SAT/ PSAT
ACT/ PLAN
2010
 How prepared are you for college level work?
 How prepared are you for TAKS?
 How prepared are you for the classes you are taking?
 ACT
 EXPLORE (8th)
 PLAN (10th)
 SAT
 PSAT (11th)
 4 Tested Areas
 English
 Math
 Reading
 Science
• Scoring:
 ACT = 36
 PLAN = 32
PLANEnglishTest
 30 minutes
 Content/Skills Number of
Items
 Usage/Mechanics 30
 Punctuation 7
 Grammar and Usage 9
 Sentence Structure 14
 Rhetorical Skills 20
 Strategy 6
 Organization 7
 Style 7
 Total 50
PLANMathematicsTest
 40 minutes
 Content Area Number of
Items
 Pre-Algebra/Algebra 22
 Pre-Algebra 14
 Elementary Algebra 8
 Geometry 18
 Coordinate Geometry 7
 Plane Geometry 11
 Total 40
PLANReadingTest
 20 minutes
 Content Area Number of
Items
 Prose Fiction 8
 Humanities 9
 Social Studies 8
 Total 25
PLANScienceTest
 25 minutes
 Content Area Format
Number of Items
 Biology Earth/Space
Sciences
 Data Representation 10
 Research Summaries 14
 Chemistry Physics
 Conflicting Viewpoints 6
 Total 30
• PLAN shows you your strengths and weaknesses in
English, math, reading, and science
• PLAN lets you know if you’re on target for college
• PLAN helps you find careers that match your interests
• PLAN helps you prepare for the ACT
Thursday, November 18th
10th Grade Students ONLY
FREE
September 11, 2010
October 23, 2010
December 11, 2010
February 12, 2011
April 9, 2011
June 11, 2011
www.actstudent.org
SEE COUNSELOR BLOG SPOT
 The test assesses the academic skills that you’ve
developed over the years, primarily through your
course work.
 These skills are considered essential for success in high
school and college:
 Critical Reading
 Mathematics
 Writing Skills
 Question Types:
 The same, except the PSAT/NMSQT does not have an essay component.
 Length:

The PSAT/NMSQT is 2 hours, 10 minutes.

The SAT is 3 hours, 45 minutes.
 Level of Difficulty:

The PSAT/NMSQT does not have 11th grade-level math questions.
Critical Reading Questions
 Use content from:
 -humanities
 -social studies
 -natural sciences
 -literature
 13 Sentence Completions
 35 Passage-Based Reading Questions

(100- to 800-word passages)
Critical Math Questions
 Use content from:
 -number and operations
 -algebra and functions;
 -geometry and measurement
 -data analysis
 -statistics
 -probability
 28 Multiple-Choice Questions
 10 Student-Produced Response Questions
(“Grid-ins”)
Critical Writing Questions
 Focus on editing, grammar,
usage, and organization.
 20 Improving Sentences
Questions
 14 Identifying Sentence Error
Questions
 5 Improving Paragraph
Questions
Scoring:
Multiple-choice questions:
 1 point for each correct
 ¼ point deducted for each incorrect
 Math grid-ins:
 1 point for each correct
 0 points for each incorrect
 0 points for omitted
questions
Scale:
 20-80 for each test section
Averages:
 11th Graders: 47-50
 10th Graders: 43-46
 Younger Students: 38-42
Wednesday, Oct. 13, 2010
$5
All Eligible 9 th , 10 th and 11 th
(Only 11 th can qualify as NMSQ)
 Take the PSAT/NMSQT during your junior year of HS
 Your Selection Index score must be at qualifying




standard (approx. 215)
Scores of 215, student is considered a semifinalist and
will then submit an application for the NMS
Student must then register to take the SAT.
Semifinalist and Finalist are put in direct contact with
2 Universities of their choice.
Schools are provided with lists of students meeting the
criteria for Semifinalist.
October 9, 2010
November 6, 2010
December 4, 2010
January 22, 2011
March 12, 2011
May 7, 2011
June 4, 2011
http://sat.collegeboard.com
/home
SEE Counselor BLOG SPOT
 You MUST score at least a 2200 on your TAKS in the




areas of Math and ELA and have a 2 on your writing to
be considered college ready.
Students NOT scoring this can show they are college
ready with their ACT/SAT or ACCUPLACER test.
Cisco will NOT allow you to enroll in classes without
meeting college readiness standards.
ACCUPLACER is an ONLINE assessment that is $10
and is given at Cisco or TSTC. (also a collegeboard test)
This specifically applies to Dual Credit courses.
In accordance with Texas Education Code (TEC), §51.803, a student is eligible for automatic admission to a college or
university as an undergraduate student if the applicant earned a grade point average in the top 10 percent of the
student's high school graduating class, or the top 8 percent for admission to the University of Texas at Austin, and the
applicant:
(1) successfully completed the requirements for the Recommended High School Program (RHSP) or the Distinguished
Achievement Program (DAP); or
(2) satisfied ACT's College Readiness Benchmarks on the ACT assessment or earned on the SAT assessment a score of
at least 1,500 out of 2,400 or the equivalent.

To qualify for automatic admission an applicant must:
(1) submit an application before the deadline established by the college or university to which the student seeks
admission; and
(2) provide a high school transcript or diploma that indicates whether the student has satisfied or is on schedule to
satisfy the requirements of the RHSP or DAP or the portion of the RHSP or DAP that was available to the student.
Colleges and universities are required to admit an applicant for admission as an undergraduate student if the applicant
is the child of a public servant who was killed or sustained a fatal injury in the line of duty and meets the minimum
requirements, if any, established by the governing board of the college or university for high school or prior collegelevel grade point average and performance on standardized tests.
ACT
 Top 10% No Minimum
 First Quarter
25
 Second Quarter
28
 Third Quarter
29
 Fourth Quarter Application Review
SAT
1140
1230
1270
 SAT Critical Reading: 530 - 660
 SAT Math: 570 - 700
 SAT Writing: 530 - 660
 ACT Composite: 24 - 30
 SAT Critical Reading: 530 - 640
 SAT Math: 570 - 670
 SAT Writing: 500 - 620
 ACT Composite: 24 - 30
READ!
 Continuous reading improves vocabulary and develops essential skills.
 Read more books than just those required for class.

Take Challenging Courses!
•
This will help you to develop and strengthen your critical thinking skills.
 Take the practice test in the Official Student Guide to the
PSAT/NMSQT.
 Understand scoring and “educated guessing.”
 Familiarize yourself with the test’s format, questions types,
and directions.

When you sit down to take the test:
•
•
•
•

Read all of the directions.
Read all of each question’s answer choices.
Do scratch work in the test book.
Work at a steady pace.
If you skip a question:
•
•
•
•
Note it in the test book.
Leave it blank on the answer sheet.
Return to it if there is time.
Remember: you don’t have to answer every question to score well.
In most sections, the questions are arranged from easy to more difficult (except for passage-based
reading in the critical reading section and improving paragraphs in the writing skills section).

Wild guessing is discouraged, but students should make educated guesses when answer choices
can be eliminated.
• Set a regular time and place to study each day and
throughout the week.
• Keep a daily “to do” list.
• Set goals for yourself.
• Do your reading assignments before the material is
discussed in class.
• Pay close attention and take good notes in class.
• Prepare for tests during your regular study
times instead of cramming at the last minute.
• Start learning now about how much college will cost
• Learn about different forms of financial aid available
• Start saving now for college
• Think about how good grades
and ACT scores can help make college
more affordable
• Take challenging college prep courses in high school.
• Explore the many career options available to you and
think about how your career choices will affect your
future.
• Set career goals and develop an educational
plan to achieve them.