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Welcome!

Review of PSAT

Overview of SAT and ACT

Next Steps

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Why Admissions Tests Matter

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Why Admissions Tests Matter Merit scholarships are awarded based on test scores and grades

Nearly 90% of colleges placed considerable or moderate importance on test scores*

Some employers today are even asking to see applicant’s old SAT scores**

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Why Admissions Tests Matter 40.00% 35.00% 30.00% 25.00% 20.00%

Acceptance Rate 2013

15.00%

Acceptance Rate 2014

10.00% 5.00% 0.00% Northwestern

U Penn

Stanford

UCLA

Duke

Boston University

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New PSAT/NMSQT Overview Category

Timing

Features 2 hours, 45 minutes

Structure

Aligned with the New SAT, and almost the same length No Essay

Scoring

 No wrong-answer penalty  Now scored on a scale of 1520  Evidence-Based Reading & Writing  Math

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PSAT Scoring Details Composite (Total) Score  Sum of the two Area Scores  Range of 320 - 1520

Evidence-Based Reading + Writing Area Score

Math Area Score Range of 160 - 760

Range of 160 - 760

Test Scores  3 scores: Math, Reading, and Writing & Language  Range of 8 - 38

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New SAT Overview Category

Features

Timing

3 hours, 50 minutes

•

Scoring

Now scored on a scale of 1600

 Evidence-Based Reading & Writing  Math

• • •

New optional Essay scored separately No guessing penalty 4 answer choices

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New SAT Overview Category

Evidencebased Reading & Writing Section

Features •

Reading and Writing combined

•

Reading details:

 No sentence completions  Passage topics include US and World Literature, History/Social Studies, and Sciences (500 - 750 words)  65 minutes

•

Writing and Language details:

 Focus on extended prose (400 - 500 words)  35 minutes

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EvidenceBased Reading Comp.

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Example of Vocabulary Testing on New SAT

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New SAT Overview Category

Features •

Math Section

Three areas of concentrated focus:

 Problem solving and data analysis  “The Heart of Algebra”  “Passport to Advanced Math”

•

Math fluency emphasized

 25 minutes without a Calculator  55 minutes with a Calculator

•

Multi-part questions

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Rigor & The New SAT CURRENT SAT MATH The percent increase from 6 to 16 is equal to the percent increase from 12 to what number? A. 16 B. 22 C. 23

Word Count = 18

D. 32 E. 36

NEW SAT MATH According to the Project on Student Debt prepared by The Institute for College Access and Success, 7 out of 10 students graduating in 2012 from a four-year college in the United States had student loan debt. The average amount borrowed per student was $29,400, which is up from $18,750 in 2004. If student debt experiences the same total percent increase over the next eight years, approximately how much will a college student graduating in 2020 owe, assuming she takes out student loans to pay for her education? A. B. C. D.

$40,100 $44,300 $46,100 $48,200

Word Count = 87

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SAT Scoring Details Composite (Total) Score  Sum of the two Area Scores  Range of 400 – 1600

Evidence-Based Reading + Writing Area Score

Math Area Score Range of 200-800

Range of 200-800

Test Scores  3 scores: Math, Reading, and Writing & Language  Range of 10-40

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PSAT & New SAT Scoring

SAT: 400-1600 PSAT/NMSQT: 320-1520 300

600

900

1200

1500

Composite Score Range TEST CHANGES

New SAT Overview Category

Essay

Features • Essay is optional • 50 minutes • Requires students to analyze a 650-750 word document and explain how the author builds an argument • 3 Scores (2-8)  Reading  Analysis  Writing

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13%* of Colleges Will Require the New SAT Essay • • • • • • • • • • • •

Anderson University (IN) California Institute of Technology Claremont McKenna College College of Southern Nevada Dartmouth College Duke University Emory University Harvard College Howard University Marlboro College (VT) Pennsylvania College of Technology Prince George’s Community College

• • • • • • • • •

Princeton University Rice University Stanford University Texas A&M University University of California Schools University of South Florida University of St. Andrews (UK) University of Texas at Austin Yale University

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Updated ACT Overview Category

Features

Scoring

• Scored on a scale of 1 – 36 (average score of four sections) • No wrong answer penalty

Structure

• 4 long sections: English, Math, Reading, and Science

Reading

• Compare and contrast paired passages

Essay

• Requires analysis of 3 different perspectives • Optional; 40 minutes long

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New SAT

Trig

Trig

New SAT

Geometry

Data Analysis/Problem Solving

Algebra

Geometry

Data Analysis/Problem Solving

Algebra

Literature

SS/History

Humanities

Sciences

Careers

Literature

SS/History

Humanities

Sciences

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Reading Passage Topics

ACT

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Math Skills Tested

ACT

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The Essentials

The SAT is more widely accepted than the ACT

Myth!

The ACT is easier than the SAT

Myth!

You should only take the ACT if you are good at science

Myth!

The New SAT is easier than the Current SAT

Myth!

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New SAT and ACT: Top 5 Key Differences

ACT?

New SAT?

What’s the Difference?

1.

The New SAT has a greater focus on History & Social Studies passages, while the ACT requires more Science reading.

2.

Both focus on Algebra, but the New SAT has a greater emphasis on Data Analysis & Problem Solving.

3.

Both essays are optional, but the New SAT essay requires additional text analysis.

4.

The New SAT has a No Calculator Math section.

5.

The New SAT Math section has grid-in questions and Item Sets.

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Your Next Steps

Junior Year PSAT in October for National Merit Qualification Focus on Academics – this is a critical year! Research admissions requirements for target, reach, and safety schools Prepare for the SAT or ACT Take AP and Subject Tests

Senior Year Take the SAT and/or ACT for the last time Take AP and Subject Tests Request letters of recommendation Complete and send out college applications Fill out FAFSA and research scholarships

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Next Steps and Resources What do you need?

When does it start?

A Free Practice Test – learn what the SAT/ACT is like

Online at www.kaptest.com

SAT Classes

www.kaplanatschool.com/franklinhs Starts April 11 SAT Change Resources www.kaptest.com/satchange

Additional Resources about the SAT Change

Where Do I Register for the SAT/ACT? www.collegeboard.com www.act.org Your College Counselors

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Thank You! Ryan DeGuzman, Pre-College Programs Manager [email protected] 973-845-8855 Need resources or information about area Kaplan SAT/ACT Classes and local tutors? Feel free to contact me, visit kaptest.com/satchange, or call 1-800-KAP-TEST.

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