helping students choose between the act and the redesigned … · • decide on sat vs act and...

Nick Standlea, President of Test Prep Gurus

Helping Students Choose

Between the ACT and the

Redesigned SAT

www.TestPrepGurus.com

UCLA: 120,000+ APPLICATIONS

2 Hours Per Application

126 Years

Staff of 30 = More than 4 years


GRADE INFLATION

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

50

D's or F's C's B's A's

%

Grades1991

2011

Source: College Board


Source: College Board


DAVID COLEMAN TO THE RESCUE!


• No Guessing Penalty.

• Grammar questions woven into critical reading passages.

• Four answer choices instead of five.

• Lower emphasis on vocabulary.

• Optional essay, at the end of the exam.


“WILL COLLEGES MAKE ACCURATE ADMISSION

DECISIONS WITH THE NEW SAT?”

Yes.


“IS THERE AN ADVANTAGE TO TAKING THE SAT

OR ACT FOR THE CLASS OF 2017?”

No.

QUESTIONS FOR STUDENTS IN THE

NEUTRAL ZONE

• Which test did you like better?

• Higher or lower end of scale?

• Will the delay of SAT results impact your planning?

• Have you completed Algebra II?

• Did you receive accommodations on ONLY one exam?

• How close are you to the mean scoring range for your

first-choice, right-fit schools?


SAT SCORE RELEASE DATES


ACT PREP TIMELINEJunior Year Senior Year

Before September

• Schedule an ACT practice test

• Decide on SAT vs ACT and official test dates

September

• Take ACT for the second or third time. You’re

done!!

February

• Possible first official ACT, depending on practice

test results

October or December

• Backup ACT test date in case something went

wrong

April

• First or second official ACT

May or June

• SAT Subject Tests, if needed

June

• Official ACT (if you didn't take one in Feb or April)


SAT PREP TIMELINEJunior Year Senior Year

October – January

• Take the PSAT

• Decide on SAT vs ACT and official test dates

October

• Take SAT for the second time. You’re done!!

March

• Possible first official SAT, depending on practice

test results

December

• Backup SAT test date in case something went

wrong

May

• First or second official SAT (due to score report

delays, do not enroll for both the March and May

SAT exams unless testing must be completed by

the end of the Junior year)

May or June

• SAT Subject Tests, if needed

June

• Official SAT (if you didn't take one in March or

May)


ODDS AND ENDS

• The “optional” essay is mandatory for students who plan to

apply to selective colleges.

• ACT will be offered online in 2016 in select areas.

• August SAT coming in Summer of 2017.


ADMIT RATE BY APPLICATION COHORT

2013 2014 2015

1-2 applications 95% (21 students) 97% (30 students) 96% (38 students)





15-18 applications 53% (4 students) n/a 44% (2 students)

19+ applications n/a n/a 31% (1 student)

More to come at WACAC 2015 at LMU…


helping students choose between the act and the redesigned … · • decide on sat vs act and...

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