1. Standardized Testing Please be sure to pick-up your: * Test Booklet * Score Report (inserted in the test booklet) * Using Your Results pamphlet (for the EXPLORE & PLAN)

2. Standardized Testing - EXPLORE (8 & 9) - PLAN (10) - PLAN (10) - PSAT (10 & 11)

3. EXPLORE - Grades 8 & 9 - Administered in the Fall - Predictor test for the ACT (achievement) - No penalty for guessing

4. PLAN - Grade 10 - Administered in the Fall - Predictor test for the ACT (achievement) - No penalty for guessing

5. Why Take EXPLORE/PLAN? EXPLORE /PLAN helps you see: EXPLORE /PLAN helps you see: where you stand academically where you stand academically what career and educational paths are available to you what career and educational paths are available to you how to develop a plan for meeting your career and academic goals. how to develop a plan for meeting your career and academic goals. Early awareness of academic strengths and weaknesses, plus a rigorous high school course plan are the keys to success.

6. EXPLORE/PLAN Score Reports Similar layout of score reports for EXPLORE/PLAN Similar layout of score reports for EXPLORE/PLAN Scores compared to nation-wide test takers (not local) Scores compared to nation-wide test takers (not local) Differences in score reports: Differences in score reports: EXPLORE score range 1-25 EXPLORE score range 1-25 Subscores 1-12 (English) Subscores 1-12 (English) PLAN score range 1-32 PLAN score range 1-32 Subscores 1-16 (English & Math) Subscores 1-16 (English & Math)

7. Test Comparisons Program Grade Level Composite Score Range EXPLORE8 and 91 to 25 PLAN101 to 32 ACT10 - 121 to 36

8. ENGLISH TEST The EXPLORE/PLAN English Test The EXPLORE/PLAN English Test measures your understanding of standard written English measures your understanding of standard written English punctuation punctuation grammar and usage grammar and usage sentence structure (Usage/Mechanics) sentence structure (Usage/Mechanics) measures your understanding of the use of strategy, organization, and style in writing (Rhetorical Skills) measures your understanding of the use of strategy, organization, and style in writing (Rhetorical Skills) You receive a total score for the English test and separate scores ("subscores") for Usage/Mechanics and Rhetorical Skills. You receive a total score for the English test and separate scores ("subscores") for Usage/Mechanics and Rhetorical Skills.

9. MATH TEST The EXPLORE/PLAN Math Test The EXPLORE/PLAN Math Test measures your mathematical reasoning measures your mathematical reasoning not memorization or involved computations not memorization or involved computations Questions on the test cover four areas Questions on the test cover four areas knowledge and skills knowledge and skills direct application direct application understanding concepts understanding concepts integrating your understanding of concepts integrating your understanding of concepts

10. READING TEST The EXPLORE/PLAN Reading Test The EXPLORE/PLAN Reading Test measures your ability to understand written material from different subjects measures your ability to understand written material from different subjects skills measured include referring to details in the passage, drawing conclusions, and making comparisons and generalizations skills measured include referring to details in the passage, drawing conclusions, and making comparisons and generalizations the test does not cover information outside the passages, vocabulary taken out of context, or formal logic the test does not cover information outside the passages, vocabulary taken out of context, or formal logic

11. SCIENCE TEST The EXPLORE/PLAN Science Test The EXPLORE/PLAN Science Test measures your scientific reasoning skills measures your scientific reasoning skills ability to understand scientific information and draw conclusions from it ability to understand scientific information and draw conclusions from it Formats include Formats include data representation (graphs, tables, and other forms) data representation (graphs, tables, and other forms) research summaries (descriptions of several related experiments) research summaries (descriptions of several related experiments) conflicting viewpoints (two or more hypotheses that are inconsistent with one another). conflicting viewpoints (two or more hypotheses that are inconsistent with one another). The test emphasizes your scientific reasoning skills rather than how well you can recall scientific facts, or your skills in mathematics or in reading. The test emphasizes your scientific reasoning skills rather than how well you can recall scientific facts, or your skills in mathematics or in reading.

12. EXPLORE Subject & Benchmark Number of Questions How Long It Takes English-134030 minutes Math-173030 minutes Reading-153030 minutes Science-202830 minutes

13. PLAN Subject & Benchmark Number of Questions Time Allowed English-15 5030 minutes Usage / Mechanics 30 Rhetorical Skills20 Math-1940 40 minutes Pre-Algebra / Algebra 22 Geometry18 Reading-172520 minutes Science-213025 minutes

20. Score Report Side 2 Side 2

21. How do my courses and scores relate to my educational and career plans?

22. PSAT - Grades 10 & 11 - Administered in the Fall - Predictor test for the SAT (aptitude) - Minus ¼ point for wrong MC ques

23. PSAT Measures Critical reading (draw inferences, main and supporting ideas, vocabulary) Critical reading (draw inferences, main and supporting ideas, vocabulary) Mathematics (number and operations, algebra and functions, geometry and measurement, data analysis, statistics, and probability Mathematics (number and operations, algebra and functions, geometry and measurement, data analysis, statistics, and probability Writing Skills (identify expressions, detect faults in usage/structure, choose revisions, recognize appropriate writing strategies) Writing Skills (identify expressions, detect faults in usage/structure, choose revisions, recognize appropriate writing strategies)

24. PSAT Converts to SAT The PSAT is reliable preparation for the same types of questions on the SAT The PSAT is reliable preparation for the same types of questions on the SAT The PSAT scale of 20 to 80 is comparable to the SAT scale of 200 to 800 The PSAT scale of 20 to 80 is comparable to the SAT scale of 200 to 800

25. National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test PSAT is also a scholarship qualifying test for JUNIORS PSAT is also a scholarship qualifying test for JUNIORS Qualification is based on the Selection Index Score Qualification is based on the Selection Index Score This qualifying number differs each year depending on the scores of JUNIORS nation-wide This qualifying number differs each year depending on the scores of JUNIORS nation-wide A National Merit Finalist will often be accepted to the school of his/her choice and receive full tuition, plus!

26. PSAT SCORE REPORT Scores and Benchmarks Scores and Benchmarks 11 th GRADE Critical Reading – 50 Mathematics - 50 Writing – 49 Selection Index - 152 10th GRADE Critical Reading – 49 Mathematics - 47 Writing – 48 Selection Index - 145

27. PSAT SCORE REPORT Selection Index (NMSC) Selection Index (NMSC) Your Skills (online access code) Your Skills (online access code) Your answers Your answers Difficulty Difficulty Scoring Scoring Online explanations Online explanations Next Steps (career path) Next Steps (career path)

28. WHAT’S NEXT??? Review your test booklet Review your test booklet Utilize the online tools available Utilize the online tools available Continue to prepare for standardized tests (and ultimately, the ACT and SAT) Continue to prepare for standardized tests (and ultimately, the ACT and SAT) Once a student has completed at least one semester of Algebra 2 (typically 10 th grade), he/she should start taking the ACT and/or SAT.

29. WEBSITES EXPLORE EXPLORE www.actstudent.org/explore www.actstudent.org/explore www.actstudent.org/explore PLAN PLAN www.actstudent.org/plan www.actstudent.org/plan www.actstudent.org/plan PSAT PSAT www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/psat www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/psat www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/psat ACT ACT www.act.org www.act.org www.act.org SAT SAT www.collegeboard.org www.collegeboard.org www.collegeboard.org Mrs. Matthews’ website has additional information on preparing for college and the ACT/SAT.

30. QUESTIONS? Thank you for coming and have a wonderful week! Bonnie S. Matthews, School Counselor bmatthews@lee-scott.org