1. Teays Valley High School: Talking about College and Career Readiness
Rose Babington
Account Manager, National Programs
ACT Midwest Region, Ohio Office
March 14, 2013 1

2. College and Career Readiness
What does “college and career readiness” mean?
What does the ACT have to do with it?
Why start talking about it now?

3. College and Career Readiness
The knowledge and skills a student needs to enroll and succeed in credit-bearing, first-year courses at a postsecondary institution (such as a two- or four-year college, trade school, or technical school) without the need for remediation.
ACT
Common Core

4. College Readiness Benchmarks
Test
College Course
PLAN
ACT
8th Grade
9th Grade
English
English Composition 13 14 15 18
Math
Algebra 17 19 22
Reading
Social Sciences 16 21
Science
Biology 20 24
EXPLORE
Empirically Derived
50% chance of achieving a B or higher or about a 75% chance of achieving a C or higher in the corresponding credit-bearing college course

5. Using EXPLORE and PLAN scores to talk about college and career readiness

6. EXPLORE Grade 8/9 English, Mathematics, Reading, and Science
Total time for tests: 2 hours
Needs Assessment
Plans and Background Information
Interest Inventory

7. PLAN Grade 10 English, Mathematics, Reading, and Science
Total time for tests: 1 hour and 55 minutes
Needs Assessment
High School Course/Grade Information
Interest Inventory
Educational Opportunity Service (EOS)

8. The ACT Total time for tests: 2 hours and 55 minutes
English, Mathematics, Reading, and Science
Optional Writing Test (30 minutes)
Needs Assessment
High School Course/Grade Information
Interest Inventory
Educational Opportunity Service (EOS)

9. LONGITUDINAL ASSESSMENTS College Readiness System Scores36 32 25

10. EXPLORE and PLAN
Measuring skills that you have developed in school over time
Designed to help you practice and prepare for the ACT
Encourages you to start thinking about college/career opportunities

12. Benchmarks and Skills

13. Course Outlook and Planning

15. Career Opportunities and Interest Inventory

16. Item Response Summary and Ideas for Progress (Student Report)

17. World of Work Map

18. Looking Ahead: the ACT College admissions/scholarship test
Optional writing section
Typically taken spring of junior year/fall of senior year
Test dates: September, October, December, February, April, June

19. ACT Additional skills: More advanced vocabulary
More complex writing styles and structures
Algebra 2 concepts, more advanced skills
More complex analysis of passages
Comprehension of more sophisticated data

20. Registration Sending scores to colleges and universities
Four free – designate when you sign up
Only reported for the test date you specify
Send after test is over: $10-15 per school
Test Information Release
April, June, December
$19

21. Test Location When registering online, you will select location
Earlier registration means more to choose from
Your high school may be a testing site for some test dates – ask your counselor

22. Test Day Arrive before or at stated time on your admission ticket
Late testers may not be admitted
Bring proper materials
Recommended: sweater/jacket, tissues
Ask questions to the test proctor or administrator

23. Strategies Pace yourself. Wear a watch and know your time.
No alarms permitted
Answer easy questions first.
Answer EVERY question – no penalty for guessing.

24. Strategies Read carefully. Read the directions.
English, Reading, Science: best answer
Mathematics: correct answer
Read the text of each question thoroughly.

25. Strategies Be careful and precise. Erase answers completely.
Mark answer choices correctly.

26. Strategies If you have time, check your work.
Do NOT go back or forward to other sections until instructed to do so.

27. Math Strategies If you choose, bring an appropriate calculator.
Not required
Visit for a list of approved devices
Get new batteries.
Use the calculator wisely.

28. Writing Strategies Pace yourself. Read carefully. Write legibly.
Prepare and outline as needed.
Read carefully.
Don’t answer a different prompt than what’s given!
Write legibly.

29. Before Test Day
Familiarize yourself with the content areas covered by the ACT
Take a look at practice problems online
Get sleep the night before!

30. Improving Skills Read differently and read more
Consider how you approach and read different materials
Continue to build on math skills
Use the suggested improvement tips on your report

31. Where to Start www.actstudent.org www.actstudent.org/qotd

32. Questions?
Rose Babington
Account Manager