JUNIOR PARENT NIGHT 2015 Penncrest High School

AGENDA Class of 2015 review Junior year calendar PSAT Discussion SAT / ACT AP Testing Important Dates

Class of 2015

Penncrest Class of 2015 SAT Scores Penncrest Class of 2015 Critical Reading – 544 Math Writing – 530 Pennsylvania average SAT scores Critical Reading – 499 Math – 504 Writing - 482

Setting a Target SchoolCritical Reading MathematicsWritingGrade Point Average PSU Temple WCU Pitt Penn

Junior Year Calendar PSAT / NMSQT October 28, 2015 Initiate college search: College fairs, Career Center, College Reps Utilize POWR Days Financial Aid Night: November 4, 2015 Junior Interviews begin in the first semester Plan Spring Testing Schedule: SAT, ACT, AP Prepare for the SAT, ACT, AP

PSAT PSAT/NMSQT stands for Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. Approximately 3.3 million students took the PSAT/NMSQT: 46% were eleventh graders, 53% were tenth graders or younger students.

Benefits of taking the PSAT The best preparation for the SAT The entry point to compete for National Merit Scholarships The option to receive information from colleges and scholarship services. Personalized feedback on critical reading, mathematics and writing skills.

PSAT/NMSQT Approximately 16,000 high school seniors qualify for Semifinalist status based on their performance on the PSAT Semifinalist status is selected from the top 1% of Selection Index Scores. The Selection Index is the cumulative total of the three sub tests.

What does the PSAT assess? Reading skills– Using content from: humanities, social studies, natural sciences and literature. All questions are multiple choice. Prior topic specific questions are not tested. Students will read contemporary literature A U.S. founding document and a piece from global conversation. For example, the U.S. constitution or a speech by Nelson Mandela.

What does the PSAT Reading Test Measure? Command of Evidence Find evidence in a passage (or pair of passages) that best supports the answer to a previous question or serves as the basis for a reasonable conclusion. Identify how authors use evidence to support their claims. Find a relationship between an informational graphic and the passage it’s paired with.

What does the PSAT Reading Test Measure? Words in Context Many questions focus on important, widely used words and phrases that you’ll find in texts in many different subjects. The words are ones that you’ll use in college and the workplace long after test day. The PSAT/NMSQT focus on the student’s ability to: Use context clues in a passage to figure out which meaning of a word or phrase is being used. Decide how an author’s word choice shapes meaning, style, and tone.

What does the PSAT Reading Test Measure? Analysis in History/Social Studies and in Science The Reading Test includes passages in the fields of history, social studies, and science. You’ll be asked questions that require you to draw on the reading skills needed most to succeed in those subjects. Students will be called on to: Examine hypotheses. Interpret data. Answers are based only on the content stated in or implied by the passage.

PSAT Writing and Language Test It’s About the Everyday When you take the Writing and Language Test, you’ll do three things that people do all the time when they write and edit: Read. Find mistakes and weaknesses. Fix them.

What is the Writing and Language Test Like? What the Writing and Language Test Is Like To answer some questions, you’ll need to look closely at a single sentence. Others require reading the entire piece and interpreting a graphic. For instance, you might be asked to choose a sentence that corrects a misinterpretation of a scientific chart or that better explains the importance of the data. The passages you improve will range from arguments to nonfiction narratives and will be about careers, history, social studies, the humanities, and science.

PSAT Math Test The Math Test covers a range of math practices, with an emphasis on problem solving, modeling, using tools strategically, and using algebraic structure. The PSAT/NMSQT will ask students to use the math that you’ll rely on most in all sorts of situations. Questions on the Math Test are designed to mirror the problem solving and modeling you’ll do in: College math, science, and social science courses The jobs that you hold Your personal life

The Focus of the Math Test The Math Test will focus in depth on the three areas of math that play the biggest role in a wide range of college majors and careers: Heart of Algebra, which focuses on the mastery of linear equations and systems. Heart of Algebra, Problem Solving and Data Analysis, which is about being quantitatively literate. Problem Solving and Data Analysis, Passport to Advanced Math, which features questions that require the manipulation of complex equations. Passport to Advanced Math,

A New PSAT = A New Scoring Scale The new PSAT will be scored on a different range than what's been used until now, with a minimum possible score of 320 and a maximum of Both the low and high end of this range are shifted about 80 points lower than the scoring scale of the new SAT, to account for the fact that the PSAT is a somewhat easier testnew SAT

The New PSAT Scoring Scale Math will be scored from 160 to 760, and Reading and Writing will be scored together from 160 to 760. This means that all three sections no longer have equal weight in the overall composite score. Instead, Math will make up half the total score while the Reading and Writing sections will make up the other half together. Your score report will also give you a more detailed breakdown by section, scoring each one from 8 to 38.

When PSAT scores are returned The College Board will you an access code to view your online score report about two months after you take the test. Teachers and counselors will see scores about a day before you do and can give you the access code if you didn’t provide an address when you took the test. Teachers and counselors will also give you your paper score report.

Who doesn’t see PSAT scores? Colleges Don’t Receive Scores The College Board does not send PSAT/NMSQT or PSAT 10 scores to colleges. These scores are not intended to be part of college admission decisions. They should not be included on student transcripts that will be reproduced and sent to colleges unless the student (if 18 or older) or parent/guardian has granted permission. You are allowed to withhold scores from college admission and athletic offices, even when colleges ask for them.

Who will be able to see your scores? The College Board sends PSAT/NMSQT to: Schools Districts (in many cases) States (in many cases) Although you can access your scores online earlier, schools hand out and explain PSAT/NMSQT and a paper score reports to students.

Standardized Tests Colleges use standardized testing in the form of the SAT and ACT to evaluate students Colleges also utilize grade point average and some consider class rank Activities, letters of recommendation are important to many schools.

SAT The SAT is offered seven times during the school year: October 3, 2015 November 7, 2015 December 5, 2015 January 23, 2016 *March 5, 2016 *Redesigned SAT 3/5/2016 *May 7, 2016 *June 4,

ACT Offered six times per year September 12, 2015April 9, 2016 October 24, 2015June 11, 2016 December 12, 2015 February 6, 2015 Students must register for the test at least four weeks before each test date:

SAT/ACT Comparison SAT – ten sections: three Critical Reading, three Math, three writing, and one Experimental; the Experimental section is masked to look like a regular section. The redesigned SAT begins with the March 5 test date. ACT – five sections: English, Math, Reading, Science and Writing (optional)

SAT/ACT Comparison SAT Writing: an essay and questions testing grammar, usage, and word choice ACT Writing: essay English: stresses grammar Science: charts, experiments

SAT/ACT Comparison SAT Math: up to 9 th grade Geometry and Alg II Critical Reading: sentence completions, short & long passages, reading comprehension ACT Math: up to trigonometry Reading: four passages, one each Prose Fiction, Social Science, Humanities, and Natural Science

SAT/ACT Comparison SAT Scoring: per section, added together for a combined score- a 2400 is the highest possible combined score ACT Scoring: 1-36 for each subject, averaged together for a composite score- a 36 is the highest possible composite score

SAT Subject Tests Subject Tests are designed to measure your knowledge and skills in particular subject areas, as well as your ability to apply that knowledge. Colleges use the Subject Tests for admission, course placement, and to advise students about course selection. Some colleges specify the Subject Tests that they require for admission; others allow applicants to choose which tests they take.

Subject Tests: Five Areas English: Literature History: U.S., World History Mathematics: Level 1, Level 2 Science: Bio, Chem, Physics Languages: Chinese, French, German, Spanish, Hebrew, Italian, Latin, Japanese, Korean

Which Subject Tests Do I Take? Before deciding to take the tests, make a list of the colleges that you are considering. Then find out if the school requires the Subject Tests. Many colleges that don’t require Subject Test scores review them to gain a better picture of the student.

When should students take the tests? Most students take the Subject Tests toward the end of their junior year or at the beginning of the senior year. Take tests such as World History, Biology, Chemistry or Physics as soon as possible after completing the course while the material is still fresh in your mind. Questions? See your guidance counselor.

AP Placement Program College-level courses taught in high school by high school teachers AP teachers use college-level materials and course descriptions developed by a committee of college faculty and AP teachers.

AP Examinations Administered in May (May 5 -16) Approximately three hours long Composed of multiple-choice and free-response questions Free-response questions are graded by college professors and AP teachers in June AP exam grades range from 1 to 5

Important Dates Financial Aid Night: November 4, 7:00 p.m. College Night: April 6, 2016, 7:00 p.m. AP Tests: May 2 -13