7 th Grade TIP SAT Info Session Have questions?

Lets answer your questions… What is the TIP? SAT or ACT? Should students prepare? Why? How do we sign up? What other tools are available? Whats next? Fall 2013Knowsys Educational Services2

Congratulations! The TIP is an invitation only program TIP = Talent Identification Program Your student has shown potential! Only 7 th grade students who have scored in the 95 th percentile or higher on a standardized exam (like TAKS) are invited to participate Note: Scoring in the 95 th percentile is not the same as scoring a 95 on an exam. Fall 2013Knowsys Educational Services3

What is the Duke TIP? The Duke TIP started in The goal is to identify gifted youth and expose them to advanced academic opportunities. To qualify to participate in Dukes advanced academic opportunities, students must excel on either the SAT or the ACT. Fall 2013Knowsys Educational Services4

Benefits of Participating Recognition as a Duke Scholar – A well-established and widely-recognized honor Invitations to participate in advanced academic programs – Over 400 Summer and Enrichment Programs – Duke Scholar Weekends (including ones at Univ of Houston) Attention from recruiters at top universities Fall 2013Knowsys Educational Services5

Lets answer your questions… What is the TIP? SAT or ACT? Should students prepare? Why? How do we sign up? What other tools are available? Whats next? Fall 2013Knowsys Educational Services6

SAT & ACT Test Overview SAT: – Critical Reading, Writing, and Math – Required essay: 25 minutes – 10 Multiple Choice sections of 25, 20, or 10 minutes. – per section Writing section score is 70% MC Grammar & 30% essay – Scores are added for Combined Score ACT: –English, Math, Science, and Reading –Optional essay: 30 minutes Essay is combined with English Test score for a separate Writing score –4 Tests of 45 or 60 minutes –1-36 per section –Scores are averaged for Composite Score Fall 2013Knowsys Educational Services7

SAT & ACT Test Overview The 7 th graders take the real test They will show up at the test site and there will be Juniors (and maybe seniors) Most districts try to separate the TIP students so that the 7 th graders are in their own room Sign up early to get a school in your district. Read your registration paperwork carefully... You may be assigned your 2 nd or 3 rd choice test center Fall 2013Knowsys Educational Services8

SAT Qualifying Scores State Recognition – Math: 520 – Critical Reading: 510 – Writing: 500 OR – Combination of any two: Math: 510 Critical Reading: 500 Writing: 490 Grand Recognition: –Math: 670 –Critical Reading: 650 –Writing: 650 OR –Combined score of 1850 Fall 2013Knowsys Educational Services9 SAT Score Range: per section At or above Senior averages

ACT Qualifying Scores State Recognition – Reading: 21 – Science: 21 – Math: 20 – English: 20 OR – Combination of any two: Reading 20 Science 20 English 19 Math 19 Grand Recognition: –Reading: 30 –Science: 27 –Math: 28 –English: 29 OR –Composite: 27 (Average of all 4 scores) Fall 2013Knowsys Educational Services10 ACT Score Range: 1-36 per section At or above Senior averages

The SAT or the ACT? We recommend the SAT for most students Why? – Shorter sections – More time per question – Less densely packed – Testing over more general thinking skills (ACT tests trigonometry, logs, matrices, etc.) But isnt there a wrong answer penalty on the SAT? – Yes. But well teach you how to use that in your favor (your Efficiency Strategy). Fall 2013Knowsys Educational Services11

Will my 7 th grade score stay on my record? Heres a question we get asked all the time, and its a good one! No. The 7 th grade score will AUTOMATICALLY drop off the students cumulative record. The only exception is if a student specifically requests that the score stay on. – If the score is a 700 or higher in a section, ask to keep it. – Otherwise, let it disappear. – No one ever has to know your score! Fall 2013Knowsys Educational Services12

Which SAT? How do I register? The one right after the course ends: January 25, 2014 Register with Duke TIP at – January SAT exam Paper registration deadline: 11/4 Online registration deadline: 12/5 Fall 2013Knowsys Educational Services13

Lets answer your questions… What is the TIP? SAT or ACT? Should students prepare? Why? How do we sign up? What other tools are available? Whats next? Fall 2013Knowsys Educational Services14

Should My Student Prepare? YES! Preparation is beneficial. – Improve content knowledge in math, vocab, and grammar. Review content already seen in school. Take learning to a new level – from knowledge to application. – Learn strategies and methods for timed test taking. – Improve communication with SAT vocabulary. – Get a jump start on real SAT preparation. Fall 2013Knowsys Educational Services15

Frisco ISD Preparation Course SAT Preparation Course – Cost: $125/student – Course includes ALL OF THE FOLLOWING: SAT Practice Test: 10/22 (4:00-7:30) SAT Score Report Pick Up: Monday, 10/28 (6:00 pm) Class days in January: – January 7 th – January 14 th – January 21 st – Location: Clark Middle School, time: 4:15-7:15 Fall 2013Knowsys Educational Services16

What the course will focus on First: The course is short. We will not cover all the content on the SAT. We will cover the following: – Practice SAT: Its always better for the first time to be in practice! Taking this test will give students a realistic feel for the rigor of the SAT. – Test overview and logistics: scoring, timing, expectations, etc. – Test-taking strategies: Students should memorize their Efficiency Strategy and USE IT! Fall 2013Knowsys Educational Services17

What the course will focus on We will cover the following: – Math: Math strategies and as much math content as we can get to (focusing on Arithmetic, Geometry, and Equations) – Writing: Essay method (MEMORIZE and use it) and as much grammar content as we can get to – Vocab: Vocab will be assigned OUTSIDE of class – work on it at home, starting as soon as you get the words – Sentence Completions: Method for applying the vocabulary to the Sentence Completions Fall 2013Knowsys Educational Services18

Whats expected of the student? There will be homework! – The only way to maximize student performance is for students to practice using the methods. – You should see/help your student work with: 1. SAT Vocabulary 2. The Online SAT Course 3. The Knowsys TIP Workbook – has strategies, methods, formulas to memorize, etc. 4. The SAT Official Guide (the big blue book) – has practice problems assigned for homework 5. The Essay examples – 15 Excellent Examples and practice essays Fall 2013Knowsys Educational Services19

How we will communicate with you (the Course site) – We will post course documents there (e.g., the Vocab List and the Online SAT Course log in directions) Remind 101 – to or – We will send out reminders about classes and events (like the test and the Score Report pick up). Fall 2013Knowsys Educational Services20

How we will communicate with you – We will send out the first within a week to all of you who have registered for the course. – Our instructors will send post-class updates via to the on file with – If you are expecting communication and are not hearing from us, and let us know you are in the course but dont seem to be on the mailing Fall 2013Knowsys Educational Services21

Lets answer your questions… What is the TIP? SAT or ACT? Should students prepare? Why? How do we sign up? What other tools are available? Whats next? Fall 2013Knowsys Educational Services22

Registering for the Frisco SAT Course Enroll online at (and pay by credit card) Enrollment is on a first-come, first-served basis. Class size is limited. Fall 2013Knowsys Educational Services23

Lets answer your questions… What is the TIP? SAT or ACT? Should students prepare? Why? How do we sign up? What other tools are available? Whats next? Fall 2013Knowsys Educational Services24

What about the SAT Vocabulary? Verbal: Start working on SAT Vocabulary – Capricious- Mercurial- Equivocal – Reproach- Disparage- Loquacious – Dont just memorize the words and definitions. Apply the words. Go from memory to mastery. Fall 2013Knowsys Educational Services25

What about the SAT Vocabulary? Students who register for the course will receive the Knowsys SAT 300 Vocabulary List (it is already posted at Students can make their own cards or they can buy flashcards from Knowsys. Box set: $15 (buy tonight or at – plus SH) Online flashcards: $10.77 ( iTunes app: $4.99 (iTunes or App Store: Search Knowsys) Knowsys SAT Vocab Activities eBook: $9.99 (for iPad only; iTunes or iBooks Store: Search Knowsys) Vocabulary improves Sentence Completions & Reading Comprehension Fall 2013Knowsys Educational Services26

SAT Question of the Day Collegeboard.org publishes an SAT-level question every day! Sign up to have it delivered to your (or use their app). This is a great way to keep your skills sharp! Fall 2013Knowsys Educational Services27

Knowsys SAT Blog Knowsys write a blog with an SAT Question of the Day every day! – Practice and review the Knowsys Strategies – Clear, simple explanations Sign up at to receive the blog by ! Fall 2013Knowsys Educational Services28

ACT Question of the Day If you can squeeze it in, tackle the ACT Question of the Day too. Sign up at Keep using the SAT and ACT Questions of the Day all the way through high school! Fall 2013Knowsys Educational Services29

Lets answer your questions… What is the TIP? SAT or ACT? Should students prepare? Why? How do we sign up? What other tools are available? Whats next? Fall 2013Knowsys Educational Services30

Summary: Next Steps Register for Duke TIP ( -- $74www.tip.duke.edu Register for the SAT Course (Optional) -- $125 Start working on SAT Vocabulary Participate in the Course (with registration) – Vocabulary – Take Practice SAT (10/22) – Attend Score Report Review Session (10/28) – Attend 3 classes (1/7, 1/14, 1/21) – Take the TIP SAT (1/25) – Let us know how you scored! Fall 2013Knowsys Educational Services31

Contact People Knowsys Educational Services – – (for program questions) – (Course registration) – (Vocab purchases) Frisco Gifted and Talented – Julie Martin – Duke Talent Search – (919) (8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday) – Fall 2013Knowsys Educational Services32