FALL Testing DAY Information AND OTHER THINGS you need to KNOW Juniors 2017-18 PHS Fall Testing Day

Fall Testing Day What is it? Date: Wednesday, October 11, 2017 exams are not required, but optional Only students that sign-up will test. All others will be in class as normal Test Options: PSAT or Practice ACT Date: Wednesday, October 11, 2017 Approximately 7:30am-11:00am OPTION #1:Practice ACT Free signup will be in mid-September Exam takes place during the school day and at the SAME time of the PSAT, so you cannot participate in both There will be a link to sign up for the practice ACT.

Fall Testing Day Cont’d OPTION #2: PSAT Juniors PSAT - $18 Sign up for PSAT online by Thursday, August 31, 2017 Pay Mrs. Brown in the main office by Thursday, August 31, 2017 Checks made payable to Piper High School https://goo.gl/forms/aJEyFVJn8MfRpaVd2

What is the PSAT? Assess skills in critical reading, math reasoning, and writing that are important for success in college. Assess your ability to reason with facts and concepts rather than the ability to recall them. Receive suggestions on how to improve your skills. Compare your skills with other college-bound students. Practice for the SAT Reasoning Test. Enter the National Merit Scholarship Competition.

What does the test consist of? CRITICAL READING (2-25 minute sections) 13 sentence completions 35 passage-based reading questions MATH (2-25 minute sections) 28 multiple choice 10 student-produced responses, or grid-ins WRITING SKILLS (1-30 minute section) 20 improving sentences 14 identifying sentence errors 5 improving paragraphs Go to www.collegeboard.org/psat for examples of the questions! If you sign up, you’ll get a practice test book as well!!! http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/ psat/prep/tips.html

Should I take the PSAT? If you are enrolled in the following courses, consider taking the PSAT: Juniors AP English Language Pre-Calculus If you took the PSAT as a Sophomore and did well, we suggest you take it as a Junior. Sophomores take this test for practice. Scores don’t count towards the National Merit Scholarship Program until the junior year.

What is National Merit Scholarship Competition? Typically, around 1.5 million students take the PSAT each year. About 50,000 will earn scores high enough to qualify for recognition National Merit Commended Student National Merit Semi-Finalist National Merit Finalist National Achievement Scholarship Program Students that receive recognition typically receive generous scholarships to the colleges they attend. More information can be found at www.collegeboard.org

When is the PSAT? DATE: Wednesday, October 11, 2017 TIME: 7:30 – approx. 11:00 COST: $18, cash or check made out to Piper High School If you are on free/reduced lunch and want to take the PSAT, please let Mrs. Vader know. REGISTRATION: Sign up for the test and pay the $18 fee by Thursday, August 31, 2017 at 3:00 p.m. Sign-up online via google form Turn in payment to Mrs. Brown

What if I don’t want to pay to take the PSAT? You do have the option for the Practice ACT Good opportunity to take the test and see what areas you need to focus on to improve your score. Those that do not sign up for the PSAT or Practice ACT, will attend classes as normal

What is on the Practice ACT? The Practice ACT is given using “retired” ACT tests. ACT (The American College Test) Consists of 4 areas English – 75 questions Math – 60 questions Reading – 40 questions Science reasoning – 40 questions Writing (optional) – 30 minutes – Will not be given during the Practice ACT test Scores range from 0-36 with a 21 being an average score. One way to gain entrance into a Kansas State Regents University (KSU, PSU, ESU, WSU, FHSU, Washburn) is to score a 21 or higher on the ACT (KU requires a higher ACT score, but still used to gain entrance)

When is the Practice ACT? DATE: Wednesday, October 11, 2017 TIME: 7:30 – approx. 11:00 COST: free REGISTRATION: There will be a google link sometime in September. Please read your emails! Sign-up online via google form- link will be sent via gmail accounts and in email blast in mid-September.

After I get my results from this test, what’s next? Juniors Planning to attend a FOUR year university after graduating? Take the… ACT or SAT, depending on where you plan to go… Planning to attend a community college or technical school? Take the practice ACT again and see how you do. If you score high enough on it that would qualify you for an academic scholarship at the community college of your choice, then sign up for the ACT. Otherwise you do not need it to attend a community college. Wyandotte West library offers several practice ACT test dates for free throughout the year. Link to the dates: https://www.piperschools.com/Page/203

Should I pay to take the “real” ACT? You should not take the “real” ACT until: December of your junior year if you are enrolled in Pre-Calculus February/April of your junior year if you are enrolled in Algebra 2 If you DO NOT intend to attend a FOUR year college upon graduation from high school, you DO NOT need to take the ACT. However, you can take it if you feel you would score high enough to get scholarships at the community college level, but you do not need it to gain entrance. Check with your counselor first.

Registration Deadline When is the ACT offered? ACT test dates for 2017-18: The October 28nd, December 9th and April 14th dates will be held at PHS. For other dates, you will need to see what area schools will be hosting it Sign up online at actstudent.org. Fee for ACT No Writing is $46.00. Test Date Registration Deadline (Late Fee Required) September 09, 2017 August 4, 2017 August 5-18, 2017 October 28, 2017 September 22, 2017 September 23-October 26, 2017 December 09, 2017 November 3, 2017 November 4-7, 2017 February 10, 2018 January 12, 2018 January 13-19, 2018 April 14, 2018 March 9, 2018 March 10-23, 2018 June 09, 2018 May 4, 2018 May 5-18, 2018

Should I consider taking an ACT Test Prep class? For juniors in Pre-Calculus that intend to attend a FOUR year college after graduating… We will be offering an ACT PowerPrep session this year on October 4 at Piper.  Here is the link to sign up.  The cost is $45 per student.  This is highly recommended for students who will be taking the ACT in October or December. http://www.powerprepinc.com/Piper_HS _10_2017.html.

How do I register for the ACT or the SAT? Register online at: ACT - www.actstudent.org SAT - www.collegeboard.org/sat Some students may qualify for a fee waiver. Stop by the counseling office to see if you qualify (free/reduced lunch, foster care, etc.).

TEC SCHOOL Seniors only. Must be in good standing-not in credit recovery, have passing grades, few discipline and tardy/absence issues. Piper District pays your tuition while you are in high school. Must provide your own transportation. Hot Careers Day-November 8, 2017 There will be a Google Form sign-up. Please read your weekly email.

What juniors should know to prepare for their senior year Explore careers that may interest you. Explore colleges that may interest you. Take the PSAT if you scored well on it as a sophomore. Take one or more practice ACT tests. (offered for free at Wyandotte West Library). Take the real ACT in April, 2018. Create a FAFSA ID number for yourself. Do not have your parent create one. FAFSA is the form that needs to be filled out to receive aide for college. https://fafsa.ed.gov/

Preparing for senior year FAFSA estimator: this helps you estimate the cost of college. https://fafsa.ed.gov/FAFSA/app/f4cForm?ex ecution=e1s1 https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/prepare-for- college/checklists/11th-grade Good website to go to that will help answer a lot of questions. Make sure you are taking challenging classes all four years of high school.

Website information High School Website: https://www.piperschools.com/Domain/52

See Mrs. Vader or Mrs. Eckard.  Questions? See Mrs. Vader or Mrs. Eckard. 