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Taking the SAT/ACT and Taking the SAT/ACT and Developing a Game Plan.Developing a Game Plan.

Lancaster Co. School Lancaster Co. School Dist.Dist.

By Pamela ShawBy Pamela Shaw

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Why do we take the SAT?Why do we take the SAT?The SAT is the most publicized The SAT is the most publicized test in America.test in America.

It’s the most commonly used It’s the most commonly used test by colleges and test by colleges and universities in the Southeast universities in the Southeast and on the West Coast.and on the West Coast.

Money! ( $4,000 + )Money! ( $4,000 + )

It is a big determiner in where It is a big determiner in where you can go to school.you can go to school.

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Why do we take the SAT?Why do we take the SAT?

Many college admission officers use Many college admission officers use SAT scores to help them access a SAT scores to help them access a student’s academic preparedness for student’s academic preparedness for college. However, the most college. However, the most important factor in the admissions important factor in the admissions process is your child’s high school process is your child’s high school transcript. Both grades and the rigor transcript. Both grades and the rigor of courses are considered. SAT of courses are considered. SAT scores are intended to supplement scores are intended to supplement your child’s record along with other your child’s record along with other information such as extracurricular information such as extracurricular activities and letters of activities and letters of recommendations.recommendations.

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Why do we take the SAT?Why do we take the SAT?

Colleges want to see a complete Colleges want to see a complete picture of you. They pay attention to picture of you. They pay attention to your life inside the classroom as well your life inside the classroom as well as outside of the classroom. Your as outside of the classroom. Your extracurricular activities reveal a great extracurricular activities reveal a great deal about you, such as your interests, deal about you, such as your interests, whether you can manage your whether you can manage your priorities and maintain a long-term priorities and maintain a long-term commitment, what diversity you’d commitment, what diversity you’d bring to the student body, and how bring to the student body, and how you’ve made a contribution to society.you’ve made a contribution to society.

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When do we offer the SAT?When do we offer the SAT?

The SAT is offered seven times a The SAT is offered seven times a year. You can take the SAT at year. You can take the SAT at Lancaster High School in October, Lancaster High School in October, November, March, and May. If you November, March, and May. If you would like to take the test in would like to take the test in December, January, or June you will December, January, or June you will have to travel to another school have to travel to another school where the SAT is being offered.where the SAT is being offered.

Cost $47.00Cost $47.00

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What are the totals?What are the totals?

Total length of the New SAT is Total length of the New SAT is

3 hours and 45 minutes.3 hours and 45 minutes.

Total possible score is 2400 points.Total possible score is 2400 points.

National average will be around 1500 National average will be around 1500 points.points.

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How to make a good score?How to make a good score?Take the SAT prep class your Sopmore Take the SAT prep class your Sopmore year. year.

Take the PSAT twice. (9Take the PSAT twice. (9thth ,10 ,10thth ,11 ,11thth))

Practice, practice, practice!Practice, practice, practice!

Know the rules.Know the rules.

Section broken into thirds.Section broken into thirds.

+1 for correct answers and -.25 for wrong.+1 for correct answers and -.25 for wrong.

Have a game plan!Have a game plan!

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Game PlanGame PlanExplore the Advanced Placement Program Explore the Advanced Placement Program (Try out college-level work, improve your (Try out college-level work, improve your abilities, and with good grades could abilities, and with good grades could receive college credit)receive college credit)

Sign up for the PSAT (By taking it, you’ll Sign up for the PSAT (By taking it, you’ll receive a score report to help you improve receive a score report to help you improve your performance)your performance)

Participate in school activities or volunteer Participate in school activities or volunteer work (Extracurricular activities help work (Extracurricular activities help develop time-management skills)develop time-management skills)

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How Can Students and Schools Acquire How Can Students and Schools Acquire MyRoad Accounts?MyRoad Accounts?

PSAT/NMSQT®PSAT/NMSQT®All high school students who take the PSAT/NMSQT receive free MyRoad accounts. These All high school students who take the PSAT/NMSQT receive free MyRoad accounts. These accounts will last for the entirety of their high school careers. Schools that administer accounts will last for the entirety of their high school careers. Schools that administer the PSAT/NMSQT also receive free MyRoad educator access. Visit the PSAT/NMSQT also receive free MyRoad educator access. Visit www.collegeboard.com/counselors/psatwww.collegeboard.com/counselors/psat for more information. for more information.

CollegeEd®CollegeEd®All students* who participate in CollegeEd (for any of the editions from 7All students* who participate in CollegeEd (for any of the editions from 7thth to 12 to 12thth grades) grades) receive free MyRoad accounts. These accounts will last up to the end of the school year. receive free MyRoad accounts. These accounts will last up to the end of the school year. Schools that purchase CollegeEd also receive free MyRoad educator access that will last Schools that purchase CollegeEd also receive free MyRoad educator access that will last up to the end of the school year. For pricing/ordering information: email us at up to the end of the school year. For pricing/ordering information: email us at collegeedinfo@collegeboard.orgcollegeedinfo@collegeboard.org. .

School-Wide Site SubscriptionSchool-Wide Site SubscriptionSchools or districts may purchase MyRoad site subscriptions to provide access to ALL Schools or districts may purchase MyRoad site subscriptions to provide access to ALL their students*. For pricing/ordering information: email us at their students*. For pricing/ordering information: email us at myroad@collegeboard.orgmyroad@collegeboard.org..

Individual Student SubscriptionsIndividual Student SubscriptionsStudents* may also purchase their own individual subscriptions for $19.95. These Students* may also purchase their own individual subscriptions for $19.95. These accounts last for one year. The annual renewal fee is $16.95. To order, go to accounts last for one year. The annual renewal fee is $16.95. To order, go to www.myroad.comwww.myroad.com and click Sign Up Today. and click Sign Up Today.

* Note: Only students who are 13 and older may create MyRoad accounts.

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When to start taking the test?When to start taking the test?

You should take the SAT prep class as a You should take the SAT prep class as a sophomore. sophomore.

You should also start testing toward the You should also start testing toward the end of your sophomore year.end of your sophomore year.

You should try to have everything wrapped You should try to have everything wrapped up before your senior year.up before your senior year.

You could possibly apply for early You could possibly apply for early admissions.admissions.

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What do we mean by having a What do we mean by having a game plan?game plan?

Start by doing some sort of interest Start by doing some sort of interest survey. (SCOIS, KUDER, Explore Test)survey. (SCOIS, KUDER, Explore Test)Make a list of colleges, technical school, or Make a list of colleges, technical school, or other institutions that offer what you are other institutions that offer what you are interested in. (long list)interested in. (long list)Start researching these institutions and Start researching these institutions and find out all you can. Scholarships, find out all you can. Scholarships, programs of study, partner institutions, programs of study, partner institutions, and so on.and so on.Over your 9Over your 9thth and 10 and 10thth grade years try to grade years try to setup visits to these institutions.setup visits to these institutions.

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Game Plan (cont.)Game Plan (cont.)

Early on you need to buy some SAT Early on you need to buy some SAT practice books or software to work with practice books or software to work with your student at home. Just play with the your student at home. Just play with the stuff, do not make it a chore. stuff, do not make it a chore.

MAKE SURE YOU SIGN UP FOR SAT PREP MAKE SURE YOU SIGN UP FOR SAT PREP DURING YOUR SOPHMORE YEAR !!!!!!DURING YOUR SOPHMORE YEAR !!!!!!

Make sure you are taking the proper Make sure you are taking the proper program of study and that you are program of study and that you are applying yourself. (Transcript/ GPA)applying yourself. (Transcript/ GPA)

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Game planning (cont.)Game planning (cont.)

By taking SAT prep, students can expect a By taking SAT prep, students can expect a up to a 200 point increase in score.up to a 200 point increase in score.

Early admission to colleges if qualifying Early admission to colleges if qualifying score is met.score is met.

Jumpstart application process.Jumpstart application process.

Chance to practice strategies and get Chance to practice strategies and get feedback.feedback.

College search and visits.College search and visits.

Fill out application.Fill out application.

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Game plan (cont.)Game plan (cont.)

Learn rules of SAT and ACT.Learn rules of SAT and ACT.

Practice with interviewing.Practice with interviewing.

Find scholarships.Find scholarships.

Find program of study based on Find program of study based on results of a personality test.results of a personality test.

Practice writing essays.Practice writing essays.

Big test taking strategies that can be Big test taking strategies that can be used for other tests.used for other tests.