District Wide Assessments, Test Anxiety & Test Taking Strategies Ms. Welsh Classroom Guidance September 14- September 17, 2015
What tests do I take? SRI Scholastic Reading Inventory Measures you are reading at grade level (BOY, MOY, EOY) whether Agile Math Assessment for students in Algebra I and Geometry (BOY & EOY) September 14 17 PSAT/NMSQT Practice Scholastic Aptitude Test/ National Merit Scholarship October 14, 2014 SAT Scholastic Aptitude Test October 14 & March 2
SAT is used by colleges and universities to measure what you learn in high school and what you need to succeed in college. Often determines whether you will be required to take remedial course as a college freshman Save your parents money Remedial courses do not earn you credit towards your degree, yet you are charged for the course. PSAT/NMSQT is a practice test to familiarize you with the actual SAT, used by counselors to determine AP strengths, and shows areas of strength and areas for improvement.
Test Comparison Test Dates/Window PSAT/NMSQT PSAT 10 Spring Only PSAT/NMSQT October 14, 2015 SAT First Administration March 5, 2016 ALL JUNIORS!! Time 2 hours and 45 minutes 3 hours (50 minutes for optional essay) Sections - Evidence-based Reading and Writing - Math - Evidence-based reading and Writing - Math Total Scores with Scale Range 320 1520 400 1800 Test - Reading - Writing and Language - Math - Reading - Writing and Language - Math Essay N/A Essay (optional)
Optional Essay To see a list of colleges that require the essay for their application, go to https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org /sat/register/college-essay-policies
Eight Key Changes to SAT Relevant words in context Command of evidence Essay analyzing a source Math focused on three key areas Problems grounded in real-world context Analysis in science and social studies Founding documents and great global conversation No penalty for wrong answers
PSAT/SAT Practice https://www.khanacademy.org/sat Khan Academy is the platform for online test practice All Boys and Girls Clubs have partnered to offer students access to practice for free!
Best Practices for SAT Success The best way to prepare for the test is to: Take challenging courses Do your homework Prepare for tests and quizzes Ask and answer lots of questions Read for pleasure and for research on your interests, colleges, and careers
PSAT/ SAT Prep Session with Mr. Saahir Mondays, Tuesdays, & Thursday Afterschool 3:30-4:30 Room G 210
Do you think you are prepared for a test and then forget everything in the moment?
What is Test Anxiety? Test anxiety is when a student excessively worries about doing well on a test, that can impact their testing performance. This can become a major hindrance on test performance and cause extreme nervousness and memory lapses among other symptoms.
Test Taking Tips Being well prepared for the test is the best way to reduce test taking anxiety. Space out your studying over a few days or weeks and continually review class material. Don't try to learn everything the night before. Try to maintain a positive attitude while preparing for the test and during the test. Exercising for a few days before the test will help reduce stress. Get a good night's sleep before the test. Show up to class early so you won't have to worry about being late.
Test Taking Tips Stay relaxed, if you begin to get nervous take a few deep breaths slowly to relax yourself and then get back to work. Read the directions slowly and carefully. If you don't understand the directions on the test, ask the teacher to explain it to you. Skim through the test so that you have a good idea how to pace yourself. Write down important formulas, facts, definitions and/or keywords in the margin first so you won't worry about forgetting them. Do the simple questions first to help build up your confidence for the harder questions.
Test Taking Tips Don't worry about how fast other people finish their test; just concentrate on your own test. If you don't know an answer to a question skip it for the time being (come back to it later if you have time), Remember that you don't have to always get every question right to do well on the test. Focus on the question at hand. Don't let your mind wander on other things. If you're still experiencing extreme test anxiety after following these tips, seek help from your school counselor or social worker
Good Luck!