Understanding College
Admission Tests
4/29/2015
Why is the SAT being changed?
• The College Board determined that the SAT
needed to meet three challenges:
1. The test must provide to higher education a more
comprehensive and informative picture of student
readiness for college-level work while sustaining,
and ideally improving, the ability of the test to
predict college success.
Why is the SAT being changed?
• 2. The test must become more clearly and
transparently focused on the knowledge,
skills, and understandings that the best
available research evidence indicates are
essential for college and career readiness and
success.
Why is the SAT being changed?
• 3. The test must better reflect, through its
questions and tasks, the kinds of meaningful,
engaging, rigorous work that students must
undertake in the best high school courses
being taught today, thereby creating a robust
and durable bond between assessment and
instruction.
Why is the SAT being changed?
• To these ends, the redesigned SAT has been
designed for greater focus, relevance, and
transparency while retaining the test’s
tradition of being a valuable predictor of
college and career readiness and success.
Additional reasons for change:
1. College Board faces mounting
criticism that the test favors wealthier
students
2. The test is becoming less popular with
students.
Redesigned PSAT/NMSQT
• PSAT/NMSQT will change together with the
SAT and is planned to launch in October 2015.
• All 9, 10, & 11 graders will take the
PSAT/NMSQT in October 2015
• This schedule will allow students to take the
redesigned PSAT/NMSQT before the
redesigned SAT.
• Colleges DO NOT receive PSAT scores
Benefits of taking the PSAT/NMSQT
• Practice for the SAT
• A mid-high school check on whether a student is on target for
college and career readiness
• Detailed performance feedback and suggestions for how students
can improve their readiness for college and career, including free,
personalized SAT practice through Khan Academy
• Access to free college and career planning resources such as
Student Search Service®, My College QuickStart™, and BigFuture™.
• For 11th graders, access to scholarship opportunities
Redesigned PSAT/NMSQT
Category
Pre-2015 PSAT/NMSQT
Redesigned PSAT/NMSQT
Total Testing Time*
*Subject to research
2 hours and 10 minutes
2 hours and 45 minutes
Components
Critical Reading
Writing
Mathematics
Reading Test
Writing & Language Test
Math Test
Score Reporting
Scale ranging from 60240. Scale ranging from
20-80 for CR/W/M
Total Score: More closely
aligned with new SAT
scoring of 1600 but with
additional cross-test
scores and subscores to
give a more thorough
analysis of knowledge and
strength
Current
SAT
vs
Redesigned
SAT
Category
Current SAT
Redesigned SAT
Total Time
3 hours and 45 minutes
3 hours plus 50 minutes
for the essay
Components
Critical Reading
Writing
Math
Essay
Evidence Based Reading
and Writing
Math
Essay (optional)
Key Features
Reasoning Skills
Vocabulary
Complex Scoring
Reasoning Skills plus focus
on the knowledge, sills and
understanding most
important for college
readiness
Emphasis on meaning of
words in variety of
contexts
Scoring – point for correct
score, no deduction for
incorrect or blank
Math Questions
Y =cx
• In the equation above, c is constant. When y=9. then x=4.
When y=36, what does x equal?
• VS
• The mean number of students per classroom, y, at
Central High School can be estimated using the
equation where x represents the number of years since
2004. Which of the following statements is the best
interpretation of the number 0.8636 in the context of
this problem?
Evidence Based Writing Question
• A subway system is expanded to provide service to a growing
suburb. A bike-sharing program is adopted to encourage
nonmotorized transportation. 1 To alleviate rush hour traffic
jams in a congested downtown area, stoplight timing is
coordinated. When any one of these changes 2 occur, it
is likely the result of careful analysis conducted by
transportation planners.
Select an answer for 2
• No CHANGE
• occur, they are
• occurs, they are
• occurs, it is
Evidence Based Reading Questions
And there were other sensations, less definable but more
exquisite, which drew them together with a shock of silent
joy: the cold red of sunset behind winter hills, the flight of cloudflocks over slopes of golden stubble, or the intensely blue
shadows of hemlocks on sunlit snow.
The author includes the descriptions of the sunset, the clouds,
and the hemlock shadows (lines 34–36)primarily to
• suggest the peacefulness of the natural world.
• emphasize the acuteness of two characters’ sensations.
• foreshadow the declining fortunes of two characters.
• offer a sense of how fleeting time can be.
Current
SAT
vs
Redesigned
SAT
Category
Current SAT
Redesigned SAT
Essay
Required and given at the
beginning of the SAT
25 minutes to write the essay
Tests writing skill; students take a
position on a presented issue
Optional and given at the end of
the SAT; postsecondary institutions
determine whether they will
require the Essay for admission
50 minutes to write the essay
Tests reading, analysis, and writing
skills; students produce a written
analysis of a provided source text
Score Reporting
Scale ranging from 600 to 2400
Scale ranging from 200 to 800 for
Critical Reading; 200 to 800 for
Mathematics; 200 to 800 for
Writing
Essay results scaled to multiplechoice Writing
Scale ranging from 400 to 1600
Scale ranging from 200 to 800 for
Evidence-Based Reading and
Writing; 200 to 800 for Math; 2 to
8 on each of three traits for Essay
Essay results reported separately
Subscore Reporting
None
Subscores for every test, providing
added insight for students,
parents, admission officers,
educators, and counselors
Essay
• Write an essay in which you explain how Paul Bogard
builds an argument to persuade his audience that
natural darkness should be preserved. In your essay,
analyze how Bogard uses one or more of the features
in the directions that precede the passage (or features
of your own choice) to strengthen the logic and
persuasiveness of his argument. Be sure that your
analysis focuses on the most relevant features of the
passage.
• Your essay should not explain whether you agree with
Bogard’s claims, but rather explain how Bogard builds
an argument to persuade his audience.
• Visual of score reporting
Cross Test scores
• Analysis in History/Social Studies and Analysis
in Science. Each of these scores will be
reported on a scale from 10 to 40. These
scores are based on selected questions in the
SAT Reading, Writing and Language, and Math
Tests and will reflect the application of
reading, writing, language, and math skills in
history/ social studies and science contexts.
Reading & Writing Subscore
• The Reading and Writing and Language Tests
will each contribute questions to two
subscores: (1) Command of Evidence and
(2) Words in Context.
• The Writing and Language Test will also report
two additional subscores: (1) Expression of
Ideas and (2) Standard English Conventions.
Math Subscore
• The Math Test will report three subscores: (1)
Heart of Algebra, (2) Problem Solving and Data
Analysis, and (3) Passport to Advanced Math
The ACT
What’s on the ACT?
English
75 Multiple Choice Questions
45 Minutes
Tests grammar, punctuation, sentence structure and rhetorical skills
Math
60 Multiple Choice Questions
60 Minutes
Algebra I, Algebra II, Geometry and some Trigonometry
Reading
40 Multiple Choice Questions
35 Minutes
Four passages (prose fiction, social studies, humanities and natural sciences) with
10 questions per passage
Science
40 Multiple Choice Questions
35 Minutes
Questions on science-based passages with graphs, charts, tables and research
summaries
Writing
Writing Test is Optional (we recommend taking the writing test because some
colleges may require it)
1 Essay
30 Minutes
How is the ACT Scored?
• An ACT score (1 to 36) is given on each test
(English, Math, Reading and Science), as well
as a composite ACT score, which is an average
of these four tests. The composite score falls
between 1 and 36.
• The tester receives subscores in English, Math
and Reading that range between 1 and 18.
These scores provide more detail about
performance, but they are not actually used
by colleges or universities.
How is the ACT Scored?
• The ACT includes an optional essay, known as
the writing test. The writing test is given a
subscore and a combined English/writing
score.
• Students should answer every question. The
scores on the multiple choice tests are based
on the number of questions answered
correctly. There is no penalty for guessing.
When can the Student Test?
ACT Test Dates
September 12, 2015
October 24, 2015
SAT Test Dates
October 3, 2015
November 7, 2015
December 5, 2015
December 12, 2015
January 23, 2016
February 6, 2016
March 5, 2016 - Redesigned
April 9, 2016
June 11, 2016
May 7, 2016 - Redesigned
June 4, 2016 - Redesigned
• To register for the ACT, go to
www.actstudent.org
• To register for the SAT, go to
https://www.collegeboard.org/
• The Cannon School CEEB code is 340-879
Testing Timeline for Class of 2017
ACT
SAT
Comments:
Fall 2015: Not
Recommended
Fall 2015:
- Redesigned PSAT
- Current SAT in
Nov. or Dec.
Class of 2017 will not take ASPIRE. Since most Cannon
students have taken the ACT without the benefit of the
practice ACT, not taking the ASPIRE should not hamper
them in preparing for the ACT. Taking the redesigned PSAT
gives this class the practice for the redesigned SAT –
should they choose to take it.
Spring 2016: Feb., April
or June
Spring 2016:
- Current SAT in Jan.
- If needed, take
redesigned SAT in
March, May or
June
Students with strong PSAT scores will be reminded that
the Fall 2015 PSAT will be the redesigned PSAT and may
require additional preparation. This will also be the test
used for National Merit and National Achievement
Scholarships.
Fall 2016: As needed in
Sept., Oct., or Dec.
Fall 2016:
- Take redesigned SAT
as needed in Oct.,
Nov. , or Dec.
Students will be encouraged to take the ACT/SAT Start-up
Assessment to determine if they have an affinity for one
test over another. Should a student determine that the
ACT is the better test for them, they will be advised to put
their preparation focus on the ACT. Should the SAT show
them in a better light, then they will be reminded that test
prep MAY need to be done twice – once for current SAT
and once for redesigned SAT
Test Prep
• Cannon’s educational approach matches
approach of redesigned exams
• Is test prep necessary? Consider individual
student needs.
– PSAT/NMSQT prep if scored in 92%ile and above in
2013/2014
– Taking current SAT? Check with college counselor
– For redesigned PSAT/SAT Khan Academy offers free
prep beginning June 2015
Resources
• Delivering Opportunity
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MSZbPJbXwMI&feature=y
outu.be) – Announcement by David Coleman, College Board
president, regarding the redesigned SAT
• Practice PSAT (https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/satsuite-ssessments/practice/practice-tests)
• Overview: Current vs. Redesigned SAT
(https://www.collegeboard.org/deliveringopportunity/sat/redesign/compare-tests)
– Additional Resource:
https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/?affiliateId=satsite&banne
rId=aru
• Khan Academy and College Board Announcement
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=202&v=E0d3b7uoxCA):