College Admissions Testing

1
College Admissions Testing

• COMPASS Test
• SAT Reasoning Test
• ACT
• By Lue Healy
• Effingham County High School

2
Where you are going to College determines which
test you need to take!

• Check your chosen colleges website for more
  information about testing.
• Although all Georgia Colleges can use the SAT or
  ACT for admissions and placement purposes, two-
  year colleges and technical colleges do not
  require the SAT or ACT.

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What is the COMPASS TEST?

• An un-timed, computerized test that helps
  evaluate your skills.
• An easier test than the SAT or ACT.
• A test whose results will be used to PLACE you
  into appropriate courses
• A test used for PLACEMENT at 2 year colleges and
  technical colleges.
• A test that is also used for admission at 2 year
  colleges.
• DO YOUR BEST so you dont have to repeat course
  material that you already know!

4
Who should take the COMPASS TEST

• Students who want to attend TECHNICAL COLLEGES
  like Savannah or Ogeechee Tech
• Students who want to attend 2 year colleges like
  East Georgia College or Middle GA College
• Students seeking admission to 4 year colleges
  should NOT take the COMPASS TEST. You cannot use
  it for admission to a four year college..

5
What does the COMPASS Test Evaluate?

• Writing skills
• Math Skills
• Reading skills

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HOW MUCH DOES THE COMPASS TEST COST?

• The COMPASS Test is FREE but you must apply for
  admission and pay the application fee for the
  technical school or 2 year college of your choice!

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How do I sign up for the COMPASS Test?

• After you apply for a 2 year or technical
  college, sign up with your chosen college for a
  time to go to take the COMPASS Test.

8
I took the COMPASS now what do I do with my
scores?

• Look at your scores carefully.
• Compare your scores with the scores that your
  chosen 2- year or technical college lists as
  acceptable. Acceptable scores vary by college and
  by program of study!
• If your scores place you in a range so that you
  will have to take remedial classes, you may want
  to re-test before entering college.
• If you need remediation in more than two areas
  (math, reading, writing), you will be denied
  admission to many colleges.
• The HOPE Scholarship will not pay for remedial
  classes at 2 and 4 year colleges. The HOPE GRANT
  will pay for remedial classes at technical
  schools.

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ACT American College Test

• Consists of four parts Verbal Reasoning, Math,
  English, and Reading Comprehension
• Each section is scored on 1-36 scale
• These section scores are then averaged
• together to get a composite score of 1-36
• There is an optional writing section
• However, if you use the ACT as your college
  admissions test, the writing part is NOT
  optional. You MUST take the WRITING section to be
  admitted. Check with your college of choice to be
  sure!

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ACT Writing Section

• Scored on a 1-36 scale
• Not averaged in the composite score
• Writing section is averaged with the English
  Score for a Writing/English Composite score
  that is separate from the regular composite score

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Sample ACT Score

• English 28
• Sci Reasoning 25
• Math 24
• Reading comp 27
• Total 104
• 104/4 26
• Composite 26

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ACT Sample Score

• Example of ACT writing/English
  Composite score
• Writing score 25 English 28 53
  
• 53 Divided by 2 26 ½
• 26½ rounds to 27
• English/Writing composite 27

13
It came in the mail but WHATdoes my ACT score
mean?

• ACT average score is 18-20.
• Georgia Southern U admission requires a 21
  composite score this year
• Univ of GA middle 50 of admitted students have
  ACT composites 27-31.

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How much does the ACT Cost and how do I sign up?

• This years cost with the writing section is
• 49.50. Pay by check, credit card or money
  order. DO NOT SEND CASH!
• Sign up by going to www.myactstudent.org
• You have to sign yourself up the school cannot
  do it for you!

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Taking off with the SAT I Reasoning Test

• Three parts Verbal, Math, and Writing
• Each part is worth 800 points or 2400 points
  total
• The writing section is composed of a multiple
  choice section as well as an essay section.
• Average score 1500

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What kind of SAT Score Do I Need this Year?

• Georgia Southern - must have minimum of 1010 on
  the math and verbal combined (does not include
  writing score)
• GSU Eagle Incentive Program 920-1000 (math and
  verbal added together , not counting writing)
• UGAs middle 50 of SAT scores last year were
  1190-1360 (math and verbal)
• Armstrong Atlantic State Universitys preferred
  scoresV-460 M-430

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What about the SAT Writing Section?

• Writing section is required
• Consists of a multiple choice and an essay part
• Essay is scored by independent readers
• Maximum score is 800
• Colleges vary on how they use the writing score
  at UGA, this score is VERY important.

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SAT Subject Tests

• Most students do NOT need to take Subject tests
• Subject tests are not required by most colleges
  unless you are applying to an elite school
• If you score high enough on subject tests, you
  may receive college credit for your score.
• Subject tests are given in specific subjects such
  as biology, chemistry, Spanish, US History, etc.
• If applying to a school that requires them,
  subject tests should be taken as soon as you
  complete a course in a content area.
• Subject tests are scored on a 200-800 scale.

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I Dont Know the Answer, Should I Guess?

• COMPASS and ACT
• There is NO penalty for guessing on either the
  COMPASS or the ACT
• You should ALWAYS guess on the COMPASS or the ACT
  if you dont know the answer.

• SAT
• There IS a penalty for guessing on the SAT!
• If you have absolutely no clue, DO NOT GUESS on
  the SAT!
• If you can narrow the choices to three, you
  should ALWAYS guess!

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How do I sign up for the SAT and how much does it
cost?

• Cost is 49 you may pay by using your credit
  card, money order or check. DO NOT SEND CASH!
• Sign up at
• www.collegeboard.com
• You must sign yourself up the school cannot
  register you!

21
Fee Waivers for the SAT and ACT do I qualify?

• You may qualify if you receive free or reduced
  lunch
• You can also qualify if your parents meet certain
  financial guidelines you must present tax
  returns to verify.
• Talk to your counselor for specifics. Quantities
  of fee waivers are very limited and we have to
  spread these among qualified students!
• After testing on an SAT fee waiver, you can also
  receive four vouchers for waiving college
  application fees.

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Differences in Testing Requirements between 2
year colleges and technical schools and 4 year
colleges in Georgia

• Two year colleges and technical schools in
  Georgia no longer require the SAT or ACT for
  admissions.
• Two year and technical colleges will administer
  the COMPASS test for placement

• Four year colleges in Georgia are requiring the
  SAT or the ACT
• All four year colleges are requiring the writing
  section
• Colleges will combine your best scores on the SAT
  and sometimes on the ACT

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NO SAT or ACT Required at

• Ogeechee Tech
• Savannah Tech
• East Georgia College
• Other 2 year and technical colleges

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SAT or ACT Required for 4 year Colleges and
Universities!

• All four year colleges in the state of Georgia
  and most colleges in other states require an SAT
  or ACT score.
• All four year colleges in GA require an SAT or
  ACT score that includes the writing section