Welcome to ACT/SAT
Informational Night
Matt Barber
Counselor
Tonight’s Agenda
► SAT
I
► SAT II Subject Area Tests
► ACT
► SAT v ACT
► PSAT
► ACT Aspire
► Colleges/Extras
► Questions
Timeline
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7th,8th and 9th Graders: Can take the PSAT (Accelerated)
10th Graders: Can take the PSAT
11 Graders:
 Fall: Take the PSAT (Scholarships)
 Spring: Take the ACT and/or SAT
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12 Graders:
 Fall: Retake the ACT and/or SAT
The Road to the SAT/ACT
SAT (11-12)
PSAT (10-11)
READISTEP(8-9)
ACT(11-12)
ACT Aspire
(Early High School)
ACT Aspire(8)
SAT I
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Typically taken for the first time spring of your Junior year
It tells students how well they use skills and knowledge they have
attained in and out of the classroom. Including how they think,
solve problems, and communicate. The SAT is more of an aptitude
test, testing reasoning and verbal abilities.
3 hour and 45 minute exam
10 sections
 3 critical reading sections
 3 math sections
 3 writing sections
 1 experimental section
Scored range is a 200-800 in three sections
Total score is between 600-2400
Between 400-1600 (Only R/M)
National average for the SAT is 1500.
SAT I
► Offered
7 times a year
 January, March, May, June, October, November,
December
► Students
can register at www.collegeboard.org
► SAT Fee Waivers are available
► Cost is $52.50 and includes 4 score reports.
► Test is given on Saturday mornings at selected
high schools all over Arizona.
► ¼ point deducted for each wrong answer.
SAT I
► The
Math Section
 Score range is between a 200-800.
 Two 25-minute sections and one 20-minute section
 There’s 5-choice multiple choice questions and student
produced responses.
 It’s on number and operations, algebra and functions,
geometry, statistics, probability, and data analysis
 It includes mathematics topics through a 3rd year
college prep course (algebra 2).
 Students may use a calculator
 There are formulas at the top of each math section.
SAT I
► The
Critical Reading Section
 Score range is between 200-800 points.
 Two 25-minute sections and one 20-minute
section
 There is reading comprehension, sentence
completion, and paragraph-length critical
reading.
 It includes critical reading and sentence-level
reading.
SAT I
► The
Writing Section
 Score range is between 200-800.
 60 minute section
 There are multiple choice questions (35 min)
and student-written essay (25 min).
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SAT II Subject Area Tests
Subject area tests measure your knowledge and skills in
particular subject areas. Cost is $26.00, add $26 for
language and listening add $16 for others.
SAT Subject Tests fall into five general subject areas:
English
Languages
Literature
Chinese with Listening
History
French
US History
French with Listening
World History
German
Mathematics
German with Listening
Mathematics Level 1
Spanish
Mathematics Level 2
Spanish with Listening
Science
Modern Hebrew
Biology E/M
Italian
Chemistry
Latin
Physics
Japanese with Listening
Korean with Listening
Collegeboard’s list of schools that
require SAT Subject Area Tests
► Click
on the website
below
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http://professionals.collegeboard.com/te
sting/satsubject/about/institutions#inst_using_S
AT
► Always
double
check with the
schools website.
ACT
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Typically taken for the first time spring of your junior year.
The ACT is an achievement test, measuring what a student
has learned in school.
The ACT has up to 5 components: English, Mathematics,
Reading, Science, and an optional Writing Test.
Scale scores range from 1(low) to 36(high) for each of the
four multiple-choice tests and the Composite score.
Two scores are reported for the optional Writing Test: a
Combined English/Writing score on a scale of 1-36 and a
Writing sub-score on a scale of 2-12. ACT also provides
Comments from one of the trained readers who scored
each student’s essay.
The ACT national average is between a 20 and 21.
College Readiness (Eng 18, Math 22, Read 22, Sci 23)
ACT
► Offered
6 times a year
February, April, June, September, October, December
Students can register at www.act.org
Cost is $38.00 for no writing and $54.50 with writing
ACT Fee Waivers are available
Tests are given on Saturday mornings at selected high
schools in Arizona
 No point deducted for a wrong answer
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ACT
The English Section
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Score range is between 1-36.
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Test is a 75-question, 45-minute test
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Covers punctuation, grammar and usage,
sentence structure, strategy,
organization, and style
ACT
The Math Section
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Score range is between a 1-36
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Test is a 60-question, 60-minute test
designed to measure the mathematical
skills students have typically acquired in
courses taken by the end of 11th grade
(Algebra 2). Includes trigonometry.
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Students may use calculators.
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No formula sheet given.
ACT
► The
Reading Section
 Score Range is 1-36
 Has a 40-question, 35-minute test that
measures your reading comprehension.
 You’re asked to read four passages and answer
questions that show your understanding of
what is directly stated.
 Statements with implied meanings
ACT
► The
Science Section
 Score range is 1-36
 Has a 40-question, 35-minute test that
measures the skills required in the natural
sciences: interpretation, analysis, evaluation,
reasoning , and problem solving.
 The test assumes students have completed a
course in Earth Science and/or physical science
and a course in biology.
ACT
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The Writing Section
Two scores are reported for the optional Writing Test: a
Combined English/Writing score on a scale of 1-36 and a
Writing sub-score on a scale of 2-12.
The Writing Test is a 30-minute essay test that measures
your writing skills-specifically those writing skills
emphasized in high school English classes.
Test consists of one writing prompt that will define an
issue and describe two points of view on that issue. You
are asked to respond to a question about your position on
the issue described in the writing prompt.
ACT
► Every
Junior in the Chandler Unified School
District will be given the ACT this spring.
► 4 Free Score Reports
► ***Writing Section will not be given**
► April 23?
SAT vs ACT
► SAT
 Aptitude Test
 Given 7 times per year
 Reading, Math, and
Writing
 ¼ of a point deduction
for wrong answer on
multiple choice
 200-800 per section, for
a score of 600-2400
► ACT
 Achievement Test
 Given 6 times per year
 English, Math, Reading,
Science Reasoning, and
optional Writing
 No penalty for wrong
answer
 1-36 for each subject,
averaged for a
composite score, 2-12
for the Writing Test
SAT VS ACT
► SAT
 Math section includes
Algebra I, Geometry,
and Algebra 2
 Sends 4 free reports to
colleges of your choice,
each additional report is
$12 - 16
 Formulas given for
math section
► ACT
 Math section includes
Algebra I, Geometry,
Algebra 2, and
Trigonometry
 Sends 4 free reports to
colleges of your choice,
each additional report is
$12 - 16
 No formulas given for
math section
ACT/SAT Comparison Chart
ACT Composite Score
Estimated SAT CR+M+W
SAT CR+M (Score Range)
36
2380-2400
1600
35
2290-2370
1540-1590
34
2220-2280
1490-1530
33
2140-2210
1440-1480
32
2080-2130
1400-1430
31
2020-2070
1360-1390
30
1980-2010
1330-1350
29
1920-1970
1290-1320
28
1860-1910
1250-1280
27
1800-1850
1210-1240
26
1740-1790
1170-1200
25
1680-1730
1130-1160
24
1620-1670
1090-1120
23
1560-1610
1050-1080
ACT/SAT Comparison Chart
ACT Composite Score
Estimated SAT CR+M+W
SAT CR+M (Score Range)
21
1450-1500
980-1010
20
1390-1440
940-970
19
1330-1380
900-930
18
1270-1320
860-890
17
1210-1260
820-850
16
1140-1200
770-810
15
1060-1130
720-760
14
990-1050
670-710
13
910-980
620-660
12
820-900
560-610
11
750-810
510-550
SAT vs ACT
► So
how do I know whether my
son/daughter will score higher on the ACT
or SAT????
PSAT
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The PSAT is a standardized test that provides first hand practice for
the SAT.
Also gives you a chance to enter National Merit Scholarship
Corporation scholarship programs and gain access to college and
career planning tools. Only available to high school juniors
AP Potential for high school AP courses
Is given on Wednesday, October 15th or Saturday, October 18th of this
year depending on the high school.
Basha High School is giving the test on October 18 th. Cost is $20.
Students can sign-up and pay in the school bookstore.
**First come first serve**
PSAT
► The
PSAT/NMSQT measures
 Critical reading skills
 Math problem-solving skills
 Writing skills
Scholarships
National Merit Scholarship
National Hispanic Recognition Program
National Achievement Scholarship Program
PSAT
► Students
who take the PSAT/NMSQT receive a
free, personalized college and career planning kit.
This allows students to:
 Access your enhanced online score report
 Prepare for the SAT with a customized study plan,
based on PSAT results
 View a starter list of colleges determined by your home
state and indicated choice of major
 Connect to detailed profiles of colleges, majors, and
careers
ACT Aspire
► http://www.discoveractaspire.org/assessme
nts.html
Can’t Take the PSAT or Practice
ACT
► Princeton
Review will be coming on the
Basha campus this spring to give a practice
SAT and ACT
► ACT, January 27th from 3 – 7pm in the
Auditorium.
► SAT, February 24th from 3 – 7pm in the
Auditorium.
► Sign ups will start after Christmas Break on
the Princeton Review website.
SAT vs ACT
► How
do I know whether my son/daughter
will score higher on the SAT or ACT?
Have your son/daughter take the PSAT and
ACT practice test. They will give you a
predictor of what they will score. Then you
can compare.
Additional Info
► Redesigned
SAT
 https://www.collegeboard.org/deliveringopportunity/sat/redesign
► Schools
with highest SAT scores
 http://www.businessinsider.com/colleges-withthe-highest-sat-scores-2014-8
Colleges
► The
following schools are looking for ACT/SAT
scores around this mark.
 ASU/NAU- 22 ACT and 1040 SAT (CR/M)
 BYU- ACT Score in the high 20’s, SAT 1170 – 1380 R/M
to be competitive for admission
 Florida State- ACT Score 24 – 29, and SAT 1680 – 1929
R/M/W to be competitive for admission.
 USC – ACT score in the high 20’s, SAT 1910 – 2220 to
be competitive for admission
 All other schools please visit their website!!
Extras
► How
to study??
Free practice tests in career center.
Use your PSAT or ACT practice test.
Try the SAT and/or ACT Question of the Day!
Buy a SAT/ACT practice book at a local
bookstore.
 Take a free practice exam.
 Take an SAT/ACT prep class.
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Websites
► College
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Information
CSO College Center: www.CSOcollegecenter.org
The College Board: www.collegeboard.com
Peterson’s: www.petersons.com
The Common App: www.commonapp.org
Hobson’s Collegeview: www.collegeview.com
Colleges That Change Lives: www.ctcl.org
Websites
► Testing
 ACT: www.act.org
 ACT Fee Waiver Instructions:
www.actstudent.org/faq/answers/feewaiver.html
 SAT: The College Board: www.collegeboard.com
 SAT Fee Waiver Instructions:
www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/sat/calenfees/feewaivers.html
 Preliminary SAT(PSAT):
www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/psat/about/html
 Free Test Prep from Number2.com: www.number2.com
 The Princeton Review: www.princetonreview.com
 Kaplan’s Test Prep: www.kaptest.com
 Zapps/Rmass: www.rmass.com
For Up Coming SAT/ACT Information
and more…
► Visit
the Basha High School Counseling
Webpage at:
► http://www.mychandlerschools.org/domain/633