The ABC’s of
SAT
PSAT
ACT
AP Exams
Exam Information and
Exam Information Resources
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PHS Morning Announcements
Teachers
Counselors
PTSO Newsletter
Ms. Joyce Williams, Director, External
Testing, PHS Career Center, 994-2116
www.collegeboard.com (SAT)
www.act.org (ACT)
www.meritaward.state.mi.us/ (MEAP)
SAT I
Scholastic Assessment Test I
Reasoning Tests
SAT I
What is the SAT I?
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National college admissions test
Considered a standard way of measuring a
student’s ability to do college-level work
 Assesses verbal and math reasoning abilities
 Ten sections
– Three critical reading sections
– Three mathematical sections
– Three writing sections including one 25 minute
essay
– One non-scored “equating” section which can be
verbal or math. This section is used to try out new
questions or set the scoring scale.
SAT I
Who should take the SAT I?
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SAT I scores may be required for admission
to a college
 Many students choose to take the SAT I in
their junior year, particularly if they plan on
applying for early admission to a college in
the fall of their senior year.
 If the SAT I scores are a college admission
requirement, a student should plan on taking
the test no later than December of his/her
senior year.
SAT I
When is the SAT I given?
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Administered on seven national test dates
throughout the year:
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October
November
December
January
March or April
May
June
Testing takes place on Saturday
 Sunday testing is available for students
whose religious faith prohibits testing on
Saturday.
SAT I
Registration
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Fee
 Mail
– Registration Bulletin available at PHS career
center
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Online registration is available and
encouraged by the College Board
– www.collegeboard.com
– use major credit card for payment of fee
– certain circumstances where online registration
cannot be used
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Fee waivers available
– apply through counselor
SAT I
Registration
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Registration deadline is approximately five
weeks prior to the test date
 Additional cost for late registration
 Provisions for:
– changing the test date
– changing the test center
– changing the test (SAT I/SAT II)
– students with disabilities
 Students can register to take the SAT I at any
testing center.
SAT I
Test Day
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Most PHS students will take the SAT I at Pioneer
 Students should plan to arrive between 7:45 and
8:00 AM
 Test room numbers will be posted on a list at the
clock tower entrance
 Student should have:
– Admission Ticket
– Acceptable Identification which would include a school ID,
driver’s license, or passport
– No. 2 pencils with erasers
– permitted calculator which is almost any four-function,
scientific, or graphing calculator
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Actual testing time is 3 hours & 45 min
Testing starts about 8:30 AM and will end
about 12:45 PM.
SAT I
Scoring
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SAT I Scores
– reported on a scale from 200 to 800
– Three scores: Verbal, Mathematics, and Writing
– Raw scores are calculated as follows:
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Questions answered correctly receive one point
Unanswered questions receive no points
A fraction of a point is subtracted for incorrect answers to multiple-choice
questions.
No points are subtracted for incorrect answers to the SAT I math
questions requiring student-produced responses
Score Range – reflects how a student’s score might vary if
the test was taken a number of times, +/- 30 to 40 points
Percentile – compares score to other students’ scores who
took the test the same day. Percentiles are given for the
nation and the state. A 62% would mean that the student did
better that 62% of the group.
Score Reports
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Score Reports available about three
weeks after the test
– View scores online
– Receive scores by e-mail
– Scores available by telephone
SAT I
Sending Score Reports
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When registering, you can request scores be
sent to colleges and/or scholarship programs.
– Scores sent include the current and all previous
SAT I scores
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For a fee, additional score reports may be
sent to colleges and/or scholarship programs:
– Online using SAT Score Sender
– By Telephone at 1-800-SAT-SCORE
SAT I
Test Preparation Available
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Students can familiarize themselves with the
SAT I format by taking the PSAT.
Practice tests are available online and in the
career center.
– Free copy of “Taking the SAT I” available at the career center
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SAT Prep Center at www.collegeboard.com
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List of publications and software for sale
Practice questions
Mini-SAT
SAT question of the day
Test taking tips
SAT II
Scholastic Assessment Test II
Subject Tests
SAT II
What is the SAT II?
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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
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Biology Ecological/Molecular
Chemistry
Physics
English Literature
US History
World History
Mathematics Level IC
Mathematics Level IIC
French-reading
German-reading
Modern Hebrew-reading
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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?
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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.
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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
SAT II
Scoring and Score Reports
Scoring for SAT II is similar to scoring
for SAT I
 Scores sent to colleges and scholarship
programs by designating them on the
registration form
 Scores can be released:
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– Online
– By telephone request 1-800-SAT-SCORE
SAT II
Test Preparation Available
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Free copy of “Taking the SAT II” available at the
Career Center
SAT II Learning Center at www.collegeboard.com
PSAT
PSAT/NMSQT
Preliminary SAT/
National Merit Scholarship
Qualifying Test
PSAT
What is the PSAT?
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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
five sections:
– Two verbal sections
– Two math sections
– One writing skills section
PSAT
Who should take the PSAT?
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The PSAT/NMSQT should be taken in your
student’s junior year.
 Many students benefit from taking it earlier,
typically in their sophomore year.
PSAT
Why take the PSAT?
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Help prepare for SAT Program tests
Forecast SAT scores
Opportunity to qualify to enter competitions for
scholarships and participate in recognition
programs such as:
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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
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Fee
Students register for the PSAT/NMSQT at the
General Office at Pioneer High School
Registration begins in mid-September
On-line registration is not available
Fee waivers available, by request, for juniors
from low-income families. The student should
consult a PHS counselor.
Provisions for students with disabilities
PSAT
Test Day
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Test administered at Pioneer High School,
usually on the third Saturday in October
Test location will change if there is a U-M football
game on the testing day
Plan to arrive at the testing center at 7:45 AM
Students should have:
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Admission Ticket
No. 2 pencils with erasers
Approved calculator
Acceptable Identification which would include a school ID,
driver’s license, or passport
Testing begins at 8:00 AM and ends about 11:30
AM.
The actual test requires 2 hours,10 minutes.
PSAT
Test Results
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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.
PSAT
Score Reports and Scoring
SCORE REPORT
– Scores reported on a scale from 20 to 80
 Three scores: Verbal, Mathematics, Writing
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Raw scores are calculated as follows:
– Questions answered correctly receive one point
– Unanswered questions receive no points
– A fraction of a point is subtracted for incorrect answers to multiple-choice
questions.
– Each incorrect answer to a student-produced response question receives no
points
– Selection Index - sum of Verbal, Mathematics, and Writing scores
– Percentiles allow comparison to scores of other juniors. A student
with a percentile of 53 has earned a score better than 53 out of
every 100 juniors who took the test.
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Score Report will show the correct answers and the student’s
answers and the difficulty level of each question.
To convert to a comparable SAT I score, add a zero to the
PSAT/NMSQT score (verbal and mathematics, only). For
example, a PSAT/NMSQT score of 56 is similar to an SAT I
score of 560.
PSAT
Test Preparation Available
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PSAT/NMSQT Student Bulletin available at
the Career Center
 On first two Saturdays in October, PSAT
examination simulations are conducted. One
is held at Pioneer and one is held at Huron.
 Tips and practice questions available at
www.collegeboard.com
National Merit Scholarship Program
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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
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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
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8,000 National Merit Scholarships of $2,500 are
awarded
National Merit Scholarship Program
Other Scholarship Awards
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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.
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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?
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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
Students who achieve a qualifying score on
the ACT and demonstrate financial need are
eligible to apply to the Michigan Competitive
Scholarship Program.
ACT
Who should take the ACT?
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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 as a senior.
ACT
When is the ACT given?
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Administered on five national test dates:
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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
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Ann Arbor test sites include:
– Pioneer High School
– Huron High School
– Washtenaw Community College
– Concordia University
ACT
Registration
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Fee
Mail
– Registration packets available at PHS career
center
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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
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Fee waivers are available
– must register using packet
– see a counselor and complete a form
ACT
Registration
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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
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Students can register to take the ACT at any
testing center.
ACT
Test Day
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Most PHS students will take the ACT at Pioneer
 Plan to arrive at 8:00 AM
 Test room numbers will be posted on a list at the
clock tower entrance
 Student should have:
– Admission Ticket
– Acceptable Identification which would include a school ID,
driver’s license, or passport
– No. 2 pencils with erasers
– permitted calculator for the math test
(more restrictions than the SAT – see www.act.org)
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Actual testing time is 3 hours and 25 minutes
Testing starts about 8:30 AM and ends
about 12:30 PM
Breaks are scheduled between tests.
ACT
Scoring and Score Reports
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Scores are mailed four to seven weeks after the
test date.
 View scores online for $8.00 fee
 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.
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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
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When registering, you can request scores be
sent to colleges and scholarship programs.
 For a fee, additional score reports to colleges
and/or scholarship programs may be sent by
completing an Additional Score Report (ASR)
found on the last page in the student booklet.
Only the records from designated test dates
will be released.
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Online ASR Request Form
Download ASR Request Form
Telephone Express Service
Request a form by mail
Submit a letter of request to ACT
ACT
Test Preparation Available
 “Preparing for the ACT Assessment”
– booklet available at the career center, includes
test-taking tips and a complete practice test
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ACT Preparation Workshops offered
through Ann Arbor Community Education
and Recreation
On the Web Site (www.act.org)
– Sample questions
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Resources listed online include software
and books
SAT vs. ACT
SAT
ACT
Test Structure
Seven-section exam:
Three Verbal, three Math,
and one Experimental.
The Experimental section is
masked to look like a
regular section.
Four-section exam:
English, Math, Reading, and
Science Reasoning.
An experimental section is
added to tests on certain
dates only, and is clearly
experimental.
Test Content
Math: up to trigonometry.
No science section
Reading: one or two
passages per section, with
roughly one minute to
answer each question.
Stresses vocabulary
A test of strategy and ability
to take tests.
Math: up to trigonometry.
Science section included.
Reading: four passages
with less than one minute to
answer each question.
Stresses grammar.
A test of time management
and studiousness.
Penalty for Wrong
Answers?
Yes
No
SAT vs. ACT
SAT
ACT
How the test is
scored/highest possible
score
200-800 for each subject,
added together for a
combined score.
A 1600 is the highest
possible score.
1-36 for each subject,
averaged together for a
composite score. A 36 is
the highest possible
composite score.
Are all scores sent?
Yes. A score report will
include all of the scores the
student received on every
SAT taken.
No. Students can choose
which scores are to be sent.
For more information
Educational Testing Service
(ETS)
(609) 771-7600
www.ets.org
The College Board
www.collegeboard.com
ACT, Inc.
(319) 337-1270
www.act.org
AP
Advanced Placement Courses
Advanced Placement Exams
AP Courses
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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:
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AP English (preparation for English Literature AP Exam)
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AC English (preparation for English Language AP Exam)
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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 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.
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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
(PHS: AP Analysis, Calculus AB)
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Calculus BC
Chemistry
Computer Science A
Computer Science B
Economics (no PHS course)
English Literature
(PHS: AP English, AC English)
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Environmental Science
(no PHS course)
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(no PHS course)
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European History
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Latin (Literature) (Verel)
Music Theory*
Physics (B) (C)
Psychology (no PHS course)
Spanish (Language) (Literature)
Statistics
Studio Art*
U.S. History
World History*
(PHS: Humanities)
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French (Language) (Literature)
German Language
* help available on an individual
basis
AP Exams
Who takes the AP Exams?
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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?
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Administered on a national schedule in May
of each year.
– AP Exams are usually scheduled during the first
two weeks in May
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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
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Large convention facilities in the Ann Arbor
area
 Washtenaw Intermediate School District
 Local High Schools
 Buildings and Room Numbers are available
from Joyce Williams at PHS Career Center
AP
AP Exam Registration
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Fee
– approximately $90 (2006)
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Register at Pioneer High School at the
General Office
 Registration for AP Exams occurs in March
 Fee reductions are available for students
demonstrating financial need.
AP Exams
Test Day
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Most exams take two to three hours to
complete
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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
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Receive AP Candidate Pack
– numbers on pack will be the official AP number for
that testing period
AP Exams
Scoring
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AP Exams are scored from 1 to 5 as follows:
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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
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Grade reports mailed 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
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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.
AP Exams
Test Preparation Available
Enroll in year-long course at Pioneer
 Seek guidance on readiness from
AP course teacher
 See www.collegeboard.com
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– online reviews
– list of publications and videos
– tips for taking AP Exams
Release of Test Scores
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When students take the SAT I, SAT II, PSAT,
ACT, or AP Exams, scores are sent to PHS.
“Release of Test Scores” Form either gives
or does not give authorization to PHS to
release test scores along with a student’s
transcript
“Release of Test Scores” Form included in
summer mailing to seniors
Completed forms should be returned to PHS
at registration.
Some colleges may require that scores be
sent directly from the testing agency.
Produced by
Pioneer High School
PTSO and Joyce Williams,
Director, External Testing