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Welcome!

Overview of SAT and ACT

Review of PSAT

Next Steps

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Why Admissions Tests

Matter

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Why Admissions Tests Matter

Some employers today are even asking to see

applicant’s old SAT scores**

Nearly 90% of colleges placed considerable or

moderate importance on test scores*

Merit scholarships are awarded based on test scores

and grades

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0.00%

5.00%

10.00%

15.00%

20.00%

25.00%

30.00%

35.00%

40.00%

Northwestern U Penn Stanford UCLA Duke BostonUniversity

Acceptance Rate 2013

Acceptance Rate 2014

Why Admissions Tests Matter

TEST CHANGES

Category Features

New PSAT/NMSQT Overview

2 hours, 45 minutesTiming

StructureAligned with the New SAT, and

almost the same length

No Essay

No wrong-answer penalty

Now scored on a scale of 1520

Evidence-Based Reading & Writing

Math

Scoring

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PSAT Scoring Details

Test Scores

3 scores: Math, Reading, and Writing & Language

Range of 8 - 38

Math

Area Score

Range of 160 - 760

Evidence-Based

Reading + Writing

Area Score Range of 160 - 760

Composite (Total) Score

Sum of the two Area Scores

Range of 320 - 1520

TEST CHANGES

New SAT Overview

Category Features

• Now scored on a scale of 1600 Evidence-Based Reading & Writing

Math

• New optional Essay scored separately

• No guessing penalty

• 4 answer choices

Scoring

3 hours, 50 minutesTiming

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New SAT Overview

Category 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

Evidence-

based

Reading &

Writing Section

TEST CHANGES

Evidence-

Based

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

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. $40,100

B. $44,300

C. $46,100

D. $48,200

Word Count = 18

Word Count = 87

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SAT Scoring Details

Test Scores

3 scores: Math, Reading, and Writing & Language

Range of 10-40

Math

Area Score

Range of 200-800

Evidence-Based

Reading + Writing

Area Score Range of 200-800

Composite (Total) Score

Sum of the two Area Scores

Range of 400 – 1600

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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 Features

Essay

• 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

TEST CHANGES

Updated ACT Overview

Category Features

• Scored on a scale of 1 – 36

(average score of four sections)

• No wrong answer penalty

Scoring

Reading

• 4 long sections:

English, Math, Reading, and Science

• Compare and contrast paired passages

Essay• Requires analysis of 3 different perspectives

• Optional; 40 minutes long

Structure

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Scie

nce

s

Hu

man

itie

s

SS/H

isto

ry Scie

nce

sNew SAT ACT

Lite

ratu

re

Car

eers

Hu

man

itie

s

SS/H

isto

ry

Lite

ratu

re

Reading Passage Topics

TEST CHANGES

Math Skills Tested

Dat

a A

nal

ysis

/Pro

ble

m S

olv

ing

Alg

ebra

Geo

met

ry

Alg

ebra

Dat

a A

nal

ysis

/Pro

ble

m S

olv

ing

Geo

met

ry

Trig

New SAT ACT

Trig

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The Essentials

The SAT is more widely accepted than the ACT

The ACT is easier than the SAT

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

The New SAT is easier than the Current SAT

Myth!

Myth!

Myth!

Myth!

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New SAT and ACT: Top 5 Key Differences

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.

What’s the Difference?

New SAT?

ACT?

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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

Junior Year 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

Your Next Steps

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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 likeOnline at www.kaptest.com

SAT Classeswww.kaplanatschool.com/franklinhs

Starts April 11

Additional Resources about

the SAT Change

SAT Change Resources

www.kaptest.com/satchange

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

ryan.deguzman@kaplan.com

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.