A C T

1
The ABCs of PSAT SAT
ACT AP Exams MME

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Exam Information and Exam Information
Resources

• PHS Morning Announcements
• Teachers
• Counselors
• PTSO Newsletter
• Ms. Joyce Williams, Director, External Testing,
  PHS Career Center, 994-2116
• www.collegeboard.com (SAT)
• www.act.org (ACT)
• www.michigan.gov/mme (MME)

3
PSAT

• PSAT/NMSQT
• Preliminary SAT/
• National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test

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PSATWhat is the PSAT?

• Co-sponsored by the College Board and the
  National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC)
• PSAT/NMSQT measures verbal reasoning, critical
  reading, mathematics problem-solving, and writing
  skills. The PSAT/NMSQT includes five sections
• Two verbal sections
• Two math sections
• One writing skills section

5
PSATWho should take the PSAT?

• The PSAT/NMSQT should be taken in your students
  junior year.
• Many students benefit from taking it earlier,
  typically in their sophomore year.

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PSAT Why take the PSAT?

• Help prepare for SAT Program tests
• Forecast SAT scores
• Opportunity to qualify to enter competitions for
  scholarships and participate in recognition
  programs such as
• National Merit Scholarship Program
• National Hispanic Recognition Program
• National Scholarship Service and Fund for Negro
  Students
• Telluride Association
• Participate in the Student Search Service to get
  educational and financial information from
  colleges
• Compare yourself with other students

7
PSATRegistration

• Fee
• Students register for the PSAT/NMSQT at the
  General Office at Pioneer High School
• Registration begins in mid-September
• On-line registration is not available
• Fee waivers available, by request, for juniors
  from low-income families. The student should
  consult a PHS counselor.
• Provisions for students with disabilities

8
PSATTest Day

• Test administered at Pioneer High School, usually
  on the third Saturday in October
• Test location will change if there is a U-M
  football game on the testing day
• Plan to arrive at the testing center at 745 AM
• Students should have
• Admission Ticket
• No. 2 pencils with erasers
• Approved calculator
• Acceptable Identification which would include a
  school ID, drivers license, or passport
• Testing begins at 800 AM and ends about 1130
  AM.
• The actual test requires 2 hours,10 minutes.

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PSATTest Results

• PSAT/NMSQT score reports are mailed to the High
  School at the end of November.
• Each school decides how and when to distribute
  the scores to students.
• At Pioneer, results are sent to PHS and
  distributed to students by the counselors.
• Score reports are not mailed home.

10
PSATScore Reports and Scoring

• SCORE REPORT
• Scores reported on a scale from 20 to 80
• Three scores Verbal, Mathematics, Writing
• Raw scores are calculated as follows
• Questions answered correctly receive one point
• Unanswered questions receive no points
• A fraction of a point is subtracted for
  incorrect answers to multiple-choice questions.
• Each incorrect answer to a student-produced
  response question receives no points
• Selection Index - sum of Verbal, Mathematics, and
  Writing scores
• Percentiles allow comparison to scores of other
  juniors. A student with a percentile of 53 has
  earned a score better than 53 out of every 100
  juniors who took the test.
• Score Report will show the correct answers and
  the students answers and the difficulty level of
  each question.
• To convert to a comparable SAT I score, add a
  zero to the PSAT/NMSQT score (verbal and
  mathematics, only). For example, a PSAT/NMSQT
  score of 56 is similar to an SAT I score of 560.

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PSATTest Preparation Available

• PSAT/NMSQT Student Bulletin available when
  registering to take the PSAT
• Tips and practice questions available at
  www.collegeboard.com

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National Merit Scholarship Program

• Enter the Merit Program by taking the PSAT/NMSQT
  in the junior year of high school.
• NMSC will provide scholarship application
  materials to Semifinalists through their high
  schools in the fall of the students senior year
• To qualify as a finalist
• Complete NMSC scholarship application
• includes essay about contributions to school and
  community, personal characteristics, activities,
  plans, and goals
• Take the SAT I and earn qualifying scores
• Notify NMSC of plans to enroll in college
• 8,000 National Merit Scholarships of 2,500 are
  awarded

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National Merit Scholarship ProgramOther
Scholarship Awards

• Corporate-sponsored Merit and Special
  Scholarships Awards
• Provided by corporate sponsors in the National
  Merit Scholarship Program
• A list of corporate organizations that sponsor
  both Merit and Special Scholarships is given in
  the PSAT/NMSQT Student Bulletin.
• College-sponsored Merit Scholarship Awards
• Officials of a NMSC sponsored institution choose
  award recipients from among finalists who have
  applied for admission and have informed NMSC that
  the sponsor college is their first choice

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SAT I

• Scholastic Assessment Test I
• Reasoning Tests

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SAT I What is the SAT I?

• National college admissions test
• Considered a standard way of measuring a
  students ability to do college-level work
• Assesses verbal and math reasoning abilities
• Ten sections
• Three critical reading sections
• Three mathematical sections
• Three writing sections including one 25 minute
  essay
• One non-scored equating section which can be
  verbal or math. This section is used to try out
  new questions or set the scoring scale.

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SAT IWho should take the SAT I?

• SAT I scores may be required for admission to a
  college
• Many students choose to take the SAT I in their
  junior year, particularly if they plan on
  applying for early admission to a college in the
  fall of their senior year.
• If the SAT I scores are a college admission
  requirement, a student should plan on taking the
  test no later than December of his/her senior
  year.

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SAT IWhen is the SAT I given?

• Administered on seven national test dates
  throughout the year
• October
• November
• December
• January
• March or April
• May
• June
• Testing takes place on Saturday
• Sunday testing is available for students whose
  religious faith prohibits testing on Saturday.

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SAT IRegistration

• Fee
• Mail
• Registration Bulletin available at PHS career
  center
• Online registration is available and encouraged
  by the College Board
• www.collegeboard.com
• use major credit card for payment of fee
• Fee waivers available
• apply through counselor

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SAT IRegistration

• Registration deadline is approximately five weeks
  prior to the test date
• Additional cost for late registration
• Provisions for
• changing the test date
• changing the test center
• changing the test (SAT I/SAT II)
• students with disabilities
• Students can register to take the SAT I at any
  testing center.

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SAT I Test Day

• Most PHS students will take the SAT I at Pioneer
• Students should plan to arrive between 745 and
  800 AM
• Test room numbers will be posted on a list at the
  clock tower entrance
• Student should have
• Admission Ticket
• Acceptable Identification which would include a
  school ID, drivers license, or passport
• No. 2 pencils with erasers
• permitted calculator which is almost any
  four-function, scientific, or graphing calculator
• Testing starts about 830 AM and will end
  about 1245 PM.
• Breaks are scheduled between tests.

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SAT I Scoring

• SAT I Scores
• reported on a scale from 200 to 800
• Three scores Verbal, Mathematics, and Writing
• Raw scores are calculated as follows
• Questions answered correctly receive one point
• Unanswered questions receive no points
• A fraction of a point is subtracted for
  incorrect answers to multiple-choice questions.
• No points are subtracted for incorrect answers to
  the SAT I math questions requiring
  student-produced responses
• Score Range reflects how a students score
  might vary if the test was taken a number of
  times, /- 30 to 40 points
• Percentile compares score to other students
  scores who took the test the same day.
  Percentiles are given for the nation and the
  state. A 62 would mean that the student did
  better that 62 of the group.

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Score Reports

• Score Reports available about three weeks after
  the test
• View scores online
• Receive scores by e-mail
• Scores available by telephone

23
SAT ISending Score Reports

• When registering, you can request scores be sent
  to colleges and/or scholarship programs.
• Scores sent include the current and all previous
  SAT I scores
• For a fee, additional score reports may be sent
  to colleges and/or scholarship programs
• Online using SAT Score Sender
• By Telephone at 1-800-SAT-SCORE

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SAT ITest Preparation Available

• Students can familiarize themselves with the
  SAT I format by taking the PSAT.
• Practice tests are available online and in the
  career center.
• Free copy of Taking the SAT I available at the
  career center
• SAT Prep Center at www.collegeboard.com
• List of publications and software for sale
• Practice questions
• Mini-SAT
• SAT question of the day
• Test taking tips

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SAT II

• Scholastic Assessment Test II
• Subject Tests

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SAT IIWhat is the SAT II?

• Test in a specific subject
• One hour, primarily multiple-choice
• Some colleges recommend or require applicants to
  take 1 to 3 of these subject tests
• Students should be aware of the college admission
  requirements

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SAT IISubject Tests

• Biology Ecological/Molecular
• Chemistry
• Physics
• English Literature
• US History
• World History
• Mathematics Level IC
• Mathematics Level IIC
• French-reading
• German-reading
• Modern Hebrew-reading

• Italian-reading
• Latin-reading
• Spanish-reading
• Chinese-with listening
• French-with listening
• German-with listening
• Japanese-with listening
• Korean-with listening
• Spanish-with listening

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SAT IIWhen is the SAT II given?

• Registration for SAT II same as for SAT I
• Given most dates that the SAT I is given
• Some SAT II tests are not available on every
  testing date
• With listening language tests are only offered
  in November at specified centers
• Portable CD player with earphones required.
• SAT II should be taken when content is fresh in
  the students mind, at the end of a recently
  completed course like chemistry and world history
• SAT II tests can be retaken

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SAT IIScoring and Score Reports

• Scoring for SAT II is similar to scoring for SAT
  I
• Scores sent to colleges and scholarship programs
  by designating them on the registration form
• Scores can be released
• Online
• By telephone request 1-800-SAT-SCORE

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SAT IITest Preparation Available

• Free copy of Taking the SAT II available at the
  Career Center
• SAT II Learning Center at www.collegeboard.com

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ACT

• American College Testing Assessment

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PLAN

• What is PLAN?
• PLAN is a comprehensive assessment program for
  10th graders.
• Designed to give students, parents and educators
  information that can be used to help students
  plan and prepare for their future academic and
  career success.
• It covers the same content areas as the ACT.

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PLAN

• The experience of taking the PLAN helps students
  prepare for the ACT test.
• A predicted ACT score is provided along with some
  career suggestions based on the profile completed
  by the student.
• 10th graders will take the PLAN this spring when
  the 11th graders take the MME.

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ACTWhat is the ACT?

• National college admissions examination
• Measures knowledge, understanding, and skills
  acquired throughout students education
• Tests cover four skill areas English,
  Mathematics, Reading, Science Reasoning, and
  optional Writing (beginning 2005)
• 215 multiple choice questions
• Students who achieve a qualifying score on the
  ACT and demonstrate financial need are eligible
  to apply to the Michigan Competitive Scholarship
  Program.

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ACTWho should take the ACT?

• ACT is now part of the Michigan Merit Examination
  all Juniors will take the ACT in the Spring and
  the state pays for ACT taken as part of the MME
• If qualifying MME scores are not earned the
  student will be given one free retake paid by the
  state.
• Students are free to register and pay for any of
  the national test dates.

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ACTWhen is the ACT given?

• Administered on six national test dates
• - September
• October
• December
• February
• April
• June
• Testing takes place on a Saturday
• Sunday and Monday testing is available for
  students whose religious faith prohibits testing
  on Saturday.

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ACTTest Locations

• Ann Arbor test sites include
• Pioneer High School
• Huron High School
• Washtenaw Community College
• Concordia University

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ACTRegistration

• Fee
• Mail
• Registration packets available at PHS career
  center
• Online Registration is available and encouraged
• www.act.org
• use major credit card for payment of fee
• certain circumstances where online registration
  cannot be used
• Fee waivers are available
• must register using packet
• see a counselor and complete a form

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ACT Registration

• Registration deadline is approximately five weeks
  prior to the test date
• Additional cost for late registration
• Provisions for
• changing the test date
• missing the test
• changing the test center
• students with disabilities
• Students can register to take the ACT at any
  testing center.

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ACTTest Day

• Most PHS students will take the ACT at Pioneer
• Plan to arrive at 800 AM
• Test room numbers will be posted on a list at the
  clock tower entrance
• Student should have
• Admission Ticket
• Acceptable Identification which would include a
  school ID, drivers license, or passport
• No. 2 pencils with erasers
• permitted calculator for the math test
  (more restrictions than
  the SAT see www.act.org)
• Actual testing time is 3 hours and 25 minutes
• Testing starts about 830 AM and ends
  about 1230 PM
• Breaks are scheduled between tests.

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ACTScoring and Score Reports

• Scores are mailed four to seven weeks after the
  test date.
• View scores online for 8.00 fee
• Scores reported for each of the four tests
  (English, Mathematics, Reading, Science
  Reasoning)
• Scores reported on a scale from 1 (lowest) to 36
  (highest)
• To determine scores on each of the four tests,
  the number of questions answered correctly is
  counted.
• Points are not deducted for incorrect answers
• These raw scores are converted to scale scores.
• The composite score is an average of the four
  test scores rounded to the nearest whole number.
• If the ACT is taken more than once, a separate
  record is maintained for each test date.

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ACTSending Score Reports

• When registering, you can request scores be sent
  to colleges and scholarship programs.
• For a fee, additional score reports to colleges
  and/or scholarship programs may be sent by
  completing an Additional Score Report (ASR) found
  on the last page in the student booklet. Only
  the records from designated test dates will be
  released.
• Online ASR Request Form
• Download ASR Request Form
• Telephone Express Service
• Request a form by mail
• Submit a letter of request to ACT

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ACTTest Preparation Available

• Preparing for the ACT Assessment
• booklet available at the career center, includes
  test-taking tips and a complete practice
  test
• ACT Preparation Workshops offered through Ann
  Arbor Community Education and Recreation
• On the Web Site (www.act.org)
• Sample questions
• Resources listed online include software and books

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SAT vs. ACT
45
SAT vs. ACT
46
AP

• Advanced Placement Courses
• Advanced Placement Exams

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AP Courses

• Advanced Placement Courses give students a chance
  to try college level work in specific subjects
  while in high school.
• Courses offered by Pioneer High School which
  would prepare students for AP examinations
  include
• AP English (preparation for English Literature AP
  Exam)
• AC English (preparation for English Language AP
  Exam)
• BC Calculus
• AB BC Calculus (preparation for Calculus
  (AB)(BC) AP Exam)
• AP U.S. History
• AP Biology
• AP Chemistry
• AP Physics
• AP American Government and Politics
• AP Computer Science
• AP Statistics
• AP Latin
• AP Spanish
• AP French
• AP German
• Humanities (preparation for AP Exams in Art
  History, English Literature, World
  History )

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AP ExamsWhat are AP Exams?

• AP Exams test a students ability to perform at a
  college level.
• Exams contain either an essay or
  problem-solving section and a section of
  multiple-choice questions. The modern language
  exams also have a speaking component.
• Qualifying scores on Advanced Placement Exams
  may entitle a student to credit or advanced
  placement at college.

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AP ExamsExcept where designated, PHS offers
courses designed to prepare the student for the
AP Exam

• German Language
• Government and Politics (Comparative) (U.S.)
• Human Geography
• Japanese Language
• Latin (Vergil)
• Music Theory
• Physics (C)
• Psychology
• Spanish Language
• Statistics
• Studio Art
• U.S. History
• World History
• not offered at PHS

• Art History (PHS Humanities)
• Biology
• Calculus AB
• Calculus BC
• Chemistry
• Chinese Language
• Computer Science A
• Computer Science B
• Economics
• English Language
• English Literature
• Environmental Science
• European History (PHS Humanities)
• French Language

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AP ExamsWho takes the AP Exams?

• Any student can register to take an AP exam.
• A student does not have to take an AP course to
  take an AP exam.
• AP courses and exams typically taken in the
  junior and senior year.
• Students can take an exam more than one time.
• Students taking AP exams will miss class time.

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AP ExamsWhen are the AP Exams given?

• Administered on a national schedule in May of
  each year.
• AP Exams are scheduled during the first two weeks
  in May
• Suggested starting times are 800 AM for the
  morning session and 100 PM for the afternoon
  session.
• Some exams are scheduled for the same time slot.
  If your student has a scheduling conflict,
  contact Joyce Williams.
• Calendar of exam times available at
  www.collegeboard.com

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AP ExamsTest Locations

• Large convention facilities in the Ann Arbor area
• Washtenaw Intermediate School District
• Local High Schools
• Buildings and Room Numbers are available from
  Joyce Williams at PHS Career Center

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APAP Exam Registration

• Fee
• approximately 100 (2010)
• Register at Pioneer High School at the General
  Office
• Registration for AP Exams occurs in February
• Fee reductions are available for students
  demonstrating financial need.

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AP ExamsTest Day

• Most exams take two to three hours to complete
• Students should have
• No. 2 pencils with erasers
• black or dark blue pen
• Pioneer code number
• Approved calculator for the Calculus, Chemistry,
  Physics, or Statistics exams
• Ruler/Straight edge for Physics Exam
• Social Security Number
• Receive AP Candidate Pack
• numbers on pack will be the official AP number
  for that testing period

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AP ExamsScoring

• AP Exams are scored from 1 to 5 as follows
• 5 - Extremely well-qualified
• 4 - Well-qualified
• 3 - Qualified
• 2 - Possibly qualified
• 1 - No recommendation
• For a score of 2 or greater, a student may
  qualify to receive college credit or advanced
  placement
• It is at the discretion of the individual college
  as to whether or not college credit or advance
  standing (i.e. sophomore placement in a
  particular subject area) will be given.

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AP ExamsGrade Reports

• Grade reports mailed in July
• Grade report sent to the college the student
  designated on the exam answer sheet
• Grade report sent to PHS
• Grade reports are cumulative, included are grades
  on AP Exams taken in the current year and in
  previous years unless a request has been made to
  withhold previous grades
• For a fee, additional grade reports can be sent
• Complete second part of AP Grade Report
• Telephone or e-mail request to send
  AP Transcripts

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AP ExamsWithholding a GradeCanceling a Grade

• A written request can be made to withhold an AP
  grade from a report.
• To permanently cancel an AP grade, complete an AP
  Cancellation Form and return it to AP Services no
  later than June 15 following the exam.

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AP ExamsTest Preparation Available

• Enroll in year-long course at Pioneer
• Seek guidance on readiness from AP
  course teacher
• See www.collegeboard.com
• online reviews
• list of publications and videos
• tips for taking AP Exams

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Release of Test Scores

• When students take the SAT I, SAT II, PSAT, ACT,
  or AP Exams, scores are sent to PHS.
• Release of Test Scores Form either gives or
  does not give authorization to PHS to release
  test scores along with a students transcript
• Release of Test Scores Form included in summer
  mailing to seniors
• Completed forms should be returned to PHS at
  registration.
• Some colleges may require that scores be sent
  directly from the testing agency.

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61
MEAP / MME

• MEAP Fall 2008
• MME Spring 2009

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MEAP

• Ninth graders take the MEAP Social Studies Exam
  in the fall.

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MMEWhat is the MME?

• The Michigan Merit Exam is the revised state
  assessment program for the high school level.
• Full implementation of the program started in the
  Spring of 2007 as approved by the U.S. Department
  of Education.
• The MME consists of the ACT college entrance
  exam, Work Keys plus several Michigan components
  developed to assess Michigan curriculum which is
  not assessed by the ACT.

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Who takes the MME?

• All juniors in the State of Michigan are required
  to take the MME.
• The MME is a graduation requirement for all Ann
  Arbor Public School students.
• Any senior who missed taking the MME in their
  junior year will be required to take the exam in
  the spring with the current juniors.

65
MMEWhat is the MME High School Test?

• Subject areas tested Reading, Mathematics,
  Science, Writing, Social Studies
• Seniors who did not receive qualifying scores
  may retake the MME in the spring 2010.
• Qualify means receiving 1 or 2 on the math,
  reading, science and writing tests.

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MMETimeline

• The full MME will be administered in Spring 2010
  to high school juniors.
• The ACT will be administered on one common day
  statewide
• The next day the WorkKeys and Michigan
  mathematics assessment will be administered
• The third day the Michigan science and social
  studies assessment will be administered

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MMEMichigan Promise Scholarship

• Scholarship provides up to 4000 to high school
  graduates to attend Michigan post secondary
  institution or military service academy.
• Money dispersed after meeting qualifications
• Scores of 1 or 2 receive 1000 for each of the
  first two years.
• GPA of 2.5 after completing 2 years of college
  receive the final 2000.
• Students without qualifying scores may still
  qualify for full amount by successfully
  completing 2 years of college with a GPA of 2.5.
• More Information www.Michigan.gov/promise

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Produced byPioneer High SchoolPTSO and Joyce
Williams, Director, External Testing