1. Welcome to River Hill High

2. (H-N) Mrs. Coe (A-G) Mrs. Fairley (O-Z) Dr. Saunders AAM Mr. Lauer Administrative Team Mrs. McKinley Principal

3. Student Services A-Da- Mr. Ives De-J-Ms. Babe K-M-Ms. Pizzo N-Sm -Mr. Vangeli Sn-Z-Mr. Krouse ESOL- Ms. Miller

4. Students show HAWK PRIDE every day in every way! ❑ Punctuality ❑ Respect ❑ Integrity ❑ Determination ❑ Excellence

5. Student Responsibilities and Behavior Student and Parent Handbook, 2015-16 ● HCPSS Policies ● Student Code of Conduct ● Safe Schools ● Family Involvement

6. Program Agenda  Introduction  Tests: –PSAT/NMSQT –SAT –SAT Subject Tests –ACT –Advanced Placement Tests –High School Assessments –Naviance  Questions/Answers & Feedback

7. PSAT/NMSQT PSAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test

8. Benefits of the PSAT/NMSQT  Good practice for the SAT Test  Receive information from colleges and scholarship services  Receive information about college major interests  Chance to qualify for scholarship programs (Juniors only): –National Merit Scholarships –National Achievement Program –Hispanic Recognition Program  Motivation to think actively about preparing for college

9. Additional benefits of the PSAT/NMSQT  Receive personalized feedback on critical reading, math, and writing skills, including suggestions for improvement  Receive information about each test question, including correct answers with full explanations online; students also have their actual test book returned with their score reports  Gain insight into how students’ academic skills compare to their college-bound peers

10. What does the PSAT/NMSQT actually test?  Like the SAT, the test assesses the academic skills that students develop over the years, primarily through their course work.  It measures reading and math reasoning and writing skills that are critical for success in college.

11. How does the PSAT/NMSQT compare to the SAT?  Same question types, except the SAT includes an optional essay assignment  PSAT/NMSQT is 2 hours, 45 minutes; SAT is 3 hours plus 50 minutes for optional essay  SAT will have a few math questions from third-year math courses; PSAT/NMSQT will not.

12. PSAT/NMSQT Content and Question Types 2 hours and 45 minutes Evidence-Based Reading and Writing –Reading Test –Writing and Language Test Math

13. PSAT/NMSQT Content and Question Types Continued emphasis on reasoning alongside a clearer, stronger focus on the knowledge, skills, and understandings most important for college and career readiness and success Greater emphasis on the meaning of words in extended contexts and on how word choice shapes meaning, tone, and impact Rights-only scoring (a point for a correct answer but no deduction for an incorrect answer; blank responses have no impact on scores)

14. PSAT/NMSQT Content and Question Types Scores will be reported on a shared common score scale with the SAT: The scale ranges for the PSAT/NMSQT scores are 320–1520 for the total score, 160–760 for each of two section scores, and 8–38 for test scores. Subscores for every test, providing added insight for students, parents, educators, and counselors

15. SAT Content and Questions Evidence-Based Reading and Writing –Reading Test –Writing and Language Test Math Essay (optional)

16. SAT Content and Questions Continued emphasis on reasoning alongside a clearer, stronger focus on the knowledge, skills, and understandings most important for college and career readiness and success Greater emphasis on the meaning of words in extended contexts and on how word choice shapes meaning, tone, and impact Rights-only scoring (a point for a correct answer but no deduction for an incorrect answer; blank responses have no impact on scores)

17. SAT Content and Questions Optional Essay given at the end of the SAT; postsecondary institutions determine whether they will require the Essay for admission 50 minutes to write the essay Tests reading, analysis, and writing skills; students produce a written analysis of a provided source text

18. SAT Content and Questions Scale ranging from 400 to 1600 Scale ranging from 200 to 800 for Evidence- Based Reading and Writing; 200 to 800 for Math; 2 to 8 on each of three dimensions for Essay Essay results reported separately Subscores for every test, providing added insight for students, parents, admission officers, educators, and counselors

19. SAT Subject Tests

20.  Subject Tests fall into five subject areas: –English, history, mathematics, sciences, and languages  Subject tests measure a student’s knowledge and skills in a particular subject and their ability to apply that knowledge.  Each subject test is one hour-multiple choice  Students can take up to 3 tests on one day  SAT Subject Tests are required by the most competitive colleges  The scores help colleges: –determine how well prepared you are for different programs –place you in freshman and higher level courses –advise you on course selection

21. SAT Subject Tests  Who Should Take the SAT Subject Tests? - Students planning to apply to a most competitive college that requires them, i.e. Cornell, JHU, Georgetown, Duke, Stanford - Students enrolled in: Algebra 2 G/TMath Level 1 Pre-calculus G/TMath Level 2 Biology G/TBiology E/M Chemistry G/TChemistry Physics G/TPhysics US History GTUS History World History G/TWorld History English 11 G/TLiterature World Languages 3 to 4 years

22. How Students Can Prepare for the SAT  Challenge themselves throughout high school by taking rigorous courses, including at least 3 years of math  Read and write as much as possible, both in & out of school  Familiarize themselves with the SAT so they know what to expect on test day  Familiarize themselves with the different types of SAT questions, the directions for each type of question, and how the test is scored, so they know what to expect on test day  READ, READ, READ  Take SAT Preparation course offered at River Hill  Khan Academy through College Board

23. ACT  An alternative to the SAT  Scored from 1-36  Has four sections: –English –Math –Science –Reading –Optional Writing section  Accepted by most colleges in lieu of SAT and SAT Subject Tests

24. AP Advanced Placement Exams  Offered in Spring at the conclusion of AP course  Scored from 1-5  Most colleges give college credit for a score of 3, 4, or 5.

25. HSAs High School Assessments

26. What are the HSAs?  The HSAs are 2-3 hour exams made up of multiple- choice items (May Test).  Exams are administered in the following classes: –Biology –American Government

27. Assessment Graduation Requirements  Pass Government HSA  Pass Biology HSA  Sit for PARCC Algebra I  Sit for PARCC English 10

28.  Material covered by the tests is only about 60% of the course content.  Passing scores were intentionally set at a level achievable for all students. Are the HSA standards reasonable?

29. HSA Topics Covered by Subject Biology  Skills and Processes of Biology  Structure and Function of Biological Molecules  Structure and Function of Cells and Organisms  Inheritance of Traits  Mechanism of Evolutionary Change  Interdependence of Organisms in the Biosphere

30. HSA Topics Covered by Subject Government  U.S. Government Structure, Function, and Principles  Systems of Government and Foreign Policy  Protecting Rights and Maintaining Order  Impact of Geography on Governmental Policy  Economic Principles, Institutions, and Processes

31. HSA Passing/Minimum Scores Passing Score Minimum Score Biology400None Government394None

32. HSA Preparation: What We Do?  In-class preparation throughout the year  County assessments to mirror the HSAs  Pull out remediation in some content areas  After school program in spring, if funded by county

33. HSA Preparation: What Can You/Your Student Do?  Take the exams seriously.  Good night’s sleep; healthy breakfast!  Relax---no need to cram!  Support your student.

34. What happens if a student does not pass an HSA?  Parents are notified.  Student may take appropriate review activity. –HSA Mastery class. –Online courses available. –Online test item bank available.  Student retakes the HSA.

35. 2015 - 2016 Testing Schedule PSAT Oct 14 –Paper Assessment –Grades 10, 11 PARCC April 12-June 3 –Online Assessment –Algebra I, II, English 10, 11 –Grades 9-12 May HSAMay 23-June 10 –Online Assessment –Government and Biology

36. Naviance Naviance.com Email your child’s counselor to set up an account.

37. Feedback  Please complete the feedback form before you leave this evening.  Your feedback helps to make sure we are providing you with useful information.  Thank You!