Welcome to College Night Workshop: SAT/ACT Preparation and Hints for Success by Steve Hansen (Thanks to Saralyn Crossen, creator of this Powerpoint)

Transcription

1 Welcome to College Night Workshop: SAT/ACT Preparation and Hints for Success by Steve Hansen (Thanks to Saralyn Crossen, creator of this Powerpoint)

2 What colleges are looking for: Strength of your curriculum Your GPA SAT, ACT and SAT Subject Test Scores Application essays Extracurricular activities Recommendations

3 What is the SAT? Ten-section exam: Math: through algebra 2 Reading: sentence completions, short and long critical reading interpretation passages, reading comprehension Writing: grammar rules, word usage, word choice, and a mandatory essay There is a penalty for answering a question incorrectly, a ¼ of a point for each wrong answer Test is administered 7 times per year

4 What is the ACT? Four-section exam, plus one optional section: English, Math, Reading, Science, Reasoning, and Writing (optional). Experimental section is added to the exam only on certain dates and is clearly marked. Math: up to trigonometry Science: charts, graphs, data Reading: four passages, one each of prose fiction, social sciences, humanities, and natural sciences English: stresses grammar Writing: optional essay There is not a penalty for incorrect answers Test is administered 6 times per year

5 SAT vs ACT The SAT is more of an aptitude test, testing reasoning and verbal abilities. The SAT has only 3 components: Critical Reading, Mathematics, and a required Writing Test. 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.

6 SAT vs ACT The College Board introduced a new version of the SAT in 2005, with a mandatory writing test. The SAT penalizes you for wrong answers, so guessing is discouraged. ACT continues to offer its well-established test, plus an optional writing test. You take the ACT Writing Test only if required or requested by the college(s) you're applying to. The ACT is scored based on the number of correct answers with no penalty for guessing

7 SAT vs. ACT SAT: Required for admission by most U.S. colleges. Unless you enroll in Score Choice, all of your scores will be reported to colleges. 3 scores: Critical Reading, Math, and Writing. Assesses critical thinking and problem solving skills. ACT: Accepted by virtually all colleges as an alternative to the SAT. You can take it more than once and choose which scores get sent to colleges. 1 score (1 to 36) on each test (English, Math, Reading and Science), and a composite ACT score which is an average of these 4 tests. Is a content-based test

8 SAT and ACT tests are offered: SAT: Fall, winter, or spring of junior year; fall of senior year. ACT: February, April, or June of your junior year; fall of your senior year. The tests are hosted at different schools/locations depending on the test dates. The SAT is only given in Placer and Yuba Counties and the ACT is given at NU a couple times per year. For specific dates and locations: College Board Test Center Search Know your college application deadlines

9 What is a good SAT or ACT Score? The higher the better! SAT: 2400 is perfect, the National average is about a 1509, an 1800 is a strong score, and if you go above a 2000 you will likely attract a lot more colleges. ACT: 36 is perfect, the National average is about a 21, a 26 is a strong score, and if you go above a 30 you will likely attract a lot more colleges.

10 Get Prepared! Free sample questions Practice tests Take an online course Purchase a study guide Take a workshop Free Webinar

11 Test Day Checklist Your admissions ticket Two No. 2 pencils and a soft eraser An Acceptable Calculator Nice to Have: A watch (without an audible alarm) Extra batteries and backup equipment A bag or backpack A drink or snacks (for your break)

12 Test Day Checklist Photo identification: You must submit a photo with your registration for the SAT. The photo you provide will become part of your Admission Ticket. You will be asked to upload a digital photo during online registration. Your appearance in the photo must match how you will look on the day of the test or you will not be admitted to the test. Acceptable ID: Government-issued driver's license or non-driver ID card. Official school-produced student-identification card from the school you currently attend, Government-issued passport, Governmentissued military or national identification card. College Board s Student ID Form, which is available from your school counselor and must be prepared by the school you currently attend. Talent Identification Program ID or Authorization to Test form (allowed for grades seven and eight only; photo not required).

13 SAT Subject Tests The SAT s lesser-known cousins, the SAT Subject Tests are a required component for the admissions process at about 160 elite private schools. Even if a college doesn t require them, submitting Subject Test scores can provide an essential boost to your application by showing your strength in specific academic areas. Subject tests are one-hour, multiple-choice exams which focus on individual subjects and are offered in 20 subject areas: including English, Math, Science, History and Languages.

14 Resources Nevada Union- PSAT and PLAN practice tests are given in October Daniel Shulmann - Local PREP (7737) Sierra College in Rocklin provides a class through their Kaleidoscope Community Education Program College Board (and other online websites) Practice Tests The Princeton Review (now offers a free webinar) Eureka Review Career Cruising (offers tips on the SAT and a test prep for the PSAT)

15 QUESTIONS?