4:00
Michigan Merit
Exam Prep Course
for High School Students
Feb. 4, 11 & 18, 2009
4:00 – 6:00 pm
Session
#1
Presented by:
Tovah Sheldon
JCISD Data, Assessment and Curriculum Coordinator
Tovah.Sheldon@jcisd.org
Agenda
Day 1
4:00
4:15
4:45
5:00
5:30
6:00
(February 4, 2009 from 4:00 – 6:00pm)
- Norms/Expectations
- Activity- What do you know?
- Process & Format of the MME (MME Squares)
- Practice Mini - Timed Test
- Basic Test Strategies & Dinner
- Wrap Up
Day 2 (February 11, 2009 from 4:00 – 6:00pm)
Day 3
4:00 - Review and Focus
4:15 - Content & Strategies for Writing
5:00 - Content & Strategies for
Reading
5:15 - Activity & Dinner
5:30 -Content & Strategies for Social
Studies
6:00 - Wrap Up
4:00 - Review & Focus
4:15 - Content & Strategies for Math
5:00 - Content & Strategies for
Science
5:30 - Activity & Dinner
6:00 - Wrap Up
(February 18, 2009 from 4:00 – 6:00pm)
Expectations
What do you know about the MME?
Process: What rules apply when
taking the MME? (What occurs the days
before, during and after the administration of
the MME ?)
Content: What information is
“fair game” to test on the MME?
Format: What type of test is the
MME? How is the MME
organized? (What testing question stems,
vocabulary and test taking skills promote
success on the MME?)
Data: What information do you
get back from the MME?
What else do you know about the MME? (any random facts)
Why the MME?
(Why not just ACT or no test at all...)
• Public Act 451 (Revised in 2006-MCL 380.1279g): This law states
“all pupils in grade 11 shall be administered the state
assessment (i.e. the Michigan Merit Exam)” in accordance
to the federal no child left behind act of 2001 and meet the
following criteria:
▫ Assessment instruments that measure English language arts,
mathematics, reading, and science and are used by colleges
and universities in this state for entrance or placement
purposes
▫ One or more tests from 1 or more test developers that assess a
pupil's ability to apply reading and mathematics skills in a
manner that is intended to allow employers to use the results
in making employment decisions
▫ A social studies component
▫ Alignment with the Michigan Merit Curriculum high school
content expectations.
After all that, the ACT/WorkKeys don’t actually test
ALL the needed HSCE, so they created additional
Math and Science tests also to satisfy the last
requirement.
This
requirement is
satisfied by the
ACT + Writing
Test.
This
requirement is
satisfied by the
3 WorkKeys
Tests
This requirement is
satisfied by the
additional Michigan
developed test.
What do you get out of it?
• The Michigan Promise Scholarship
http://www.michigan.gov/mde/0,1607,7-140-22709_35150-204760--,00.html or
http://www.michigan.gov/mistudentaid/0,1607,7-128-38193_44522---,00.html
▫ By having valid scores you get up to $4000 for
further education.
▫ By having passing scores (Level 1’s & 2’s) you get
that money earlier!
MME Schedule
2009 MME Test Breakout
(Only included items that count towards MME score– not # of items assessed)
Social Studies
Science
= ACT or WorkKeys
Assessment (Day 1 & 2)
= Michigan Component
Assessment (Day 3)
Mathematics
18%
27%
38%
62%
73%
82%
Reading
Writing
ELA
100%
100%
100%
MME Contributing Components
# of
Questions
75
37
37
30
60
40
35
35
20
40
12
33
33
15
12
15
15
38
8
34
20
49
42
6
32
28
Additional Process and Format Packet
• Skim through the additional Process and Format
Packet. (5 – 10 minutes)
• High light anything you didn’t know before or
that stands out to you.
• As a group of 3 – 5, each person share at least 2
pieces of valuable information. No one can share
redundant information. (5 – 10 minutes)
Let’s check for understanding
and play... MME Squares!
Mini-Practice Test
• You will have 8 minutes to complete each of the 4 ACT
like assessments. If you finish the test early, you may
check over your answers for the current test or wait
silently until the test time is up.
• You will complete one test at a time, without looking
ahead to the next test and do not go back to a previous
test after the 8 minutes are up.
• The test order will be English, Math, Reading, then
Science.
• You will have a 5 minute break between Math and
Reading.
Dinner Break and Answer Key
• While enjoying dinner take a few minutes to
score your own test.
• As a group of 3 – 5, write as many test strategies
as you can think of that helped you perform on
the test.
• Do your strategies match with the research?
General Test Strategies for MME
• Reverse Triage: Deciding whether to do a question now, later, or much later is a
crucial part of improving ACT results. The point of Triage is to help you invest your
time more profitably. ACT is a strictly timed test. Remember that easy questions are
worth just as much as hard questions. So do the easy ones first.
• “First Pass, Second Pass” – On the first pass, do the questions you know how to
do. On the second pass, do the questions you think you know how to do.
• The ACT is a multiple-choice test. This means you don’t have to come up with an
answer; you just have to identify the correct answer from among the choices
provided.
• There is no penalty for guessing. There are 215 total questions on the ACT. If
you went into the test room and filled out your name then went to sleep… obviously
your score would be a zero. However, if you went into the test room, filled out your
name and then picked answer B 215 times, guess what your composite score would
be? 12! I don’t recommend random guessing as an overall strategy, but you can see
that it is better to answer every question even if it is guessing than leaving anything
blank.
• P.O.E = The Process of Elimination. POE will enable you to make your guesses
really count. Sometimes it is easier to spot incorrect answers than correct ones. By
eliminating one or two incorrect answers, your odds of picking the right answer just
got better
Wrap Up...
• Practice for next time...
▫ The ACT Assessment Sample Test Booklet
▫ The ACT Assessment Writing Test
• Try out at least one of the test strategies and see if you increase
your average score.
• Our next session is on Feb. 11 from 4:00 – 6:00 and will focus on the :
▫
▫
▫
▫
Essay Writing portion of the ACT
Reading and English Multiple Choice portion of the ACT
WorkKeys Reading for Information
Michigan Social Studies Test
• Feel free to email me if you have questions or are struggling on a
specific part of the test. Any questions or concepts that you
really want help on, we can address at the next session, if you
email me ahead of time. (tovah.sheldon@jcisd.org)
Resources
Practice Tests:
• http://www.actstudent.org/sampletest/index.html
More Information:
www.act.org
www.act.org/workkeys
www.mich.gov/mde
www.mich.gov/mme
www.mich.gov/oeaa
4:00
Michigan Merit Exam
Prep Course
for High School Students
Feb. 4, 11 & 18, 2009
4:00 – 6:00 pm
Session
#2
Presented by:
Tovah Sheldon
JCISD Data, Assessment and Curriculum Coordinator
Tovah.Sheldon@jcisd.org
Agenda
Day 1
4:00
4:15
4:45
5:00
5:30
6:00
(February 4, 2009 from 4:00 – 6:00pm)
- Norms/Expectations
- Activity- What do you know?
- Process & Format of the MME (MME Squares)
- Practice Mini - Timed Test
- Basic Test Strategies & Dinner
- Wrap Up
Day 2 (February 11, 2009 from 4:00 – 6:00pm)
Day 3
4:00 - Review and Focus
4:15 - Content & Strategies for Writing
5:00 - Content & Strategies for
Reading
5:15 - Activity & Dinner
5:30 - Content & Strategies for Social
Studies
6:00 - Wrap Up
4:00 - Review & Focus
4:15 - Content & Strategies for Math
5:00 - Content & Strategies for
Science
5:30 - Activity & Dinner
6:00 - Wrap Up
(February 18, 2009 from 4:00 – 6:00pm)
Expectations
What worked?
Reading and Writing
Content & Strategies
• It is fair game to test any of the 91 English Language Arts (Reading and
Writing) High School Content Expectations on the four tests that count
toward your MME E L A Score.
(http://www.michigan.gov/documents/ELA11-14open1_142201_7.pdf)
ACT Writing, ACT English, ACT Reading, and Work K eys Reading for Information
• Even though the ACT English test has 37 questions that count towards the
MME Writing Score, The Writing Essay test worth 12 points is weighted
more for your MME Writing Score. The essay will be the last test you take
on Day 1 and you’ll be exhausted!
• Remember, when you finish with one test, erase it from your mind and
start fresh!
The Writing Essay Test:
What is the ACT Writing Rubric?
• 6 point rubric (see next slide/handouts)
• Each essay is read and scored by two readers
(giving a total of 12 points)
• Looking at samples... Range Finding Activity
▫ As a table pick an anchor paper, read it
independently, give it a score, then talk as a group
until you agree.
▫ Repeat the process for as many anchor papers as
possible.
▫ You have 15 minutes to do as many anchor papers as
possible.
Six Point Holistic Scoring Rubric
Six Point Holistic Scoring Rubric
Six Point Holistic Scoring Rubric
The Writing Essay Test:
What is the ACT Writing Rubric?
• 6 point rubric (see next slide/handouts)
• Each essay is read and scored by two readers
(giving a total of 12 points)
• Looking at samples... Range Finding Activity
▫ As a table pick an anchor paper, read it
independently, give it a score, then talk as a group
until you agree.
▫ Repeat the process for as many anchor papers as
possible.
▫ You have 15 minutes to do as many anchor papers as
possible.
How did your group do?
• Using the Anchor Paper Answer Key, check how
many papers you or your group score correctly?
The Essay Writing Test Portion Continued...
• What the graders are grading:
▫
▫
▫
▫
▫
Take a position on the prompt.
Maintain focus on the topic.
Support your ideas.
Organize your ideas.
Use language clearly and effectively.
• Make it easy for the graders to
give you a top score by:
▫ Showing that you have a thesis.
▫ Clearly show your essay has structure.
▫ Provide relevant, concise examples.
Steps to Writing for the ACT:
Step 1:
Work with the prompt to brainstorm
Step 2:
Structure your essay. ( short outline)
I. Introduction Paragraph
▫ Paraphrase the Prompt
▫ State your Thesis
II. Con Body Paragraph
▫ Topic Sentence
▫ Con Example
III. Pro Body Paragraph
▫ Topic Sentence
▫ Pro Example
IV. Pro Body Paragraph II
▫ Topic Sentence
▫ Pro Example II
V. Conclusion
▫ Restate Thesis
Introduction – frame the discussion, and then state
your thesis.
Body paragraphs – support your position by making a
good transition/topic sentence, giving a relevant
example, and then explaining how the example
supports your position. Also provide the cons or
attack the other position.
Conclusions – should restate the thesis
Step 3:
Put it all together and proofread when you are
done.
Things to keep in mind:
Length
...should be 5 paragraphs. N o less.
Sentence ...vary short and long sentences, but be careful of
Structure grammatical mistakes.
Diction
...use word choice wisely. If you are uncertain
about the meaning or spelling of a word, just
pick a different word and try not to be
repetitive.
Neatness ...make sure to indent. Don’t go over the lines or
write down the side of the paper. Avoid messy
cross-outs and make sure your handwriting is
as legible as possible.
ACT English Test Strategies
• You need to know what types of errors (punctuation, grammar,
sentence structure, and rhetorical skills) crop up again and
again – and how to fix them. Use Reverse Triage (now, later, or
much later).
• Don’t rely on your ear; look for specific errors. Just less than
2 5 % of the time there is nothing wrong with the question and
the right answer is “ N O C H A N G E ” .
• The best way to tackle this test is to
practice, practice, practice and then
practice more (and worst case scenario...at
least guess!)
http://classroom.jc-schools.net/basic/la-grammar.html
ACT Reading Test Strategies
• Attack the passages in the order that best suits you.
• See through the camouflage that hides correct answer choices.
▫ Look for answer choices that reword parts of the passages.
▫ “ Read between the lines” to make inferences.
• Identify incorrect answer choices and eliminate them quickly.
• Answer questions without really reading the passages.
• Put all these techniques together in order to approach every passage and
questions with a step-by-step strategy that leads systematically to the correct
answers.
• Reading Test Topics (Remember to pick the order that best suits YOU.)
▫ Natural Science Passages
 Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and Physical Sciences.
 Mostly filled with lots of details and dry technical description.
▫ Fiction Passages
 Excerpts from short stories and novels.
 Mostly concerned with who, what, where, when, and why.
 Contains hints and suggestions about characters and their motivations.
▫ Social Science
 History, Economics, Psychology, Political Sciences, and Anthropology.
 The author will often have a viewpoint about the subject
▫
Humanities Passages
 Art, Music, Architecture, and Dance.
 The author will often have a viewpoint about the subject.
WorkKeys: “Reading for Information ”
Test Strategies
• Use similar strategies to the ACT Reading test.
• WorkKeys is only 33 questions in 40 minutes.
• The test is to measure the skills people use when they
read and use written texts in order to do a job. The
written texts include memos, letters, directions, notices
bulletins, policies and regulations.
• It is often the case that these workplace
communications are not well written or targeted to the
appropriate audience. (See examples in packet).
Dinner break...
Dinner and Data
What score
should you
shoot for?
Try to exceed the
“College
Readiness
Benchmarks”
indicated on the
table to the
left...
Test
Scale
Score
Raw
Score
Approx.
%
correct
of raw
score
(Bench
mark
out of
36)
English
18
39-41
out of
75
53%
Math
22
33-34
out of
60
55%
Reading
21
23 out
of 40
58%
Science
24
29 out
of 40
73%
Social Studies Test Content &
Strategies
• The Social Studies Test is based on the old Michigan
Curriculum Frameworks and has 42 questions on the
Michigan Component in 40 minutes & 38 questions on the
WorkKeys “Locating Information” test in 45 minutes.
• There are 7 - 11 questions per topic (History, Geography,
Civics and Economics) on the Michigan Social Studies test.
Remember this is the last test on the last day...
▫ Do the questions you know F I R S T !
▫ Use P.O.E. and identify incorrect answer choices and
eliminate them quickly.
• “Locating Information” assessment tests inquiry ability (see
Locating Information Skills page – Levels 3 – 7 with
examples).
Wrap Up...
• Practice for next time...
▫ The ACT Assessment Writing Test
• Try out at least one of the test strategies and see if you increase
your average score.
• Our next session is on Feb. 1 8 from 4:00 – 6:00 and will focus on the:
▫
▫
▫
▫
▫
Mathematics portion of the ACT
Work Keys Applied Mathematics
Michigan Mathematics Test
Science portion of the ACT
Michigan Science Test
• Feel free to email me if you have questions or are struggling on a
specific part of the test. Any questions or concepts that you
really want help on, we can address at the next session, if you
email me ahead of time. (tovah.sheldon@jcisd.org)
4:00
Michigan Merit
Exam Prep Course
for High School Students
Feb. 4, 11 & 18, 2009
4:00 – 6:00 pm
Session
#3
Presented by:
Tovah Sheldon
JCISD Data, Assessment and Curriculum Coordinator
Tovah.Sheldon@jcisd.org
Agenda
Day 1
4:00
4:15
4:45
5:00
5:30
6:00
(February 4, 2009 from 4:00 – 6:00pm)
- Norms/Expectations
- Activity- What do you know?
- Process & Format of the MME (MME Squares)
- Practice Mini - Timed Test
- Basic Test Strategies & Dinner
- Wrap Up
Day 2 (February 11, 2009 from 4:00 – 6:00pm)
Day 3
4:00 - Review and Focus
4:15 - Content & Strategies for Writing
5:00 - Content & Strategies for
Reading
5:15 - Activity & Dinner
5:30 - Content & Strategies for Social
Studies
6:00 - Wrap Up
4:00 - Review & Focus
4:15 - Content & Strategies for Math
5:00 - Content & Strategies for
Science
5:30 - Activity & Dinner
6:00 - Wrap Up
(February 18, 2009 from 4:00 – 6:00pm)
Mathematics Test Content
• ALL High School Content Expectation from
Algebra I and Geometry are fair game. Also,
MOST of the HSCE from Algebra II are
allowed to be on the test AND some of the ACT
questions and WorkKeys questions will test
content which was learned prior to high
school.
• Read for yourself...
▫ http://www.michigan.gov/mde/0,1607,7-140-38924_41644_42668--,00.html or www.mich.gov/mathematics
▫ http://mi-math-companion.wikispaces.com/
ACT Mathematics Strategies
• The ACT is intentionally set up to have easy, medium and hard questions.
Some will have just one step and take less than one minute while other will
have more than three steps to solving them and could take more
like three to five minutes. Don’t forget to use Reverse Triage.
• Avoid Partial Answers. This is one way ACT “tricks” test takers. Make sure
you underline and/or are clear on what the actual problem is asking, so that
you do all the steps needed to reach the final answer.
• Use POE and Common Sense. Having good number sense give you good
common sense in math.
• Of the 60 questions, usually 2 are “red herrings”. Those are questions that
contain more information that is needed to solve the problem. Just make
sure to really read each question carefully.
ACT Mathematics Strategies Continued...
• Know what you are tackling and know that you won’t
know the answer to EVERY question...
Pre-Algebra and Elementary Algebra (24
Questions)
Basic Terms: real numbers, rational numbers,
irrational numbers, integers, positive, and
negative, even and odd, digits, prime numbers,
absolute value, variables and coefficients.
Basic Operations: divisibility rules, sum, product,
difference, quotient, factors, and multiples
Basic Symbols: equal, not equal, less than,
greater than, less than or equal to, greater than
or equal to.
Exponents: Multiplying numbers with the same
base, dividing numbers with the same base,
negative powers, fractional powers, raising a
power to a power, the zero power, the first
power, and distributing exponents. (be careful
with parenthesis)
Radicals: Square roots (only give the positive
root).
Order of Operations, fractions, decimals,
scientific notation, ratios, percents, averages,
and word problems.
Intermediate Algebra and Coordinate Geometry (18 Questions)
Based on exponents, square roots, factoring, writing equations,
inequalities, simultaneous equations, and graphing.
The Basic Equation (when x has a particular value), The Cosmic
Equation (when x has no particular value), Simultaneous Equations,
Inequalities, & Logarithms
Know the “Golden Rule of Algebra: Whatever you do to one side of an
equation, you have to do to the other side.”
Some options for solving: work backwards, do the translation, & plug it
in.
ACT’s favorite quadratic equations: Train yourself to recognize these
both factored and unfactored.
x2 – y2 = (x + y) (x - y)
x2 + 2xy + y2 = (x + y)2
x2 – 2xy + y2 = (x – y)2
Graphing Inequalities (open circles, closed dot)
Important formulas for Coordinate Geometry to memorize:
The Y-intercept formula: y = mx + b
The Slope formula: slope = change in y or y1 –y2
change in x
x1 – x2
The Midpoint formula: (x[m], y[m]) = x1 + x2 , y1 + y2
2
2
Circles, Ellipses and Parabolas you should have a vague ideas of what
these equations look like but you don’t have to memorize these extra
tough ones…
ACT Mathematics Strategies Continued...
• Know what you are tackling and know that you won’t
know the answer to EVERY question...
Geometry (14 Questions)
Based on angles (supplementary, vertical), lengths,
triangles (types), quadrilaterals, parallel lines,
areas (formulas), perimeters, circles (radius,
chord, area and circumference formulas), and
volumes.
Know degrees in a: circle, line, perpendicular
angle, triangle, quadrilateral, etc.
Be on the look out for problems which the
application of Pythagorean theorem is not obvious
but can be used.
Be on the look out for figures/diagrams… they are
not necessarily “to scale”. ACT states most figures
are drawn “reasonably accurate” but not “EVERY
diagram is drawn EXACTLY to scale”, so don’t rely
on them and don’t be mislead.
You may want to just draw your own diagram if
there is no one included for you.
Basic Trigonometry (4 Questions)
Based on SOHCAHTOA and some other
basic trigonometry formulas.
Two of the four trig questions will deal with
right triangles.
SOHCAHTOA = Sine is Opposite over
Hypotenuse. Cosine is Adjacent over
Hypotenuse. Tangent is Opposite over
Adjacent.
Other basic formulas:
Cosecant =
1 ,
sine
Secant =
1 ,
cosine
Cotangent =
1 ,
tangent
Sin2 + Cos2 = 1
Sin  = Tan 
Cos 
WorkKeys “Applied Mathematics”
Strategies
•The
test is 33 in 45 minutes.
•This
assessment tests the skills people use when they use
mathematical reasoning and problem-solving techniques to
solve work-related problems.
•Employees
may use calculators and conversion tables to
help with the problems, but they still need to use math skills
to think them through. (See examples with Levels 3 – 7)
Partner “Talk It Through” Activity
Sample Item – Level 6
You are preparing to tile the floor of a rectangular room
that is 15½ feet by 18½ feet in size. The tiles you plan to
use are square, measuring 12 inches on each side, and are
sold in boxes that contain enough tile to cover 25 square
feet. How many boxes of tiles must you order to complete
the job?
A. 11
B. 12
C. 34
D. 59
E. 287
Michigan Mathematics Strategies
• By this time, you will be beginning your last day
of testing!
Mathematics
27%
73%
Science Test Content
• ALL Essential Science High
School Content Expectation
will be fair game on the two
assessments that make up
the MME Science score.
• The ACT Science and
Michigan Science Test are
VERY different skills, but use
the same strategies!
Science
38%
62%
ACT Science Reasoning Test
• This test is more like a reading test whose sole subject matter is science.
What you do need is an understanding of the scientific method
and how to interpret charts, graphs and tables. Time
management is key in this section of the ACT.
Charts and Graphs
a.k.a. Data
Representation
(3 passages, 15 questions)
•Look at the variables and
the units used.
•Not every graph is a bar
graph (other graphs used
are: linear graphs, graphs
with curves, scatter
graphs, and flat lines)
Experiments a.k.a.
Research Summaries
(3 passages, 18 questions)
•Identify the research
objective
•Follow the procedure and
identify the variable.
•Take notes on each step
within the experiment.
•Study the results. Look
for assumptions.
Fighting scientists
a.k.a. Conflicting
Viewpoints
(1 passage, 7 questions)
•Identify the
disagreement.
•Identify the type of
questions. Assumptions
are probably made here.
ACT Science Reasoning Four-Step
Strategy (much like the Reading section)
• Scan the passage.
• Look at each question and identify its type.
▫ Understanding -Tests your ability to paraphrase specific parts of the
passage, find the assumption of an argument or in the underlying point of an
experiment, and/or find the control of the study. Look for the variable that
has not been manipulated or exposed.
▫ Analysis - Tests for deeper understanding of the information. You may
have to consider more than one part of the passage. You will need to
recognize relationships between different pieces of information. Then, figure
out why something happened or what is going to happen.
▫ Generalization - Requires you to see thing in perspective – “the bigger
picture”. You will be asked to relate the information, events, or ideas to
something not described in the passage, more like in “the real world”.
• Guesstimate (make rough estimates interpreting charts and graphs)
• Use POE= Process of Elimination.
Michigan Science Test Strategies
• Since 62% of the MME Science Score comes from the Michigan
Science Test component, it is KEY to demonstrate your
knowledge here.
• Remember there are 49 questions in 40 minutes... So practice
the same strategies as before: scan the passage, use POE, guess
if you don’t know (it is better than not finishing), etc. You may
run out of time if you aren’t careful.
• There will be 8-13 questions per content area: Earth Science,
Biology, Physics and Chemistry.
• The test will vary in difficulty meaning some will be
knowledge/fact based, while others will be application or ask
you to synthesize information to “predict” or “infer” what will
happen.
Dinner and Data Continued...
• What will happen after the test?
▫ 3 -4 weeks after your test you’ll get an ACT Student Report back to
you directly (in addition your scores will have been sent directly to
your high school and the colleges you wrote on your profile)
http://www.actstudent.org/scores/understand/studentreport.html
▫ Similarly, you will get the results back from the WorkKeys test and
see which level you have been awarded for the NCRC (National
Career Readiness Certificate). This award is either Bronze (3’s) Silver
(4’s) or Gold (5’s and higher). This certificate should go in your
electronic portfolio and should be noted on your resume for work or
college application.
http://www.act.org/workkeys/education/students/report.html
▫ It won’t be until June or even into AUGUST that your actual MME
scores are released and you will know if you earned valid and/or
passing scores in all subject areas.
http://www.michigan.gov/documents/mde/FINAL_MME_Guide_to_Reports_Spring_2
008_v8.12.08_245108_7.pdf
Wrap Up...
• Thank you for your time and participation! Good
Luck on the MME!!!