Grade 11. College search information and resources. Student task list

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1 Grade 11 This is the year for standardized tests (SAT and ACT) and intensified college and career searches. Students need support, encouragement, and guidance as they begin to organize the multiple deadlines and forms in the college application process. School counselors and VSAC can help. College search information and resources At you ll find search tools and other online resources to help you look for schools that match your preferences, needs, and budget; checklists and other documents to help you stay on task and well organized; and info on shortterm training opportunities that offer an alternative to four-year college programs. Student task list c Begin your college search. See pages for factors to consider when researching colleges. Start identifying schools you may want to visit during spring or summer vacation. c Begin attending college fairs. Check out suggested questions on page 24. c Prepare for standardized tests. For information on the SAT and ACT, see pages c Register for VSAC s College Pathways, a free day-long conference for juniors and their parents offered every spring. For dates, locations, and registration, visit or call in early February. c Learn about financial aid and scholarships; attend a VSAC Paying for College financial aid night in your community. For dates of presentations in your area, log onto (click on Calendar of Events toward the bottom of the home page) or check with your school s counseling office. c Take a dual enrollment course this year and explore the option of early college for senior year. To learn more, visit enrollment.org and College preparation kicks into high gear this year. Meeting with a school counselor early in the process will keep students on the right track! Also check out the monthly planning tips at 17

2 Parent/adult task list Parents, continue to check on grades and ask about assignments. For many students, junior year is the most academically challenging. According a survey by the U.S. Department of Education, 73 percent of young teens want to spend more time with their parents. Make time for them! Get to know who they re growing up to be. c Have engaging conversations that explore your student s personality, likes, and dislikes. Talk about nonacademic concerns and joys. c Attend open houses and teacher conferences at your student s school. c Continue discussing and exploring college options with your student. c Get to know the resources offered by the high school counseling office. c Help your student register in the fall for the PSAT/NMSQT and in the spring for the SAT or ACT. c Begin visiting colleges with your student (see pages for tips). c Learn about financial aid and scholarship options. During the fall, VSAC holds Paying for College financial aid nights at high schools throughout the state. For dates of presentations in your area, log onto If you re unable to attend, view our online version at In addition, contact local financial institutions to find out if they have information sessions and/or financial aid resources. c Attend VSAC s College Pathways, a free conference for juniors and parents held every spring. Visit for details and registration or call in early February. Standardized tests Standardized tests such as the SAT and ACT indicate where a student stands in comparison to other students nationwide. Scores are also used to determine eligibility for some scholarships. Standardized tests may be optional; check with the college to see if it s required. For a list of colleges that do not required standardized testing, go to A standardized test is not an intelligence test; your student can t fail. In the application process, most colleges place the most weight on high school coursework and grades not on test scores. Tests have registration deadlines. Registration fees can be waived for students with financial need (your student s school counselor can help determine whether your student qualifies). Students should check college websites or catalogs to see what tests, if any, colleges require or prefer. The essay section of a standardized test may be optionl; check with the college to see if it s required. 18

3 Types of standardized tests The SAT is an aptitude and achievement test designed to assess a student s ability to handle the kind of reading and math that students will encounter in college and their future work lives. The ACT is a standardized college admissions test that measures a student s knowledge of English, mathematics, reading, and science skills. The PSAT is a practice test for the SAT, most often taken in October of junior year. It is not part of the admissions process. The ACT ASPIRE is a computer-based assessment that measures the development of knowledge and skills. These tests identify student strengths and focus areas for educators and parents. The TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) is for students who do not speak English as their first language. This test may help colleges determine student proficiency and, in some cases, may be required in order to determine class placement. Preparing Several free practice tests, in addition to apps (see page 20) are available to help students prepare for and study for the PSAT, SAT, and ACT. Online resources ASPIRE: ACT: PSAT: SAT: Number 2: (ACT, SAT, and GRE) For more test prep tools and materials, go to get-ready/standardized-tests. Both the SAT and the ACT are usually taken in the spring of junior year and again the fall of senior year if students want to improve their scores. For both of these tests, results arrive 3-6 weeks after the test. Be aware of the differences between the ACT and the SAT. Some colleges accept the ACT in place of both the SAT reasoning test and SAT subject tests. Taking one test instead of two can save time and money. See page 21 for more information. Many high schools offer free workshops or classes to help students prepare for the SAT and ACT. Students should inquire at their high school counseling office for more information. 19

4 SAT or ACT? Most colleges and universities will accept the SAT or the ACT. Some students find that one test makes better use of their strengths than the other does. Each year an increasing number of students take both tests so they can submit the better set of scores to admissions offices. Students should take practice tests to determine which test(s) to take, based on their strengths and abilities, and based on the application requirements of the schools they re considering. Students should check with colleges to see if the optional essay portion of the test is required, though they re encouraged to take it. TOEFL The TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) measures a student s ability to use and understand English at the college level. It also evaluates how well a student can combine his or her listening, reading, speaking, and writing skills to complete academic work. SAT subject tests In addition to the standard SAT reasoning test, SAT subject tests are required by some of the more competitive colleges either for admission or for placement in a specific program. These one-hour tests assess a student s knowledge in specific subjects (English, math, science, history, foreign language). Students cannot take SAT subject tests on the same day they take the SAT reasoning test. Students must register separately for subject tests. A student can take one, two, or three subject tests in a single morning. For each test there is a fee, which can be waived for students with There s an app for that SAT Flashcard Review provides more than 5,000 flashcards for test practice, along with tools to help you focus on problem vocabulary words. BenchPrep gives students access to dozens of different kinds of test prep materials for AP exams, the SAT, and the ACT. SAT Question of the Day provides prep questions on vocabulary, science, and math for the SAT ACT MathPrep & ACT Verbal Prep in flash card review provide the ultimate ACT study guides in an app. istudiezpro helps students stay organized with test days, admissions applications, homework, jobs, and more. Naviance Student helps students organize schoolwork and the college planning process. Your school must use Naviance in order for you to utilize the app, but most Vermont schools do. 20

5 SAT vs. ACT When students typically take it When it is administered Test structure Test content Penalty for wrong answers Scoring Scores sent to schools Other uses When to register Test dates and more information Spring of junior year and/or fall of senior year Seven times per year Three major sections: mathematics, evidence-based reading and writing, and optional essay Math: up to ninth grade geometry and Algebra II No science section Reading: sentence completions; short and long critical reading passages; reading comprehension with a stress on vocabulary; questions testing grammar, usage, and word choice No per reading & writing and math sections; score scale of 1600, with separate score for essay A score-choice option allows students to choose which schools will receive their scores and which scores the schools will see. Scholarship purposes At least five weeks before the test date The College Board Junior year and/or fall of senior year Six times per year Four sections: English, math, reading, and science reasoning; experimental section is added to tests on certain dates only and is clearly experimental; optional fifth section on writing Math: up to trigonometry Science section Reading: four passages one each on prose fiction, social science, humanities, and natural science; English section stresses grammar No 1 36 for each subject, averaged for a composite score Highest possible composite score: 36 A score-choice option allows students to choose which schools will receive their scores and which scores the schools will see. Scholarship purposes Certain statewide testing programs At least five weeks before the test date ACT, Inc. 21