1. FALL Testing DAY Information for Sophomores
PHS Fall Testing Day

2. Fall Testing Day Changes 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
Sophomores, Juniors-
Sign up mid-September (There will be a link)
Exam takes place during the school day and at the SAME time of the PSAT, so you cannot participate in both

3. Fall Testing Day Cont’d
OPTION #2: PSAT
ALL Sophomores & Juniors
PSAT - $18
Sign up for PSAT online by Thursday, August 31,
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:
Sophomores
Honors English 2
Algebra 2 or higher
Sophomores take this test for practice. Scores don’t count towards the National Merit Scholarship Program until the junior year. If you score well as a sophomore we recommend you take it as a junior.

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.
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
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: Sign up for the test will begin in mid-September.
Sign-up online via google form- link will be sent via gmail accounts and in blast

12. After I get my results from this test, what’s next?
Sophomores
PSAT
Results will be in at the beginning of December.
Use the results to help you find your areas of strength/weakness in order to improve scores for next year.
Practice ACT
If you plan to take the “real” ACT as a junior, plan to take the Practice ACT test at Wyandotte West library a couple times this school year.

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

14. High School website info
Guidance

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