Standardized Testing

Standardized Standardized TestingTesting

Please be sure to pick-up your:

* Test Booklet

* Score Report

(inserted in the test booklet)

* Using Your Results pamphlet(for the EXPLORE & PLAN)

Standardized Standardized TestingTesting

- EXPLORE (8 & 9)- EXPLORE (8 & 9)

- PLAN (10)- PLAN (10)

- PSAT (10 & 11)- PSAT (10 & 11)

EXPLOREEXPLORE- Grades 8 & 9- Grades 8 & 9

- Administered in the Fall- Administered in the Fall-Predictor test for the ACT Predictor test for the ACT (achievement)(achievement)

-No penalty for guessingNo penalty for guessing

PLANPLAN- Grade 10- Grade 10

- Administered in the Fall- Administered in the Fall-Predictor test for the ACT Predictor test for the ACT (achievement)(achievement)

-No penalty for guessingNo penalty for guessing

Why Take EXPLORE/PLAN?Why Take EXPLORE/PLAN? EXPLORE /PLAN helps you see:EXPLORE /PLAN helps you see:

where you stand academicallywhere you stand academically what career and educational paths what career and educational paths

are available to youare available to you how to develop a plan for meeting how to develop a plan for meeting

your career and academic goals.your career and academic goals.

Early awareness of academic strengths and Early awareness of academic strengths and weaknesses, plus a rigorous high school weaknesses, plus a rigorous high school

course plan are the keys to success.course plan are the keys to success.

EXPLORE/PLAN Score ReportsEXPLORE/PLAN Score Reports

Similar layout of score reports Similar layout of score reports for EXPLORE/PLANfor EXPLORE/PLAN

Scores compared to nation-wide Scores compared to nation-wide test takers test takers (not local)(not local)

Differences in score reports:Differences in score reports: EXPLORE score range 1-25EXPLORE score range 1-25

Subscores 1-12 (English)Subscores 1-12 (English) PLAN score range 1-32PLAN score range 1-32

Subscores 1-16 (English & Math)Subscores 1-16 (English & Math)

Test ComparisonsTest Comparisons

Program Grade Level Composite

Score Range

EXPLORE 8 and 9 1 to 25

PLAN 10 1 to 32

ACT 10 - 12 1 to 36

ENGLISH TESTENGLISH TEST

The EXPLORE/PLAN English TestThe EXPLORE/PLAN English Test measures your understanding of measures your understanding of

standard written English standard written English punctuationpunctuation grammar and usagegrammar and usage sentence structure (Usage/Mechanics)sentence structure (Usage/Mechanics)

measures your understanding of the use measures your understanding of the use of strategy, organization, and style in of strategy, organization, and style in writing writing (Rhetorical Skills)(Rhetorical Skills)

You receive a total score for the You receive a total score for the English test and separate scores English test and separate scores ("subscores") for Usage/Mechanics ("subscores") for Usage/Mechanics and Rhetorical Skills.and Rhetorical Skills.

MATH TESTMATH TEST

The EXPLORE/PLAN Math Test The EXPLORE/PLAN Math Test measures your mathematical measures your mathematical

reasoningreasoning not memorization or involved not memorization or involved

computationscomputations Questions on the test cover four Questions on the test cover four

areasareas knowledge and skillsknowledge and skills direct applicationdirect application understanding conceptsunderstanding concepts integrating your understanding of integrating your understanding of

conceptsconcepts

READING TESTREADING TEST

The EXPLORE/PLAN Reading Test The EXPLORE/PLAN Reading Test measures your ability to understand measures your ability to understand

written material from different subjectswritten material from different subjects skills measured include referring to skills measured include referring to

details in the passage, drawing details in the passage, drawing conclusions, and making comparisons conclusions, and making comparisons and generalizations and generalizations

the test does not cover information the test does not cover information outside the passages, vocabulary taken outside the passages, vocabulary taken out of context, or formal logicout of context, or formal logic

SCIENCE TESTSCIENCE 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 ability to understand scientific information and

draw conclusions from it draw conclusions from it Formats include Formats include

data representation (graphs, tables, and other data representation (graphs, tables, and other forms)forms)

research summaries (descriptions of several research summaries (descriptions of several related experiments)related experiments)

conflicting viewpoints (two or more hypotheses conflicting viewpoints (two or more hypotheses that are inconsistent with one another).that are inconsistent with one another).

The test emphasizes your scientific The test emphasizes your scientific reasoning skills rather than how well you reasoning skills rather than how well you can recall scientific facts, or your skills in can recall scientific facts, or your skills in mathematics or in reading.mathematics or in reading.

EXPLORESubject &

Benchmark

Number of Questions

How Long It Takes

English-13 40 30 minutes

Math-17 30 30 minutes

Reading-15 30 30 minutes

Science-20 28 30 minutes

PLANSubject &

Benchmark

Number of Questions

Time Allowed

English-15 50 30 minutes

Usage / Mechanics

30

Rhetorical Skills 20

Math-19 40 40 minutes

Pre-Algebra / Algebra

22

Geometry 18

Reading-17 25 20 minutes

Science-21 30 25 minutes

EXPLORE Interpretive Visuals10/2005 7

Your Scores


Your Estimated PLAN Composite Score Range


Your High School Course PlansCompared to Core


Areas in Which You Would Like Additional help


College Readiness


Your Career Possibilities

Score Report Score Report

Side 2Side 2


What do I do now?

Now that you’ve taken EXPLORE, you know much more about your skills, career interests, and readiness for college. Using your Score Report, ask yourself some questions:

Does my high school course plan include challenging college prep courses?

What skills do I need to work on to be sure I am on target for college?

How can I learn more about careers that interest me?

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

PSATPSAT- Grades 10 & 11- Grades 10 & 11

- Administered in the Fall- Administered in the Fall-Predictor test for the SAT Predictor test for the SAT (aptitude)(aptitude)

-Minus ¼ point for wrong MC quesMinus ¼ point for wrong MC ques

PSAT MeasuresPSAT Measures

Critical readingCritical reading (draw inferences, (draw inferences, main and supporting ideas, main and supporting ideas, vocabulary)vocabulary)

Mathematics Mathematics (number and (number and operations, algebra and functions, operations, algebra and functions, geometry and measurement, data geometry and measurement, data analysis, statistics, and probabilityanalysis, statistics, and probability

Writing SkillsWriting Skills (identify expressions, (identify expressions, detect faults in usage/structure, detect faults in usage/structure, choose revisions, recognize choose revisions, recognize appropriate writing strategies)appropriate writing strategies)

PSAT Converts to SATPSAT Converts to SAT

The PSAT is reliable preparation The PSAT is reliable preparation for the same types of questions for the same types of questions on the SATon the SAT

The PSAT scale of 20 to 80 is The PSAT scale of 20 to 80 is comparable to the SAT scale of comparable to the SAT scale of 200 to 800200 to 800

National Merit Scholarship National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test Qualifying Test

PSAT is also a scholarship PSAT is also a scholarship qualifying test for qualifying test for JUNIORSJUNIORS

Qualification is based on the Qualification is based on the Selection Index ScoreSelection Index Score

This qualifying number differs This qualifying number differs each year depending on the each year depending on the scores of JUNIORS nation-widescores of JUNIORS nation-wide

A National Merit Finalist will often be accepted to the school of his/her choice and receive full tuition, plus!

PSAT SCORE REPORTPSAT SCORE REPORT

Scores and BenchmarksScores and Benchmarks11th GRADE

Critical Reading – 50 Mathematics - 50 Writing – 49 Selection Index - 152

10th GRADE Critical Reading – 49 Mathematics - 47 Writing – 48 Selection Index - 145

PSAT SCORE REPORTPSAT SCORE REPORT

Selection Index Selection Index (NMSC)(NMSC) Your Skills Your Skills (online access code)(online access code) Your answers Your answers

DifficultyDifficulty ScoringScoring Online explanationsOnline explanations

Next StepsNext Steps (career path) (career path)

WHATWHAT’’S NEXT???S NEXT???

Review your test bookletReview your test booklet Utilize the online tools availableUtilize the online tools available Continue to prepare for Continue to prepare for

standardized tests standardized tests (and ultimately, (and ultimately, the ACT and SAT)the ACT and SAT)

Once a student has completed at least one semester of Algebra 2 (typically 10th

grade), he/she should start taking the ACT and/or SAT.

WEBSITESWEBSITES

EXPLOREEXPLORE www.actstudent.org/explore

PLANPLAN www.actstudent.org/plan

PSATPSAT www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/psat

ACTACT www.act.org

SATSAT www.collegeboard.org

Mrs. Matthews’ website has additional information on preparing for college and the ACT/SAT.

QUESTIONS?QUESTIONS?

Thank you for coming and have a wonderful week!

Bonnie S. Matthews, School Counselor

[email protected]

Documents

Standardized Testing