1. Helping Students Get Ready for College: Resources, Access, Equity ASPIRA Training – Part 2 December 2012

2. Agenda PSAT/NMQST SAT & SAT Readiness Program SAT Fee Waiver Program AP CLEP Undocumented Students Questions & Answers

3. PSAT/NMSQT Alison McLeod Associate Director, PSAT/NMSQT Dist & State Assess Programs

4. PSAT/NMSQT Overview Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test – Co-sponsored by the College Board and the National Merit Scholarship Corporation Measures critical thinking skills important for college success and beyond – Critical Reading – Mathematics – Writing Skills Administered by high schools in October – Approximately 3.5 million students worldwide take the test each year – 44% are 11 th grade students; 56% are 10 th grade and younger students

5. The PSAT/NMSQT Helps Students Prepare for the SAT ® – Same format, directions, and question types as the SAT Plan for college and careers – My College QuickStart™ Enter scholarships and recognition competitions – National Merit Scholarship Corporation competitions and more Understand skill strengths and weaknesses – Score Report Plus Connect with colleges and other higher education institutions – Student Search Service ® (SSS®)

6. PSAT/NMSQT Content Critical Reading – Sentence Completions – Passage-Based Reading Questions Mathematics – Multiple-Choice Questions – Student-Produced Response Questions Writing Skills – Improving Sentences Questions – Identifying Sentence Error Questions – Improving Paragraph Questions

7. PSAT/NMSQT Preparation Resources for Students

8. My College QuickStart™ Enhanced online score report Personalized SAT study plan Detailed personality test Major and career matches Customizable lists of colleges AP Potential Feedback

9. Preparation for the SAT Best Practice for the SAT – Same format, directions, practice questions, and question types Free resources available in My College QuickStart – Review of PSAT/NMSQT questions answered incorrectly – Personalized skills feedback – Personalized SAT study plan – Official SAT practice test ScoreWrite: A Guide to Preparing for the SAT Essay – Educator guide with complete materials for administering a practice essay

10. Scholarships & Recognition National Merit Scholarship Corporation programs – National Merit Scholarship Program – National Achievement Scholarship Program Other opportunities – National Hispanic Recognition Program – National Scholarship Service – Telluride Association Programs

11. Student Search Service® (SSS®) Helps students start thinking about college – Students opt in to receive free admissions and financials aid information. – Colleges, universities, scholarship programs, and other educational organizations can find the right students for their programs, scholarships and special activities. – The materials students receive help them start thinking about and exploring higher education opportunities. Secure and reliable way for students to connect to colleges – Millions of students have participated in SSS over the years. – More than 1,100 colleges and universities use SSS to reach out to students. – Only eligible colleges, universities, scholarship agencies, governmental agencies, and nonprofit organizations may participate in the program. – Test scores, telephone numbers, and social security numbers are not released.

12. SAT and SAT Readiness Program David Manara Associate Director, SAT Readiness Program

13. About the SAT The SAT measures what you know and how well you apply that knowledge. It tests the same things taught every day in high school classrooms — reading, writing and math. It’s the most widely used college entrance exam. Almost all colleges and universities use the SAT to make admission decisions. A combination of grades and SAT scores is the best predictor of a student’s future success in college.

14. Test Details SAT Three sections: critical reading, mathematics and writing Length: 3 hours, 45 minutes (including three breaks) Score range: 200–800 per section, 600–2400 overall Question types: – Critical Reading — Sentence Completions, Reading Passages – Mathematics — Algebra, Geometry, Statistics and Probability – Writing — Essay, Identifying Errors, Improving Grammar and Usage SAT Subject Tests Tests are one hour in length There are 20 SAT Subject Tests in five general subject areas: English, history, languages, mathematics and science.

15. Getting Ready for the SAT Select challenging high school courses. Read widely and write extensively, both in and out of school. Take the PSAT/NMSQT ® as a sophomore or junior. Become familiar with SAT question types, format and directions. Take advantage of free College Board resources at sat.collegeboard.org.

16. SAT Practice Tools At a Glance 5 Most SAT Practice Tools are FREE! Practicing for the SAT and SAT Subject Tests – FREE ResourcesPlanning for Test Day-FREE SAT Question of the Day - FREE SAT Question of the Day Mobile App - FREE SAT Practice Questions - FREE SAT Subject Test Practice Questions - FREE SAT Practice Test - FREE Mathematics Review - FREE Effective Writing Review - FREE SAT® Skills Insight™ - FREE The SAT® Practice Booklet - FREE My SAT Study Plan™ --FREE Answers Imagined - FREE SAT Test Taking Approaches - FREE SAT Essay Strategies - FREE SAT Subject Test Taking Approaches - FREE SAT Subject Test Recommended Skills and Prerequisites - FREE SAT Subject Test Web Resources:  Practice Questions - FREE  Answer Explanations - FREE Important Test Day information on:  How to Do Your Best  What to Bring  Standby Testing  If You’re Absent  SAT Test Center Closing  Make-up Testing  Test Security and Fairness For Educators - Helping Students Get Ready Models, Lesson Plans, and Strategies for:  Argumentative writing skills  School-based SAT Practice  ESL/ELL students  The Official SAT Teacher’s Guide™ Professional Development Workshops:  SAT Skills Insight  Animating Student Writing  Holistic Scoring Workshop  School-Based SAT Practice  Writing Preparation for Educators of ESL/ELL Students

17. The Latest Tools and Information about Subject Tests – FREE online detailed information regarding topics covered on each Subject Test help selecting which tests to take, when to take them, and recommended coursework and preparation for each Subject Test SAT Subject Test Online Practice Questions – FREE questions for all 20 Subject Tests – FREE detailed answer explanations for all questions available – FREE expanded free practice questions available – FREE Getting Ready for the SAT® Subject Tests Practice Booklet – FREE Audio CD for all six Language with Listening Tests – FREE Subject Test Practice Tools At a Glance Free Online SAT Subject Test Practice Materials FREE SAT Subject Test Practice Tools Available at: sat.collegeboard.org

18. Free SAT Practice Tools SAT Study Plan The Official SAT Question of the Day Full Practice Test Practice Questions SAT Skills Insight

19. SAT Study Plan SAT Study Plan is an easy place for students to start preparing for the SAT. This plan gives students suggestions for using the free practice tools available on the SAT website.

20. The Official SAT Question of the Day The Official SAT Question of the Day is an easy way for students to make practice a daily routineQuestion of the Day Available for free:  Website  Email subscription  iTunes mobile app

21. Full Practice Test Taking the Full Practice Test is a stress-free (and free) way for students to find their strengths and weaknesses on the SAT.Full Practice Test The test is scored automatically and students can view performance by question, answer explanations, and sample essays.

22. SAT Practice Questions Additional SAT Practice Questions are available for all three SAT sections and question types and provide detailed answer explanationsSAT Practice Questions Allows students to get familiar with questions and/or focus practice on a particular section

23. SAT Skills Insight™ SAT Skills InsightSAT Skills Insight helps students understand the skills tested on the SAT and the skills they need to improve. Use with SAT scores or Full Practice Test scores Students review:  Skills by section and score band  Sample questions for each skill  Suggestions for improvement

24. SAT Fee Waiver Service Vinay Gangadharan Director, SAT Program ＆ Policy Admininistration

25. SAT Fee Waiver Service The College Board fee-waiver service assists students for whom payment of fees for the SAT or SAT Subject Tests might be a barrier to college entrance. Much more than simply the waiver of test fees — we give low- income students access to a comprehensive set of tools that help them realize their college dreams. More than 360,000 low-income students in the graduating class of 2011 benefitted from SAT Fee Waiver Services. More than $35 million in services were made available at no cost to low-income high school students last academic year. Fee-waiver card quantities are based on the number of test-takers from your school who used SAT fee waivers from October to January of the previous school year.

26. Fee waiver policy allows eligible students the following offerings: 2 SAT registrations at no cost 2 SAT subject test registrations at no cost 4 Additional Flexible Score reports SAS or QAS at no cost Four Requests for College Application Fee Waivers Discount on the Official SAT Online Course Fee waivers are available for high school juniors or seniors in the United States, Puerto Rico, or U.S. territories who cannot afford to pay the test fees. USDA income levels for the Federal Free and Reduced Lunch Program The student is enrolled in a program for the economically disadvantaged (for example, AVID or a TRIO program such as Upward Bound). Family’s annual income falls within the levels listed by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) for reduced-price lunches The student’s family receives public assistance. The student’s family lives in federally subsidized public housing. The student is a resident in a foster home. SAT Fee Waiver Service

27. AP Adriana Flores Senior Director, Diversity Initiatives

28. The Basics Advanced Placement Program ® (AP ® ) courses are college- level courses offered in high school. AP courses reflect what is taught in top introductory college courses At the end of course, students take AP Exams— standardized exams that measure how well students have mastered college-level course work. Students who do well on AP Exams can earn credit and/or placement into advanced courses in college. 28

29. The Benefits of AP Courses AP courses can be challenging, but it’s work that pays off. AP courses are often the most interesting and fulfilling courses a student takes in high school. AP teachers are among the most prepared, dedicated, and inspiring teachers at their schools. Students develop confidence, and learn the study habits and time management skills essential for success in college. 29

30. AP and Traditionally Underserved Students African American and Hispanic students who took AP courses and exams earned higher grades in college than other African American and Hispanic students from the same SAT ® range and the same socioeconomic background who had taken only regular high school courses or dual enrollment courses. “College Outcomes Comparison by AP and Non-AP High School Experiences.” Barbara G. Dodd, Linda Hargrove, Donn Godin (2008). Full study can be found at: www.collegeboard.com/research

31. AP Helps Students Graduate on Time… Students who take AP courses and exams are much more likely than their peers to complete a college degree on time. Only one in four students who enter college complete a bachelor’s degree in four years.* A recent study** showed that students taking AP courses and exams were much more likely to earn a college degree in four years. For example, AP English Literature students had four-year college graduation rates that were 62% higher than students that had not taken AP English Literature. 31 * IPEDS database, 2008 ** Linda Hargrove, Donn Godin, and Barbara Dodd, “College Outcomes Comparisons by AP and Non-AP High School Experiences.” The College Board, 2008.

32. … and Save Money Students who take five years or more to graduate can spend $21,500 for each additional year in college. The average college cost per year for a four-year public institution is $21,447 for in-state students. Costs include tuition and fees, room and board, transportation, and other expenses. 32 SOURCE: The College Board, Trends in College Pricing 2011, Figure 1

33. AP Credit Expands Students’ Options College credit earned through AP Exams allows students to move into upper-level college courses sooner, pursue a double major, and gain time to study and travel abroad. 33 “As a freshman, I was able to skip general education requirements and head straight into the higher-level classes I wanted to take. Taking AP Exams literally saved me semesters of time.”—Brent Wiese, University of Iowa

34. AP Boosts Eligibility for Scholarships 31% of colleges and universities consider a student’s AP experience when making decisions about which students will receive scholarships.* 34 “Having the AP Exam score can make the difference when it comes down to awarding precious scholarship dollars.” —Edwina Harris Hamby, former Dean of Admission, Fisk University * Unpublished institutional research, Crux Research Inc. March 2007

35. AP and College Admission Colleges rank “Grades in college prep courses” and “Strength of curriculum” as the top two factors in the admission decision.* 85% of selective colleges and universities report that a student’s AP experience favorably impacts admission decisions.** 35 “We look favorably on students who have taken AP courses. The presence of AP courses is a sign that a student has chosen to challenge him/herself.” —Admission Officer * 2009 State of College Admission, NACAC ** Unpublished institutional research, Crux Research Inc. March 2007

36. AP Exams AP Exams are administered by schools worldwide on set dates each May. Exams usually last around three hours. Each AP Exam contains: – Multiple-choice questions – Free-response questions (essay, problem-solving, oral response) 36

37. CLEP Adriana Flores Senior Director, Diversity Initiatives

38. CLEP: A College Completion Tool Translates prior-learning experience into college credit 33 computer-based exams $80 cost of each exam Save time earn up to 12 credits per exam Save money fraction of a college course Accelerate advance to upper level classes sooner Graduate Leads to higher retention and graduation rates CLEP is the credit-by-examination program serving the most diverse group of students—traditional, adult learners, and military service members.

39. Students Save and Achieve with CLEP Improves Tuition Affordability  Students who earn CLEP credit save anywhere from $1,605 at a large public university to around $6,000 at other institutions.  Financial aid recipients who earn CLEP credit have higher bachelor’s degree (72%) completion rates than their non-PLA counterparts (16%) Fueling the Race to Postsecondary Success, 2011 StudyFueling the Race to Postsecondary Success

40. Students Save and Achieve with CLEP Time-Saving Avenue to Degree Completion  PLA students earning bachelor’s degrees saved on average between 2.5 and 10.1 months time in earning their degrees. Grants College Credit  Students who get a satisfactory score in a CLEP exam can earn between 3 and 12 college credits for what they already know.

41. Students Save and Achieve with CLEP Leads to Higher Retention and Graduation Rates  50% of PLA students earned a degree in seven year, compared to 21% of non-PLA students. Fueling the Race to Postsecondary Success

42. CLEP Serves Military

43. Undocumented Students Adriana Flores Senior Director, Diversity Initiatives

44. Resources for Undocumented Students AP can save money SAT fee waivers Repository for resources for undocumented students – http://media.collegeboard.com/digitalServices/pdf/diversity/Repo sitory-Resources-Undocumented-Students_2012.pdf http://media.collegeboard.com/digitalServices/pdf/diversity/Repo sitory-Resources-Undocumented-Students_2012.pdf Counseling – http://www.ab540.org http://www.ab540.org Scholarships – http://www.maldef.org http://www.maldef.org

45. Questions & Answers

46. ASPIRA’s College Board Webpage http://lp.collegeboard.org/aspira

47. For Additional Questions and Information ASPIRA@collegeboard.org

48. Thank You for Your Participation!!!!