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PSAT vs. SAT vs. ACT vs. New SAT Which Test Should I Take?
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Today’s Goals
• What College Admission Counselors See
• Get to know the PSAT, SAT & ACT and New SAT
• Discuss Your Timeline to Test Day
• Prep smarter, not harder with Kaplan
Top Factors in College Admissions
ü Advanced Placement
ü InternaMonal Baccalaureate
ü Dual-‐enrollment Courses
ü Rigor of Curriculum
ü Relevance Source: NaMonal AssociaMon of College Admissions Counseling, “2010 State of College Admission”
1) Grades in College Prep Courses
ü SAT ü ACT
ü AP & Subject Tests
Source: NaMonal AssociaMon of College Admissions Counseling, “2010 State of College Admission”
Top Factors in College Admissions
2) Admissions Test Scores
ü Overall ü Don’t fall behind ü Don’t lose focus ü Stay AcMve and Involved
Source: NaMonal AssociaMon of College Admissions Counseling, “2010 State of College Admission”
Top Factors in College Admissions
3) High School GPA/ Extracurricular
Let’s get to know the exams!
Why Take the PSAT? 1. PracMce Run for the Real Thing (SAT – Top Factor in College Admissions)
3. Scholarship OpportuniMes • NaGonal Merit Scholarship Program, Corporate Scholarships, NaGonal Achievement Program
2. Get a Higher Score on the SAT • Students who take the PSAT junior year score, on average, 146 points higher on SAT
• Students who take the PSAT their sophomore and junior year score, on average, 222 points higher on the SAT
Source: College Board, 2010 NaMonal State Reports
National Merit Scholarship • Based on total PSAT score from Junior year.• Selection Index – varies year to year, state to state
– somewhere between 201 to 229 (96th percentile)• Previously a PSAT score of 223 was required
in California to qualify. • 9,200 winners every year for National Merit and
9,200 scholarship opportunities(incl. corporate) • Around $50 million awarded each year
Source: NaMonal Merit Scholarship CorporaMon, “NaMonal Merit Scholarships”
SECTION TIMING Question Types SCORE ’13 NATL AVG
20–80 CriMcal Reading 2 SecMons MulMple Choice
Juniors: 47
Sophomores: 43
20–80 Math 2 SecMons MulMple Choice Grid-‐Ins
Juniors: 49 Sophomores:
44
20–80 WriMng Skills 1 SecMon MulMple Choice Juniors: 46
Sophomores: 41
PSAT-at-a Glance
2 hours and 10 minutes 5 test secMons SelecMon
Index 142
Let’s Get to Know the SAT/ACT
SAT ACT Length 3 hours, 45 minutes 3 hours, 25 minutes (including the 30-minute
optional Writing Test) Sections 10 Sections: 3 Critical Reading, 3 Math,
3 Writing (incl. the Essay), 1 Experimental (not scored but included as a regular section)
5 Test Sections (5 with the optional Writing Test): English, Math, Reading, Science, Writing (optional), Experimental (sometimes added and clearly labeled)
Scoring Total score out of 2400 (3 scores 200-800 for each section)
Total composite score of 1-36 (based on average of 4 tests)
Wrong Answers Penalty 1/4 point subtracted per wrong answer (except for Math Grid-In questions)
No wrong answer penalty
Test Contact Information The College Board 1-866-756-7346 www.collegeboard.org
ACT, Inc. 1-319-337-1270 www.actstudent.org
SAT vs. ACT
SAT vs. ACT – Key Differences
SAT ACT
Format 10 random sections 5 “chunked” sections
Length 3 hours and 45 minutes 3 hours and 25 minutes
Science No Yes (reasoning)
Question Style Reasoning Based Content Based
Math Level Up to Algebra II Up to Trigonometry
Essay First and required Last and “optional” Vocabulary Emphasized Less important
Scoring Totaled: 600-2400 Averaged: 1-36
Penalties -1/4 point for incorrect No penalty for guessing
75th* PercenMle ACT Composite Score
75th* PercenMle SAT Score CR+M+W
Schools
32–36 2080–2400 Harvard and other Ivy Leagues
Stanford Duke, Johns Hopkins, Cal Tech
UC Berkley, UCLA, USC
27–31 1800–2070 UC San Diego, UCSB, UCI
Pepperdine
22–26 1610–1790 UCR
Cal Poly Pomona, SLO
17–21 1210–1600 CSUF, SDSU, CSULB
Chico State University, CSULA
Test Score Comparison
*25 percent of students scored above.
What Do Colleges Think?
Facts: • Nearly all schools accept the SAT or ACT.
• 88% of schools use SAT or ACT test scores in making admissions decisions*.
How Do I Decide?
• NaGonal PracGce Test Day: Nov 15th/Cal State East Bay kaptest.com/whichtest
• Enroll in Kaplan’s Unlimited Prep
• Save $200 by 10.16.14 with Code: UP200
Check out the Facts!
• Take the PSAT exam – for pracMce
• Take AP and SAT Subject Tests a_er compleGng courses
• Summer prep for PSAT
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Sophomore Year
College Prep Timeline
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SAT Test Changes
March 2016
Class of 2017 takes first
administration of new SAT
Test Change Timeline
2016 2014 2015
October 2014
Class of 2016 takes final
administration of old PSAT
October 2015
Class of 2017 takes first
administration of new PSAT*
January 2016
Final administration
of old SAT * Details about the changes to the PSAT not yet released
PSAT
SAT
SAT Test Changes
New Test Overview
Category Features
Scoring
§ No wrong-answer penalty § Scored on a scale of 1600 ü 800 points for Math ü 800 points for Evidence-Based Reading and Writing
§ Test, Cross-, and Sub-scores reported § Optional Essay scored separately
Timing § 3 hours + 50-minute optional essay
SAT Test Changes
New Test Overview
Category Features
Structure
Evidence-Based Reading and Writing Test § 65-minute Reading section § 35-minute Language and Writing section § All multiple-choice questions have only 4 answer choices
Math Test
§ 55-minute section with calculator § 25-minute section with no calculator § Includes grid-ins and multiple choice questions § All multiple-choice questions have only 4 answer choices
Essay § Optional § 50-minutes long
• PSAT in October for NaMonal Merit
• Focus on academics—this is the criGcal year!
• Research admissions requirements for chosen schools
• Prepare for and take the SAT and/or ACT
• Take required/recommended SAT Subject Tests
Junior Year
College Prep Timeline
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SAT Registration 2014 – 2015 Test Dates
Test Date Registration Deadline October 11, 2014 September 12, 2014 November 8, 2014 October 9, 2014 December 6, 2014 November 6, 2014 January 24, 2015 December 29, 2014
March 14, 2015 February 13, 2015
May 2, 2015 April 6, 2015 June 6, 2015 May 8, 2015
Test Registration Fees Basic Test Fee: $52.50
Late Registration: $80.50
http://www.sat.collegeboard.org
ACT Registration 2014 – 2015 Test Dates
Test Date Registration Deadline September 13, 2014 August 8, 2014
October 25, 2014 September 19, 2014 December 13, 2014 November 7, 2014
February 7, 2015 January 9, 2015
April 18, 2015 March 13, 2015
June 13, 2015 May 8, 2015
Test Registration Fees Basic Test Fee: $38.00 (without writing) $54.50(with writing)
Late Registration additional $24 http://www.actstudent.org/regist/
• Take the SAT and/or ACT for the last Mme
• December for regular admission, October for EA/ED
• Take required SAT Subject Tests (Private)
• Request leders of recommendaGon
• Fill out FAFSA and research scholarships • Visit schools
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Senior Year
College Prep Timeline
Prep Smarter, Not Harder.
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Robert Reimer 510.239.9313 [email protected]