The ABC’s of
SAT
PSAT
ACT
AP Exams
M-Step/MME
Exam Information and
Exam Information Resources








PHS Morning Announcements
Teachers
Counselors
PTSO Newsletter
Ms. Joyce Williams, Director, External Testing
994-2116
www.collegeboard.com (SAT)
www.act.org (ACT)
www.meritaward.state.mi.us/ (MEAP)
SAT II
Scholastic Assessment Test II
Subject Tests
SAT II
What is the SAT II?

Test in a specific subject
 One hour, primarily multiple-choice
 Some colleges recommend or require
applicants to take 1 to 3 of these subject tests
 Students should be aware of the college
admission requirements
SAT II
Subject Tests











Biology Ecological/Molecular
Chemistry
Physics
English Literature
US History
World History
Mathematics Level IC
Mathematics Level IIC
French-reading
German-reading
Modern Hebrew-reading









Italian-reading
Latin-reading
Spanish-reading
Chinese-with listening
French-with listening
German-with listening
Japanese-with listening
Korean-with listening
Spanish-with listening
SAT II
When is the SAT II given?

Registration for SAT II same as for SAT I
 Given most dates that the SAT I is given
 Some SAT II tests are not available on every
testing date
 “With listening” language tests are only
offered in November at specified centers
– Portable CD player with earphones required.

SAT II should be taken when content is fresh
in the student’s mind, at the end of a recently
completed course like chemistry and world
history
 SAT II tests can be retaken
PSAT
PSAT/NMSQT
Preliminary SAT
National Merit Scholarship
Qualifying Test
PSAT
What is the PSAT?





Co-sponsored by the College Board and the
National Merit Scholarship Corporation
(NMSC)
PSAT/NMSQT measures verbal reasoning,
critical reading, mathematics problem-solving,
and writing skills. The PSAT/NMSQT includes
three sectionsReading
Writing and Language
Math
PSAT
Who should take the PSAT?

The PSAT/NMSQT was administered to
all juniors 10/14
PSAT
Why take the PSAT?



Help prepare for SAT Program tests
Forecast SAT scores
Opportunity to qualify to enter competitions for
scholarships and participate in recognition
programs such as:
–
–
–
–


National Merit Scholarship Program
National Hispanic Recognition Program
National Scholarship Service and Fund for Negro Students
Telluride Association
Participate in the Student Search Service to get
educational and financial information from
colleges
Compare yourself with other students
PSAT
Registration
For the last 4 years Pioneer has been
providing the PSAT to all Juniors to give
them an opportunity to compete for the
various scholarships and also practice a
standardized test.
 This year both 9th and 10th graders will
take the PSAT in April


Provisions for students with disabilities
PSAT
Test Results

PSAT/NMSQT score reports are mailed to the
High School at the end of November.
 Each school decides how and when to
distribute the scores to students.
 At Pioneer, results are sent to PHS and
distributed to students by the counselors.
 Score reports are not mailed home.
National Merit Scholarship Program

Enter the Merit Program by taking the
PSAT/NMSQT in the JUNIOR year of high school.
 NMSC will provide scholarship application
materials to Semifinalists through their high
schools in the fall of the student’s senior year
 To qualify as a finalist:
– Complete NMSC scholarship application

includes essay about contributions to school and
community, personal characteristics, activities, plans,
and goals
– Take the SAT I and earn qualifying scores
– Notify NMSC of plans to enroll in college

8,000 National Merit Scholarships of $2,500 are
awarded
National Merit Scholarship Program
Other Scholarship Awards

Corporate-sponsored Merit and Special
Scholarships Awards
– Provided by corporate sponsors in the National Merit
Scholarship Program
– A list of corporate organizations that sponsor both Merit and
Special Scholarships is given in the PSAT/NMSQT Student
Bulletin.

College-sponsored Merit Scholarship Awards
– Officials of a NMSC sponsored institution choose award
recipients from among finalists who have applied for
admission and have informed NMSC that the sponsor
college is their first choice
ACT
American College Testing
Assessment
ACT
What is the ACT?

National college admissions examination
 Measures knowledge, understanding, and
skills acquired throughout student’s
education
 Tests cover four skill areas: English,
Mathematics, Reading, Science Reasoning,
and optional Writing (beginning 2005)
 215 multiple choice questions
ACT
Who should take the ACT?

ACT scores may be required for admission to
college
 Many colleges recommend taking the ACT
during the second half of the student’s junior
year of high school.
 Many students take the ACT once as a junior
and then may retake it as a senior.
ACT
When is the ACT given?

Administered on five national test dates:
 - September
–
–
–
–
–

October
December
February
April
June
Testing takes place on a Saturday
 Sunday and Monday testing is available for
students whose religious faith prohibits testing
on Saturday.
ACT
Test Locations

Ann Arbor test sites include:
– Pioneer High School
– Huron High School
– Washtenaw Community College
– Concordia University
– Skyline High School
ACT
Registration
Fee
 Online Registration is available and
encouraged

– www.act.org
– use major credit card for payment of fee
– certain circumstances where online
registration cannot be used

Fee waivers are available
– see a counselor to receive a form
ACT
Registration

Registration deadline is approximately five
weeks prior to the test date
 Additional cost for late registration
 Provisions for:
– changing the test date
– missing the test
– changing the test center
– students with disabilities

Students can register to take the ACT at any
testing center.
ACT
Scoring and Score Reports

Scores are mailed four to seven weeks after the
test date.
 Scores reported for each of the four tests (English,
Mathematics, Reading, Science Reasoning)
– Scores reported on a scale from 1 (lowest) to 36 (highest)
– To determine scores on each of the four tests, the number of
questions answered correctly is counted.
– Points are not deducted for incorrect answers
– These raw scores are converted to scale scores.

The composite score is an average of the four test
scores rounded to the nearest whole number.
 If the ACT is taken more than once, a separate
record is maintained for each test date.
ACT
Sending Score Reports

When registering, you can request that score
be sent to colleges and scholarship
programs.
 If you do not send scores for free when you
register for ACT, then you must go to act.org
to send scores. Each score sent costs 12
dollars.
AP
Advanced Placement Courses
Advanced Placement Exams
AP Courses


Advanced Placement Courses give students a chance to try
college level work in specific subjects while in high school.
Courses offered by Pioneer High School which would
prepare students for AP examinations include:
–
AP English (preparation for English Literature AP Exam)
–
AP English (preparation for English Language AP Exam)
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
BC Calculus
AP Analysis, AB Calculus (preparation for Calculus (AB) AP Exam)
AP U.S. History
AP Biology
AP Chemistry
AP Physics
AP American Government and Politics
AP Computer Science
AP Statistics
AP Latin
AP Spanish
AP French
AP German
Humanities (preparation for AP Exams in Art History, English Literature,
–
World History )
AP Chinese
AP Exams
What are AP Exams?

AP Exams test a student’s ability to perform
at a college level.
 Exams contain either an essay or
problem-solving section and a section of
multiple-choice questions. The modern
language exams also have a speaking
component.
 “Qualifying” scores on Advanced Placement
Exams may entitle a student to credit or
advanced placement at college.
AP Exams
Except where designated, PHS offers courses designed to prepare
the student for the AP Exam
 Art History (PHS: Humanities)
 Government and Politics
 Biology
(Comparative) (U.S.)
 Calculus AB
 Human Geography
 Calculus BC
(no PHS course)
 Chemistry
 Latin (Virgil)
 Computer Science A
 Music Theory
 Computer Science B
 Physics (C)
 Economics
 Psychology (no PHS course)
 English Language
 Spanish
 English Literature
 Environmental Science
 Statistics
(no PHS course)
 Studio Art
 European History
 U.S. History
 French
 World History*
 German Language
 Chinese
AP Exams
Who takes the AP Exams?





Any student can register to take an AP exam.
A student does not have to take an AP course
to take an AP exam.
AP courses and exams typically taken in the
junior and senior year.
Students can take an exam more than one
time.
Students taking AP exams will miss class
time.
AP Exams
When are the AP Exams given?

Administered on a national schedule in May
of each year.
– AP Exams are usually scheduled during the first
two weeks in May

Suggested starting times are 8:00 AM for the
morning session and 1:00 PM for the
afternoon session.
 Some exams are scheduled for the same
time slot. If your student has a scheduling
conflict, contact Joyce Williams.
 Calendar of exam times available at
www.collegeboard.com
AP Exams
Test Locations

Large convention facilities in the Ann Arbor
area
 Local High Schools
 Buildings and Room Numbers are available
from Joyce Williams at PHS Career Center
AP
AP Exam Registration

Fee
– approximately $100

Register at Pioneer High School at the
General Office
 Registration for AP Exams begins in February
 Fee reductions are available for students
demonstrating financial need.
AP Exams
Test Day

Most exams take two to three hours to
complete
 Students should have:
–
–
–
–
No. 2 pencils with erasers
black or dark blue pen
Pioneer code number
Approved calculator for the Calculus, Chemistry,
Physics, or Statistics exams
– Ruler/Straight edge for Physics Exam
– Social Security Number

Receive AP Candidate Pack
– numbers on pack will be the official AP number for
that testing period
AP Exams
Scoring

AP Exams are scored from 1 to 5 as follows:
–
–
–
–
–

5 - Extremely well-qualified
4 - Well-qualified
3 - Qualified
2 - Possibly qualified
1 - No recommendation
For a score of 2 or greater, a student may
qualify to receive college credit or advanced
placement
 It is at the discretion of the individual college
as to whether or not college credit or advance
standing (i.e. sophomore placement in a
particular subject area) will be given.
AP Exams
Grade Reports





Grade reports online in July
Grade report sent to the college the student
designated on the exam answer sheet
Grade report sent to PHS
Grade reports are cumulative, included are
grades on AP Exams taken in the current
year and in previous years unless a request
has been made to withhold previous grades
For a fee, additional grade reports can be
sent:
– Complete second part of AP Grade Report
– Telephone or e-mail request to send
AP Transcripts
AP Exams
Withholding a Grade
Canceling a Grade

A written request can be made to withhold an
AP grade from a report.
 To permanently cancel an AP grade,
complete an AP Cancellation Form and return
it to AP Services no later than June 15
following the exam.
MME
MME/M - Step Spring 2016
MME
What is the MME?

The Michigan Merit Exam is the revised state
assessment program for the high school
level.
 Full implementation of the program started in
the Spring of 2007.
 Revised 2016 to include SAT
MME
Timeline

The full MME will be administered in Spring
2016 to high school juniors – April 12-14
 The SAT will be administered April 12 at
Pioneer
 On April 13 the Work Keys and Michigan
Science and Social Studies assessment will
be administered
 PSAT will be given to 9th and 10th graders on
Wednesday, April 13th.
Produced by
Pioneer High School
PTSO and Joyce Williams,
Director, External Testing
& Pioneer High School
e
Counselors