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Test
Information |
Many colleges and universities require that you take
standardized examinations. These links provide
you with information about the standardized examinations
and links to helpful sites.
Your nomination to the Ventures Scholars Program was
partially based on your standardized test score. Similarly,
many colleges and universities will review your SAT
or ACT scores as part of their entrance requirements.
Make sure you appropriately prepare for these examinations.
Do not wait until a week before the examination. This
site links you to some Web sites that provide you with
sample examinations and helpful resources.
If you are preparing to go to graduate or professional
school, take a moment to go to the undergraduate resource
section to learn about the standardized examinations
you will need to take to pursue your intended career.
TESTING SCHEDULE
PSAT/NMSQT
(Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying
Test). This test provides high school students with
an understanding of expectations of the SAT. The length
of the exam is two hours and is usually given in October.
Students who take this test can qualify for the Ventures
Scholars Program.
PSAT Structure
| Section |
Time |
Number
of Questions |
Scoring |
| Critical Reading |
25 min. |
13 Sentence completions |
|
| Critical Reading |
25 min. |
35 Critical reading
questions |
|
| Total Critical Reading |
|
38 |
20-80 |
| Math |
25 min. |
28 multiple-choice
math questions |
|
| Math |
25 min. |
10 Student-produced
responses or grid-ins |
|
| Total Math |
|
38 |
20-80 |
| Writing Skills |
30 min. |
14 Identifying
sentence errors
20 Improving sentences
5 Improving paragraph questions
|
20-80 |
| Total |
2 hrs.
10 min. |
115 |
60-240 |
The PSAT is usually offered in October of your
sophomore and junior year.
SAT
The official name is the SAT Reasoning Test . The SAT
Reasoning Test is a measure of the critical thinking
skills you'll need for academic success in college.
The SAT assesses how well you analyze and solve problems—skills
you learned in school that you'll need in college.
The SAT Reasoning Test consists of three sections:
Critical Reading Section:
| Time |
Content |
Item Types |
Score |
70 min.
(two
25-min. sections and one 20-min. section) |
Critical reading and sentence-level reading |
Reading comprehension, sentence completions, and
paragraph-length critical reading |
200-800 |
Mathematics Section:
| Time |
Content |
Item Types |
Score |
70 min.
(two
25-min. sections and one 20-min. section) |
Number and operations; algebra and functions;
geometry; statistics, probability, and data analysis |
Five-choice multiple-choice questions and student-produced
responses |
200-800 |
Writing Section:
| Time |
Content |
Item Types |
Score |
| 60 min. |
Grammar, usage, and word choice |
Multiple choice questions (35 min.) and student-written
essay (25 min.) |
200-800 |
For more information regarding the SAT, click
here.
Subject Tests
These tests, required by some colleges, gauge students'
mastery of specific academic subjects and the extent
of students' knowledge in a particular subject area.
Click here for more information.
| Test
Date |
Test |
Regular
Registration Deadline |
| October 14, 2006 |
SAT & Subject
Tests |
September 12,
2006 |
| November 4, 2006 |
SAT & Subject
Tests |
September 29,
2006 |
| December 2, 2006 |
SAT & Subject
Tests |
November 1, 2006 |
| January 27, 2006 |
SAT & Subject
Tests |
December 20,
2006 |
| March 10, 2007** |
SAT only |
February 2, 2007 |
| May 5, 2007 |
SAT & Subject
Tests |
March 29, 2007 |
| June 2, 2007 |
SAT & Subject
Tests |
April 27, 2007 |
For more information about test dates, registration
and late registration, click
here.
ACT
Most colleges accept this test in lieu of the SAT I.
Many students take both SAT I and ACT in order to increase
their chances of getting a good score. The format of
the ACT consists of four subject areas: English, mathematics,
reading, and science reasoning. The length of the exam
is three hours.
ACT Structure
| Section |
Time |
Number
of Questions |
Scoring |
| English |
45 min. |
75 |
1-36 |
| Math |
60 min. |
60 |
1-36 |
| Reading |
35 min. |
40 |
1-36 |
| Science |
35 min. |
40 |
1-36 |
| Optional Writing Test |
30 min. |
1 prompt |
2-12*
(Writing Subscore) |
*You'll receive a Writing Test
subscore and a Combined English/Writing score. The Combined
English/Writing score is created by using a formula that
weights the English Test score two-thirds and the Writing
Test score one-third to form a combined score. This combined
score is then reported on a 1-36 scale.
For more information about the ACT Test and optional Writing
Test, click
here.
ACT Test Dates
| Test
Date |
Regular
Registration Deadline |
| September 16, 2006*
(available only in Arizona, California, Florida,
Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Nevada,
North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina,
Texas, and Washington) |
August 18, 2006 |
| October 28, 2006 |
September 22, 2006 |
| December 9, 2006 |
November 3, 2006 |
| February 10, 2007**
(no testing in state of
New York) |
January 5, 2007 |
| April 14, 2007 |
March 9, 2007 |
| June 9, 2007 |
May 4, 2007 |
For more information about test dates, the new writing
assessment, registration and late registration, click
here.
SAT / ACT Conversion Table
The table below is similar to the one used by
colleges to compare SAT and ACT scores. AnACT composite
score of 22, for example, is considered equivalent to
an SAT I score of 1560.
Read more:
http://www.eurekareview.com/pdfs/presentations/SAT_ACT_conversion_chart.pdf
SAT vs. ACT
Not sure if you should take the SAT or ACT?
Read more:
http://www.eurekareview.com/pdfs/presentations/Subject_Test_Req.pdf
SITES TO HELP PREPARE
FOR THE SAT OR ACT
ACT Preparation
Review these sample questions to help familiarize yourself
with the ACT test. For each question, click on your choice
of lettered answers to see if you are correct. Explanations
of both correct and incorrect answers are given with the
correct choices. Five sets of questions are available
for English, Mathematics, and Science Reasoning; four
sets are available for Reading. Together, these 19 sets
make up one complete ACT Assessment Test.
Read more:
http://www.actstudent.org/testprep
College Board
Follow the links below to register online for the SAT,
view and send your SAT scores, and find all the information
you need — including exam dates and fees — for the SAT
Reasoning Test™, SAT Subject Tests™, PSAT/NMSQT, AP,
and CLEP.
Read more:
http://www.collegeboard.com/testing/
Free SAT 1 Prep
Free SAT 1 Prep gives insightful test-taking strategies
for each section of the SAT and then gives you practice
problems to put the skills to use.
Read more:
http://www.freesat1prep.com/
Free Vocabulary
This is another good vocabulary site. It contains
a long list of SAT words and their definitions. It can
be helpful for creating vocabulary flash cards.
Read more:
www.freevocabulary.com
Number2.com
Number2.com was created by university professors and
graduate students with years of experience in the area
of test preparation and provides some free testing services
for students interested in taking the SAT, ACT, and
GRE.
Read more:
www.Number2.com
Power Prep
Resources for test prep.
Read more:
http://www.powerprep.com/
Preparing for the SAT/ACT
You come across an unfamiliar word in your
history book and actually look it up. You find yourself
talking in analogies. While watching "Friends,"
you wonder how to figure out the length of your television
screen if you knew the height. You're hoarding no. 2
pencils. It must be time for the SAT or ACT.
Read more:
http://www.nacac.com/p&s_steps_1100tests.html
SAT Preparation
Free test preparation materials for the SAT I and SAT
II: Subject Tests are available for download in a PDF
format.
Read more:
http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/sat/about/publications.html
Seldeen's Vocab.SAT
This is a good Web site for testing your vocabulary.
It contains fifteen vocabulary quizzes, and after completion
of each quiz, you can have a study guide emailed to
you.
Read more:
http://www.seldeen.com/sat/
TakeSAT.com
This site contains several mini-tests for each section
of the SAT test. It notifies you which questions were
answered incorrectly, but does not give explanations
to those questions. It also gives a ten-week study plan
for the SAT.
Read more:
http://www.takesat.com/
ETS Resources
ETS stands for the Educational Testing Service, the
mother of all tests, including the SAT and AP. This
a gateway to definitive information about college admissions
and placement tests provides sample test questions and
a variety of other useful information.
Read more:
http://www.ets.org/
TABLE OF TESTING
REQUIREMENTS
College Admissions Requirements - Subject Tests
The addition of the Writing component to the SAT - and
the consequent elimination of the SAT II Writing Test
- has meant that colleges across the country have had
to re-evaluate their testing requirements. In talking
with counselors, parents, and students, Compass has found
particular confusion and consternation involving SAT Subject
Test policies at competitive schools. In order to shed
some light onto this matter, we have compiled the list
below. This table is meant to provide information on the
testing requirements for every major college and university
that requires, recommends, or considers the SAT Subject
Tests as part of the admissions process.
Read more:
http://www.compassprep.com/admissions_req_subjects.aspx
OVERCOMING
TEST ANXIETY
Math and Science Study Skills and Overcoming
Anxiety
Welcome to the exciting and satisfying world of conquering
math anxiety and success in math and science. If you
are math anxious or you panic of tests, this is the
perfect site for you. In addition, this site provides
effective study skills for mathematics, physics, chemistry
and biology. These tips are based on research as well
as years of counseling math and science students. Just
click on the following questions to get the answers.
Read more:
http://wc.pima.edu/~carem/studyskills.html
Test Anxiety
Some students experience physical symptoms of anxiety
before and during exams (an upset stomach, sweaty palms,
etc.). Many of these students have trouble recalling information
which they actually know. If this is a problem for you,
try some of the suggestions below.
Read more:
http://www.uic.edu/depts/counselctr/ace/testanxiety.htm
Overcoming Test Anxiety
Do you panic or blank out on tests? Do you make careless
errors because you are test anxious? Well, you are not
alone. For years I was a counselor a and I helped many
test anxious students learn to overcome their anxiety.
Here are great tips to help you overcome your test anxiety.
You, too, can learn to relax and be calm, clear and alert
on tests.
Read more:
http://wc.pima.edu/~carem/TESTTIPS.html
Test Anxiety
This handout is not designed for those "weaklings"
who can walk into a classroom, calmly sit down, and
ace a test. It is designed for those people who experience
great trauma when they hear the word "test"!
It's designed for those who are willing to take the
steps they need to take to overcome the fear of tests.
Some of the suggestions may be bizarre; but if it works,
it may be worth it. If you want to succeed, it is important
that you do what you must to get the grade you desire.
Read more:
http://www.stchas.edu/divisions/aao/ace/notebooks/testanx.shtml
Understanding Test Anxiety
We are all nervous when we fail to prepare adequately
for something that is expected of us. Being a little
nervous is natural, and can even help us perform better
than normal, because our body releases chemicals that
can help us work faster, both physically and mentally.
However, some students develop an irrational fear of
tests even after adequate preparation. It is important
for students to understand the difference between moderate
anxiety and irrational fears that may result from test-taking.
Read more:
http://www.utexas.edu/student/utlc/tc/acacou/overcome-anxiety.html
Low SATs? Now What?
Too much confusion exists among students and parents
about the role of standardized tests in the college
admission process. Whether it's the SAT or the ACT,
admissions tests have similar objectives: Each attempts
to provide an indication of a student's potential for
academic success.
Read more:
http://familyeducation.com/article/0,1120,5-191,00.html
AP
EXAMS
AP Exams
These exams are taken by motivated high school students
eager to get a head start on college. Students can earn
up to one year of college credit, while also fulfilling
high school course requirements. There are thirty-three
(33) AP courses offered in 9 subject areas, including
math, science, history, social science and foreign language.
Many times, AP courses give students a competitive edge
when applying to a competitive college. AP exams are administered
in May. Click here
for more information.
Preparing for the AP Exams
Whether you're studying an AP subject at school, or
doing it on your own, the College Board has a wide variety
of resources to help you. This link also provides information
about registration and free study guides.
Read more:
www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/ap/prep.html
AP Physics
Physics is not a spectator sport. You cannot expect
to acquire the understanding you need to do well on
an AP Exam by merely attending class and listening to
the teacher. It requires your active participation in
the learning process. You should ask questions such
as "Why do we think this?" and "What
would happen if we did this?" and if you can't
answer them, seek the help of your physics teacher or
other students.
Read more:
http://apphysicsb.homestead.com/prep.html
Succeeding on the AP Government & Politics
Exams
This book will prepare you for the Advanced Placement
Examinations in Government and Politics by giving you,
first and foremost, an accurate and complete representation
of the actual exams for both United States Government
and Politics and Comparative Government and Politics.
Read more:
http://www.rea.com/ftp/apgovt_pol.pdf
(PDF file)
Sample Questions
College Board offers some Sample Questions for AP
Exams.
Read more:
http://www.educatingjane.com/Study/ap_exams.htm
Online AP Curriculum
No AP classes at your high school? Considering taking
an online course. The online AP curriculum makes extensive
use of multimedia in direct instruction tutorials to present
key concepts. Multiple forms of representation address
different learning styles, allowing students to learn
visually, tangibly, verbally, or formally. Students have
numerous opportunities to practice skills and apply concepts,
often in real-world context. Open ended activities promote
the development of higher order skills.
Read more:
http://www.apexlearning.com/catalog/catalog_ap.htm
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