GRAND PRAIRIE FINE ARTS ACADEMY

Testing Overview2013-2014

Parent University

National Test Information

*Readi Step *PSAT *SAT *ACT *AP Exams

ReadiStep

Offered to all 8th grade students in class. There are 3 timed multiple choice sections: critical reading, mathematics and writing skills

The test provides insight into academic progress and feedback on skills where students excel and areas that may need improvement

Taking the test allows the family free access to My Road – an online tool to prepare for high school, college and career

Visit www.readistep.collegeboard.org

PSAT

All 10th graders and registered 11th graders The test is offered mid October It is a preliminary SAT practice exam for

college admissions The test gives students an opportunity to

qualify for scholarships from the National Merit Scholarship Corporation as a junior (11th grade)

There are 5 timed sections: critical reading, math and writing

You must take the actual SAT or ACT for college www.collegeboard.com

SAT

The SAT is a standardized test used for college admissions.

Test questions cover critical reading, mathematics and writing

2400 is the highest score $51.00 / waiver for free or reduced lunch www.collegeboard.org

ACT

The ACT is another standardized test used for college admissions.

Test questions cover English, reading, mathematics and science reasoning

There is an optional writing section 36 is the highest score $52.50/ waiver for free or reduced lunch www.actstudent.org

Comparison

SAT ACTPenalty for guessing No penalty for guessingMath 50% of score Math 25% of scoreNo science Science 25% of scoreELA 50% of score ELA 25% of scoreNo reading section Reading 25% of score2400 high score 36 high scoreAverage 990 Average 21GPAFAA SCHOOL CODE 442955

AP Exams

College board offers more than 30 AP courses

Courses are taught by highly qualified teachers on a college level

Teachers prep the students for the exam throughout the year

Scores may be accepted for college credit hours – varies by each university

Exams take place May 5th-16th

More information to come in the spring

AP AND DUAL CREDIT You Have OPTIONS!

EXPLORE YOUR OPTIONS

AP Courses at GPFAA Test is paid by the district

Dual Credit—a future goal of the district to offer more course on all high school

campuses

Take TSI Assessment/formerly Accuplacer

Saving TimeSaving Money!

by Getting Ahead

Dual Credit Opportunities at Dallas County Community

Colleges

• FREE TUITION

• Offered at the High School & Community College Campus

• TSI standard required

• Earn up to two dual credit courses per semester

• Can begin as early as the summer after a student’s sophomore year

Dual Credit Opportunities at the University of Texas at Arlington Honors College

• For motivated high school students to enroll in university courses

• Earn up to 8 dual credit hours per semester ($150 per course)

Annually Renewable Scholarships for students who:

• Score 1200 on the SAT (CR and Math)

• Complete at least 6 hours of UTA credit prior to graduation

• Maintain at least a “B” average in each UTA course

https://apscore.collegeboard.org/creditandplacement/search-credit-policies

• GPISD offers college-level AP courses taught in a wide variety of subject areas

• Opportunities for students to earn college credit with an exam score of 3 or higher

• 511 qualifying AP scores in 2013, saving parents thousands of dollars in tuition costs

• Over 1900 exams were administered to GPISD students during the first two weeks of May 2013

GPISD Advanced Placement Program

Acceleration in ELA Offered to GT identified 7th grade ELA students Students will be taking AP course as a sophomore and taking the AP Exam that year. Students will be asked to perform the following tasks:

AP English Literature and Composition Course Description The exam is approximately three hours and 15 minutes long and has two parts —

multiple choice and free response. The multiple choice section is worth 45% and the free response section is worth 55% of the final exam grade. 

Section I: Multiple Choice — 55 questions; 1 hour The multiple choice section tests your ability to read closely and analyze the rhetoric

of prose passages. Total scores on the multiple-choice section are based on the number of questions

answered correctly. Points are not deducted for incorrect answers and no points are awarded for unanswered questions.

Section II: Free Response — 3 essays; 2 hours plus a mandatory 15 minute reading period

The free response prompts test your skill in composition and require close reading, thoughtful rhetorical analysis, and purposeful argumentation. This section also includes a synthesis prompt that tests your ability to effectively compose an argument of your own by combining and citing several supplied sources, including at least one visual source Delayed not Denied

• Available in grades 6-12 in ELA, math, science, social studies, fines arts, as well as world languages

• A more in-depth study of content, taught at a more accelerated pace

• Strategies designed to build the foundation for college level work

GPISD Pre-Advanced Placement Program

GT or Pre-AP Algebra I – 7th or 8th

GT or Pre-AP Geometry – 8th or 9th

GT or Pre-AP Algebra II – 9th or 10th

GT or Pre-AP Pre-Calculus – 10th or 11th

AP Calculus AB – 11th or 12th and/or AP Stats and/or AP

Computer Science

AP Calculus BC – 12th and/or AP Stats and/or AP Computer

Science

MATH

Acceleration of Math /ELACourses

GT identified 7th grade students may take the English I Placement Exam offered in May

Opportunities for

Distinguished Level of

Achievement and Performance

Acknowledgements

develop a student’s 21st century skills

Participating in

What is STAAR?

The state’s student testing program for 6th, 7th, and 8th grades.

Reading, Writing, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies.

Not all subjects are tested every year.

EOC (End of Course)

•Students MUST PASS each EOC assessment for Graduation•Students will retake the EOC until passed: 3 Opportunities per year•Middle school students enrolled in a high school course will take their grade level STAAR AND the EOC.

STAAR (State of Texas Assessments of

Academic Readiness)

8TH GRADERS MUST PASS READING & MATH TO ADVANCE TO THE 9TH GRADE.

No retakes unless

enrolled in a High School EOC course

District Level

3 weeks assessment = quiz 6 weeks assessment = quiz 9 weeks assessment = major grade