The The ABC’sABC’s About About the the SAT’sSAT’s

And What About the And What About the ACT’sACT’s??

SAT OverviewSAT Overview 3 hours and 45 minutes3 hours and 45 minutes Includes Critical Reading, Math, WritingIncludes Critical Reading, Math, Writing 10 sections: 3 CR, 3 M, 3 Wr, and 1 10 sections: 3 CR, 3 M, 3 Wr, and 1

experimentalexperimental 25 minute essay—comes first25 minute essay—comes first 10 min multiple choice Writing section —comes 10 min multiple choice Writing section —comes

lastlast Five 25 min and two 20 min sections: 3 Critical Five 25 min and two 20 min sections: 3 Critical

Reading, 3 Math, 1 WritingReading, 3 Math, 1 Writing Test booklets differ from student to studentTest booklets differ from student to student

Scoring:Scoring:

Critical Reading, Math, Writing each Critical Reading, Math, Writing each 200-800200-800

Writing: 2 subscoresWriting: 2 subscores Essay: 1-6, 2 readers, total 2-12Essay: 1-6, 2 readers, total 2-12 Writing multiple choice: 20-80Writing multiple choice: 20-80 Total: 2400Total: 2400 Most colleges still using CR+M score up Most colleges still using CR+M score up

to 1600 and consider Writing separatelyto 1600 and consider Writing separately

The Writing Section The Writing Section Multiple Choice QuestionsMultiple Choice Questions

Improving sentences (25 questions)Improving sentences (25 questions)

Identifying sentence errors (18 Identifying sentence errors (18 questions)questions)

Improving paragraphs (6 questions)Improving paragraphs (6 questions)

Improving Sentences:Improving Sentences:

Laura Ingalls Wilder published her Laura Ingalls Wilder published her first book first book and she was sixty-five then. and she was sixty-five then.

A.A. and she was sixty-five years old thenand she was sixty-five years old then

B.B. when she was sixty-fivewhen she was sixty-five

C.C. at age sixty-five years oldat age sixty-five years old

D.D. upon the reaching of sixty-five yearsupon the reaching of sixty-five years

E.E. at the time when she was sixty-fiveat the time when she was sixty-five

Writing Test: Essay—prompt Writing Test: Essay—prompt and assignmentand assignment

Prompt: Prompt: A sense of happiness and fulfillment, not A sense of happiness and fulfillment, not

personal gain, is the best motivation and personal gain, is the best motivation and reward for one’s achievements. Expecting a reward for one’s achievements. Expecting a reward of wealth or recognition for achieving reward of wealth or recognition for achieving a goal can lead to disappointment and a goal can lead to disappointment and frustration. If we want to be happy in what frustration. If we want to be happy in what we do in life, we should not seek achievement we do in life, we should not seek achievement for the sake of winning wealth and fame. The for the sake of winning wealth and fame. The personal satisfaction of a job well done is its personal satisfaction of a job well done is its own reward.own reward.

Assignment:Assignment:

Are people motivated to achieve by Are people motivated to achieve by personal satisfaction rather than by personal satisfaction rather than by money or fame? Plan and write an money or fame? Plan and write an essay in which you develop your point essay in which you develop your point of view on this issue. Support your of view on this issue. Support your position with reasoning and examples position with reasoning and examples taken from your reading, studies, taken from your reading, studies, experience, or observations.experience, or observations.

Critical Reading:Critical Reading:

Sentence Completions (19 questions)Sentence Completions (19 questions)

Passage-based Reading (48 questions)Passage-based Reading (48 questions)

Sentence Completions:Sentence Completions:

Hoping to _______the dispute, negotiators Hoping to _______the dispute, negotiators proposed a compromise that they felt would proposed a compromise that they felt would be ______to both labor and management.be ______to both labor and management.

A.A. enforce..usefulenforce..useful

B.B. end..divisiveend..divisive

C.C. overcome..unattractiveovercome..unattractive

D.D. extend..satisfactoryextend..satisfactory

E.E. resolve..acceptableresolve..acceptable

Paragraph-based reading:Paragraph-based reading:

Vocabulary in contextVocabulary in context

Literal comprehensionLiteral comprehension

Extended reasoning: measure ability to Extended reasoning: measure ability to synthesize and analyze information as synthesize and analyze information as well as to evaluate assumptions made well as to evaluate assumptions made and the techniques used by the author.and the techniques used by the author.

Extended reasoning:Extended reasoning:

The narrator would most likely describe The narrator would most likely describe Mr. Jordan’s conduct during the evening Mr. Jordan’s conduct during the evening asas

A.A. typically generoustypically generous

B.B. justifiably impatientjustifiably impatient

C.C. passionate and irrationalpassionate and irrational

D.D. patronizing and self-centeredpatronizing and self-centered

E.E. concerned and gentleconcerned and gentle

The Math Section:The Math Section:

Contains two types of questions:Contains two types of questions:

Standard multiple-choice (44 questions)Standard multiple-choice (44 questions)

Student-produced response questions that Student-produced response questions that provide no answer choices (10 questions)provide no answer choices (10 questions)

Calculators can be used.Calculators can be used.

Math Section Content:Math Section Content:

ArithmeticArithmeticAlgebra 1Algebra 1GeometryGeometryAlgebra 2Algebra 2

Examples:Examples:

1.1.

If 4(t + u)+ 3= 19, If 4(t + u)+ 3= 19, then t + u =then t + u =

A.A. 33

B.B. 44

C.C. 55

D.D. 66

E.E. 77

2.2. Marbles are to be Marbles are to be

removed from a jar removed from a jar that contains 12 red that contains 12 red marbles and 12 black marbles and 12 black marbles. What is the marbles. What is the least number of least number of marbles that could be marbles that could be removed so that the removed so that the ratio of red marbles to ratio of red marbles to black marbles left in black marbles left in the jar will be 4 to 3?the jar will be 4 to 3?

It’s free…It’s free…

The Official Online SAT Prep Course The Official Online SAT Prep Course offered by the College Board is offered by the College Board is freefree courtesy of MCPS. courtesy of MCPS.

Go to Go to www.collegeboard.com/satonlinecourseschwww.collegeboard.com/satonlinecourseschoolool

In the “Students” box click “Register Now”In the “Students” box click “Register Now” B-CC student access codes are available in B-CC student access codes are available in

the counseling office.the counseling office.

Montgomery College/MCPS Montgomery College/MCPS

SAT Prep Classes SAT Prep Classes Spring schedule prepares for following SAT test dates: Spring schedule prepares for following SAT test dates:

March 14, May 2, June 6March 14, May 2, June 6 Registration begins Dec. 15, 2008Registration begins Dec. 15, 2008 Meets at MCPS high schools two afternoons or Saturdays Meets at MCPS high schools two afternoons or Saturdays

for 4 to 5 weeksfor 4 to 5 weeks Brochure in all MCPS high schoolsBrochure in all MCPS high schools Info on Montgomery College web site. Go to Info on Montgomery College web site. Go to www.montgomerycollege.edu/wdcewww.montgomerycollege.edu/wdce

Cost: $275 and students must purchase textbook,Cost: $275 and students must purchase textbook, “ “The Official SAT Study Guide for the New The Official SAT Study Guide for the New SAT”SAT”

The ACTThe ACT

English TestEnglish Test 75 items, 45 minutes75 items, 45 minutes PunctuationPunctuation Grammar and usageGrammar and usage Sentence structureSentence structure strategystrategy organizationorganization stylestyle

Reading TestReading Test 40 items, 35 minutes40 items, 35 minutes Selections:Selections:

Social StudiesSocial Studies Natural SciencesNatural Sciences Prose FictionProse Fiction HumanitiesHumanities

The ACTThe ACT

Mathematics TestMathematics Test 60 items, 60 60 items, 60

minutesminutes Algebra 1 and 2Algebra 1 and 2 GeometryGeometry TrigonometryTrigonometry

Science Reasoning Science Reasoning TestTest

40 items, 45 minutes40 items, 45 minutes Science InformationScience Information

Data RepresentationData Representation Research SummariesResearch Summaries Conflicting ViewpointsConflicting Viewpoints

ACT ScoresACT Scores

Each section of the ACT is scored from Each section of the ACT is scored from a low of 1 to a high of 36.a low of 1 to a high of 36.

The composite score is comprised of The composite score is comprised of the average of the four sections’ the average of the four sections’ scores. The composite score also scores. The composite score also expressed in the range of 1 to 36.expressed in the range of 1 to 36.

Many colleges accept the ACT in lieu of Many colleges accept the ACT in lieu of the SAT Subject Tests. Check with the SAT Subject Tests. Check with individual colleges.individual colleges.

ACT Optional Writing Section:ACT Optional Writing Section:

Not requiredNot required Administered at the end Administered at the end Very similar to SAT WritingVery similar to SAT Writing Essay graded 2-12 after two readingsEssay graded 2-12 after two readings Scored 1-36, which is based on Scored 1-36, which is based on

combination of English section and combination of English section and essay.essay.

SAT Subject Tests (formerly SAT Subject Tests (formerly SAT 2’s)SAT 2’s)

Designed to measure knowledge in Designed to measure knowledge in particular subject areas.particular subject areas.

Duration: one hourDuration: one hour Format: multiple choiceFormat: multiple choice Students can take up to 3 subject tests Students can take up to 3 subject tests

at one administration.at one administration. Cannot be taken at the same Cannot be taken at the same

administration as the SAT Reasoning administration as the SAT Reasoning Test.Test.

More on the SAT Subject More on the SAT Subject Tests…Tests… Many colleges do not require.Many colleges do not require. Most public colleges to do not require.Most public colleges to do not require. Check each individual school to see if required, Check each individual school to see if required,

and how many are required. Three is the and how many are required. Three is the maximum.maximum.

Most students take at the end of 11Most students take at the end of 11thth or or beginning of 12beginning of 12thth grade. grade.

Take after the completion of most rigorous Take after the completion of most rigorous course in that subject area.course in that subject area.

Many colleges so not require subject tests if Many colleges so not require subject tests if you take the ACT.you take the ACT.

Students with DisabilitiesStudents with Disabilities

Students with documented disabilities may Students with documented disabilities may be eligible for accommodations on both the be eligible for accommodations on both the SAT’s and the ACT’s.SAT’s and the ACT’s.

Forms to request accommodations on the Forms to request accommodations on the SAT’s and the ACT’s are available in the SAT’s and the ACT’s are available in the counseling office.counseling office.

Contact your child’s counselor right away if Contact your child’s counselor right away if you believe your child is entitled to you believe your child is entitled to accommodations.accommodations.

Accuplacer:Accuplacer: Test used for placement at Test used for placement at

Montgomery CollegeMontgomery College UntimedUntimed Multiple ChoiceMultiple Choice Taken on computerTaken on computer Adaptive testAdaptive test Three sections: reading Three sections: reading

comprehension, sentence skills, mathcomprehension, sentence skills, math

Accuplacer self-prepAccuplacer self-prep

www.studyguidezone.comwww.studyguidezone.com Information Information plus study guide bookplus study guide book

www.montgomerycollege.eduwww.montgomerycollege.edu>Admissi>Admissions>Other>Placement and Assessmentons>Other>Placement and Assessment

www.collegeboard.comwww.collegeboard.com>Seach>Accupl>Seach>Accuplaceracer

Google>AccuplacerGoogle>Accuplacer

How Do Colleges Select How Do Colleges Select Students?Students? High school grades/class rankHigh school grades/class rank Rigor of programRigor of program Standardized test scoresStandardized test scores RecommendationsRecommendations EssaysEssays InterviewsInterviews Special talentsSpecial talents Extracurricular activitiesExtracurricular activities OtherOther

FairTestFairTest

Provides a list of accredited, four-year Provides a list of accredited, four-year colleges and universities that colleges and universities that deemphasize the use of standarized deemphasize the use of standarized tests in admissions decisionstests in admissions decisions

www.fairtest.orgwww.fairtest.org