. J
35. D
3. Reading
Comprehension
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Underline as you read the passage: strong
words, negative statements, sentences
beginning with “and” or “but” and all dates
and lists
Treat the introduction with respect!
Consider content of at least 5 lines before
and 5 lines after the referenced line(s).
“Weigh the wording” of the answer choices
Maturity is important!
4. Science
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Tests reading comprehension and chart
analysis rather than basic science knowledge
Time management is critical: 70% of testtakers do not finish all the questions
Read the explanations about the
experiments; underline important words in
the question
Calculators are not permitted
Answers: 25. D. 26. J. 27. C. 28. J. 29. A.
BOTTOM LINE –
Prepare, prepare, prepare!
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Practice tests
Word of the Day
Collegeboard.org
ACTstudent.org
Pre- and posttest reviews
Flash cards
Courses
Eat and
sleep well!
Have a POSITIVE
Attitude
Now
YOU know more;
THEY WILL do
better!
Contact
Martha Geller
satteach@one.net
www.educationfortesting.com