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

2. 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.

3. 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

4. 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.

5. 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 for examples of the questions! If you sign up, you’ll get a practice test book as well!!!
psat/prep/tips.html

6. 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.

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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)

11. 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 s!
Sign-up online via google form- link will be sent via gmail accounts and in blast in mid-September.

12. 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:

13. 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.

14. Registration Deadline
When is the ACT offered?
ACT test dates for :
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

15. 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.
_10_2017.html.

16. How do I register for the ACT or the SAT?
Register online at:
ACT -
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.).

17. 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 .

18. 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.

19. Preparing for senior year
FAFSA estimator: this helps you estimate the cost of college. ecution=e1s1
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.

20. Website information
High School Website:

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