COLLEGE ADMISSIONS TESTING A Roadmap for the SAT, ACT, and Other Tests

ADMISSION FACTORS Percentage of colleges reporting Considerable or Moderate Importance Grades in all courses Grades in college prep courses Strength of curriculum Admission test scores (SAT & ACT) 91% 89% 87% 82% Counselor recommendation Essay or writing sample 61% 56% Student s demonstrated interest Class rank 33% 39%

TOP COMPETITIVE SCHOOLS American University Amherst College Arizona State University Babson College Bard College Barnard College Bates College Baylor University Beloit College Bennington College Bentley College Boston College Boston University Bowdoin College Brandeis University Brown University Bryn Mawr College Bucknell University California Institute of Technology Carleton College Carnegie Mellon University Case Western Reserve University Chapman University Claremont McKenna College Clark University Clemson University Colby College Colgate University College of the Holy Cross College of William and Mary Colorado College Columbia University Connecticut College Cooper Union Cornell University Dartmouth College Davidson College Denison University DePaul University Dickinson College Duke University Elon University Emerson College Emory University Fordham University Franklin and Marshall College George Washington University Georgetown University Gettysburg College Gonzaga University Grinnell College Hamilton College Hampshire College Harvard University Harvey Mudd College Haverford College Hendrix College Hillsdale College Howard University Indiana University, Bloomington Johns Hopkins University Kalamazoo College Kenyon College Lafayette College Lawrence University Lehigh University Lewis and Clark College Loyola Marymount University Loyola University Chicago Loyola University in Maryland Loyola University New Orleans Marquette University Massachusetts Institute of Technology Michigan State University Middlebury College Mills College Mount Holyoke College Muhlenberg College New York University Northeastern University Northwestern University Oberlin College Occidental College Ohio State University Penn State Pepperdine University Pitzer College Pomona College Princeton University Providence College Quinnipiac University Reed College Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Rhodes College Rice University Rollins College Rutgers University-New Brunswick Santa Clara University Sarah Lawrence College Scripps College Skidmore College Smith College St. Lawrence University St. Mary s College of California St. Mary's College of Maryland St. Olaf College Stanford University Stony Brook University SUNY at Binghamton SUNY at Geneseo Swarthmore College Syracuse University Texas A & M University Texas Christian University The College of New Jersey The New School Trinity College (CT) Tufts University Tulane University Union College United States Air Force Academy United States Coast Guard Academy United States Military Academy United States Naval Academy University of Arizona University of Chicago University of Colorado, Boulder University of Connecticut University of Florida University of Georgia University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign University of Maryland-College Park University of Miami (FL) University of Michigan, Ann Arbor University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill University of Notre Dame University of Pennsylvania University of Puget Sound University of Redlands University of Richmond University of Rochester University of San Diego University of San Francisco University of Southern California University of Texas at Austin University of Texas at Dallas University of the Pacific University of Virginia University of Washington University of Wisconsin at Madison Ursinus College Vanderbilt University Vassar College Villanova University Wake Forest University Washington and Lee University Washington University in St. Louis Webb Institute Wellesley College Wesleyan University (CT) Wheaton College Williams College Worcester Polytechnic Institute Yale University

TEST OPTIONAL SCHOOLS American University Connecticut College Loyola University Maryland The New School Arizona State University Denison University Mills College Trinity College (CT) Bard College DePaul University Mount Holyoke College Union College Bates College Dickinson College Muhlenberg College University of Arizona Beloit College Bennington College Bowdoin College Franklin and Marshall College George Washington University Pitzer College Providence College Quinnipiac University University of Chicago University of Puget Sound Ursinus College Brandeis University Gettysburg College Rollins College Wake Forest University Bryn Mawr College Hampshire College Sarah Lawrence College Wesleyan University (CT) Clark University Kalamazoo College Skidmore College Wheaton College College of the Holy Cross Colby College Lawrence University Lewis and Clark College Smith College St. Lawrence University Worcester Polytechnic Institute

MERIT AID Strong standardized test scores and strong GPA can lead to merit aid. TEST SCORE HS GPA (4.0 SCALE) OH RESIDENT SCHOLARSHIP RANGE* NON RESIDENT SCHOLARSHIP RANGE* ACT: 33+ SAT: 1450+ 3.50+ Half-Full Tuition $32,000-$64,000 ($8,000-$16,000 Annually Half-Full Tuition $72,000-$144,000 ($18,000-$36,000 Annually ACT: 30-32 SAT: 1360-1440 3.50+ $20,000-$48,000 ($5,000-$12,000 Annually $44,000-$88,000 ($11,000-$20,000 Annually ACT: 28-29 SAT: 1300-1350 3.50+ $8,000-$32,000 ($2,000-$8,000 Annually $28,000-$60,000 ($7,000-$15,000 Annually ACT: 27 SAT: 1260-1290 3.50+ $4,000-$12,000 ($1,000-$3,000 Annually $16,000-$40,000 ($4,000-$10,000 Annually *Miami University, Oxford, OH

400 440 480 520 560 600 640 680 720 760 800 840 880 920 960 1000 1040 1080 1120 1160 1200 1240 1280 1320 1360 1400 1440 1480 1520 1560 1600 WHY THE SAT/ACT? CONSISTENT CURVE 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 ACT Composite Scores, 2012 SAT Total Scores, 2016

CREATE A TESTING PLAN Which tests should I take? When should I take them? How and when should I prepare for them?

WHICH TESTS? PSAT SAT ACT Subject Tests AP

PSAT IS PRACTICE FOR THE SAT SAT (200-800) PSAT 10, PSAT/NMSQT (160-760) PSAT 8/9 (120-720) 120 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 PSAT scores show what you would have scored on the SAT on that same day.

PSAT IS PRACTICE FOR THE SAT PSAT scores show what you would have scored on the SAT on that same day. Percentiles give a sense of relative standing among students in the same grade. The Benchmark shows whether you will, with average levels of improvement, achieve a College Readiness score on the SAT (typically about 500 per section)

PSAT IS PRACTICE FOR THE SAT Subscores provide more focused information for how students can focus their test preparation. Cross-Test Scores are primarily used as assessment tools for schools.

PSAT IS PRACTICE FOR THE SAT The score report includes tips for how a student at your skill level can most effectively improve scores.

PSAT IS PRACTICE FOR THE SAT Students who score in the top 1% in their state will qualify for the National Merit Scholarship.

PSAT IS PRACTICE FOR THE SAT The last page of the PSAT report shows the answer, difficulty, and question type for each question.

THE COLLEGE BOARD vs. ACT, INC SAT/ACT Test-Takers 2010-2017 2200000 2100000 ACT students 2,030,038 2000000 1900000 1800000 1700000 SAT students 1,715,481 1600000 1500000 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 SAT ACT

DIMENSIONS OF STANDARDIZED TESTING Aptitude Test Old PSAT & Old SAT Speed Test Power Test ACT PSAT & SAT Subject and AP Tests Curriculum-Based Test

SAT/ACT SIMILAR IN STRUCTURE SAT (3 hours 50 minutes) 200-800 200-800 optional Reading (65 min) Writing & Language (35 min) Math (No Calc) (25 min) Math (Calc) (55 min) Essay (50 min) ACT (3 hours 35 minutes) 1-36 1-36 1-36 1-36 optional English Math Reading Science Writing (45 min) (60 min) (35 min) (35 min) (40 min)

SAT WRITING & LANGUAGE/ACT ENGLISH

SAT WRITING & LANGUAGE/ACT ENGLISH In 2009, Libbrecht and Arnold s experiments revealed that triangular snowflakes begin with the same process of chemical bonding and forms a hexagonal shape. The triangular shape is an illusion resulting from one significant addition to the process dust. 9 8 8. F. NO CHANGE G. were they to form H. if they formed J. form 9. A. NO CHANGE B. process is C. process: D. process; ACT Form 1572CPRE

SAT DATA GRAPHICS QUESTIONS As of 2010, there were approximately 40,300 urban and regional planners employed in the United States. The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics forecasts steady job growth in this field, projecting that 16 percent of new jobs in all occupations will be related to urban and regional planning. Population growth and concerns about environmental sustainability are expected to spur the need for transportation planning professionals. Which choice completes the sentence with accurate data based on the above graph? A) NO CHANGE B) warning, however, that job growth in urban and regional planning will slow to 14 percent by 2020. C) predicting that employment of urban and regional planners will increase 16 percent between 2010 and 2020. D) indicating that 14 to 18 percent of urban and regional planning positions will remain unfilled. College Board: Test Specifications for the Redesigned SAT

SAT READING/ACT READING

SAT READING/ACT READING SAT ACT What can reasonably be inferred about gliding animals from the passage? Which choice provides the best evidence for the answer to the previous question? The passage points to which of the following as a characteristic of trap-jaw ants mandibles that prevents the ants from harming themselves with their powerful bite? College Board SAT #3 ACT Form 1572CPRE

SAT MATH/ACT MATH

SAT MATH/ACT MATH SAT ACT The graph of the linear function f has intercepts at (a, 0) and (0, b) in the xyplane. If a + b = 0 and a b, which of the following is true about the slope of the graph of f? A) It is positive. B) It is negative. C) It equals zero. D) It is undefined. If two lines in the standard (x, y) coordinate plane are perpendicular and the slope of one of the lines is 3, what is the slope of the other line? A. 3 B. 1 C. 1/3 D. 1/3 E. 3 College Board SAT #2 ACT Form 1163E

SAT MATH/ACT MATH SAT ACT Narrow and Deep Algebra about 60% of Math 1 Calculator Section 1 No-Calculator Section 83 seconds / question Broad and Shallow Algebra about 30% of Math Relatively even spread Calculator allowed throughout 60 seconds / question

SAT SCIENCE/ACT SCIENCE

TEMPERATURE ( C) CASCADES TRENCH ACT SCIENCE ATLANTIC OCEAN MID-ATLANTIC RIDGE 6000 5000 4000 3000 2000 1000 CRUST NORTH AMERICA Rigid Mantle LITHOSPHERE (Crust + Rigid Mantle) Stiffer Mantle ASTHENO-SPHERE (Plastic Mantle) PACIFIC OCEAN Outer Core Core Inner Inner Core Core DENSITY (g/cm 3 ) 2.7 continental crust 3.0 oceanic crust 3.3 3.5 9.9 12.1 12.7 13.0 According to Figure 1, the temperature of the Outer Core is approximately between: A. 1000º C and 2500º C B. 2500º C and 5000º C C. 4800º C and 6300º C D. 6200º C and 6500º C 0 1000 2000 3000 4000 5000 6000 DEPTH (km)

SAT SCIENCE/ACT SCIENCE SAT No Science section, but 21 science-related questions appear throughout the test. Does not require knowledge of specific science concepts ACT Dedicated Science Test. Measures interpretation, analysis, and reasoning skills. Biggest challenge is timing. Students must navigate mazes of information to find the relevant portions. About 3-4 questions require knowledge of basic science concepts

SAT ESSAY/ACT WRITING The SAT essay assignment asks you to ANALYZE an argumentative essay, whereas the ACT essay assignment asks you to WRITE an argumentative essay.

IS SAT THE ACT IN SHEEP S CLOTHING? 4 answer choices Right only scoring Writing Test very similar to ACT English Test Test of achievement, rather than aptitude Incorporates science Similar skills tested

COMPARING THE SAT AND ACT More challenging SAT Questions Require deep understanding Narrower focus of skills More time per question Straightforward ACT Questions Require instant recognition Broader scope of skills Require constant, rapid pace

CHOOSING SAT or ACT We were originally thinking SAT, but then Noah s admissions advisor told us left-handed students born on Tuesdays do better on the ACT.

CHOOSING SAT or ACT The best way to make this decision is by taking each one and comparing scores using a Concordance Table.

CONCORDANCE TABLES SAT ACT 1600 36 1590* 1580 1570 1560 35 1550 1540* 1530 1520 34 1510 1500* 1490 1480 33 1470 1460* 1450 1440 32 1430* 1420 1410 31 1400* 1390 1380 30 1370* 1360 1350 29 SAT ACT 1340* 29 1330 1320 28 1310* 1300 1290 27 1280* 1270 1260 1250 26 1240* 1230 1220 25 1210* 1200 1190 24 1180* 1170 1160 1150 23 1140* 1130 1120 22 1110* 1100 1090 21 1080* 1070 1060 SAT ACT 1050 20 1040* 1030 1020 19 1010* 1000 990 980 18 970* 960 950 17 940 930* 920 910 16 900 890* 880 870 15 860 850* 840 830 820 14 810 SAT ACT 800* 14 790 780 770 13 760* 750 740 730 720 12 710* 700 690 680 11 670* 660 650 640 10 630* 620 610 09 600 590* 580 N/A 570 N/A 560 N/A SAT ACT 1380 30 1370* 1360 SAT ACT 1190 24 1180* 1170 1160

SUBJECT TESTS REQUIRED RECOMMENDED FOR RECOMMENDED ALL FOR APPLICANTS ALL APPLICANTS FOR SOME APPLICANTS Boston California University Brown University Institute of Technology Northwestern University Princeton University Carnegie Harvey Dartmouth Mudd Mellon University College University Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Rice University Cooper Massachusetts Union Duke UniversityInstitute of Technology Skidmore College University of Pennsylvania Cornell University Union College Georgetown University University of the Pacific Emerson College University of Miami Harvard University Webb Institute George Washington University Lafayette College Yale University John Hopkins University Lehigh University McGill University

SUBJECT TESTS Math Science History English Language Math Level 1 Biology (E/M) US History Literature Chinese Math Level 2 Chemistry World History French Physics German Hebrew Italian Japanese Korean Latin Spanish

CREATE A TESTING PLAN When should I take them?

TEST DATES 2018/2019 PSAT SAT and Subject Tests ACT October 10 or 13, 2018 October 6, 2018 September 8, 2018 November 3, 2018 October 27, 2018 December 1, 2018 December 8, 2018 March 9, 2019 (SAT only) February 9, 2019 May 4, 2019 April 13, 2019 June 1, 2019 June 8, 2019 August 24, 2019 July 13, 2019

SAMPLE TEST PLANS Sophomore Year Junior Year Senior Year Sample Plan #1 May or June Subject Tests (if appropriate) Diagnostic SAT and ACT tests during summer between sophomore and junior years October PSAT/NMSQT March & May SATs or February & April ACTs June Subject Tests (as needed) Final SAT or ACT as needed Most students should take the SAT or ACT twice in their junior year and again once, if necessary, in the fall of their senior year.

THE TESTS MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT SOPH YR JUNIOR YR SENIOR YR

SAMPLE TESTING PLAN KADEN AP DIAGS PSAT/ NMSQT SAT SAT SAT/ SUBJ SAT MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT SOPH YR JUNIOR YR TEST PREPARATION REVIEW SENIOR YR

SCORE CHOICE All Scores Required Carnegie Mellon Cornell Georgetown Stanford Yale Score Choice Allowed Almost all other schools!

SUPERSCORING SAT Reading & Writing March Math 580 570 1150 Reading & Writing May Math 580 650 1230 Reading & Writing 650 640 August Math 640 620 1260 Superscore Reading & Writing Math 1290

SUPERSCORING ACT FEB 2018 JUNE 2018 SEPT 2018 ENGLISH 28 32 30 SUPERSCORE MATH 27 28 30 READING 33 29 28 SCIENCE 27 30 28 COMPOSITE 29 30 29 31

CREATE A TESTING PLAN How and when should I prepare for them?

CHOOSE A START DATE Test prep should allow for at least 6-15 weeks of study and practice before the official test date.

FOUNDATIONS OF TEST PREPARATIONS Content Mastery Strategy Practice Tests

GUIDING PRINCIPLES Most students will score the same, no matter what tests they take, but it s worth looking for a student s best test. A good testing plan prioritizes school work over test prep. Testing early and often is generally not sensible. Prepping for one test helps prepare for the other. Students score their best at end of junior year and fall of senior year. It is the RARE student who is finished by January of junior year, even high scorers.

LAST, BUT NOT LEAST Maintain perspective. It s just a test.

SUMMIT EDUCATIONAL GROUP Grades 5-12 Test Preparation and Academic Support One-on-One, In-Home Test Prep and Tutoring Classroom-Based Test Prep Course Materials and Services (800) MY TUTOR MYTUTOR.COM