1. VAHS Parent Night Preparing for College
Presented by VAHS Counselor,
Gretchen Madison

2. SAT/ACT Comparison
College Essays
Scholarships
Dual Credit

3. Test Format SAT ACT Critical Reading Math Writing English Math Reading
(2) 25 min. sections
(1) 20 min. sections
Math
(1) 20 min. section
Writing
(1) 25 min essay
(1) 25 min section
(1) 10 min section
English
(1) 45 min. section
Math
(1) 60 min. section
Reading
(1) 35 min. section
Science
Optional Writing
(1) 30 min. essay

4. What is Covered? SAT ACT Reading Grammar and Usage Vocabulary Math
Writing
Reading
Grammar and Usage
Math
Science Reasoning
Writing (Optional)

5. Test Style SAT ACT Tricky
Questions can be phrased in ways that make them difficult to decipher.
Straightforward
Questions may be long, but are usually less difficult to understand.

6. Scoring SAT ACT Writing between 200- 800 Total SAT between 600-2400
Reading, English, Math,and Science scores between 1-36
Composite is the average of the four sections.

7. Penalty for Wrong Answers?
SAT
ACT
Yes, you lose ¼ of a point for an incorrect answer, except grid-in math quesitons.
No, you do not lose points for incorrect answers.

8. Difficulty Levels SAT ACT
Questions increase in difficulty level as you go, except for reading passages.
Difficulty level of the questions is random.

9. Math Levels SAT ACT Arithmetic Alg I and Alg II Geometry Functions
Data Analysis
Formulas are provided
Arithmetic
Alg I and Alg II
Geometry
Functions
Trigonometry
No formulas are provided
SAT

10. Other Facts
SAT
ACT
Popular with Private Colleges and Colleges on the east and west coasts.
Can send to (5) Colleges free when test is taken.
Offered 7 times a year.
Deadline typically 4 weeks before test date.
Popular with Public Colleges and Colleges in the Midwest and South.
Can send to (5) Colleges free when test is taken.
Offered 6 times a year.
Deadline typically 5 to 6 weeks before test date.

11. Test Prep

12. College Essays Are Essays Required?
Check the General Application Information
How many are required?
Put Name and Social Security Number on each page.
A list of procedures and steps, or a lecture slide with media.

13. Possible Topics
Write an essay in which you tell us about someone who has made an impact on your life and explain how and why this person is important to you. (Apply Tx. Topic A)
Choose an issue of importance to you- the issue could be personal, school related, local, political, or international in scope- and write an essay in which you explain the significance of that issue to yourself, your family, your community or your generation. (Apply Tx. Topic B)
Objectives for instruction and expected results and/or skills developed from learning.

14. Pointers COMMON APPLICATION Limit 650 words APPLY TEXAS
No longer than one page, 8 ½ x 11.
Name and Social Security number on each page.
Beginning course details and/or books/materials needed for a class/project.

15. Writing the Perfect Essay
Avoid…
wordiness and repetition.
Vague and imprecise language.
Clichés
Overuse of “I” in first person
Overuse of flowery language
Weak verbs
Relative vocabulary list.

16. Scholarships College/University Websites State/National Scholarships
Local Scholarships

17. Next Meeting November 17 at 6:30 pm
Overview of the Financial Aid Process
Introductory notes.