Testing

End of Course Assessments (ECA’s)

Beginning with the class of 2012, all students are required to pass the End of Course Assessments for Algebra I and English 10. 

Students prepare for the tests through their work in these classes.  Sample questions are available online.

 

For sample English test questions go to:
http://www.doe.in.gov/sites/default/files/assessment/english-10-eca-item-sampler-updated-oct-12.pdf

 

For sample Algebra I test questions go to:
http://www.doe.in.gov/sites/default/files/assessment/algebraitemsamplermay2011-non-worddoc.pdf

All college-bound students should take the SAT or ACT during the spring of their junior year.

SAT Information

General Information

Test Dates

March to Success - a free online test preparation course sponsored by the U.S. Army

SAT	taken from the Princeton Review
When is it administered?	Seven times per year
What is the test structure?	Ten-section exam: Three Critical Reading, three Math, three Writing, and one Experimental. The Experimental section is masked to look like a regular section.
What is the test content?	Math: up to 9th grade basic geometry and Algebra II. Science: none. Reading: sentence completions, short and long critical reading passages, reading comprehension. Writing: an essay, and questions testing grammar, usage, and word choice.
Is there a penalty for wrong answers?	Yes
How is the test scored?	200-800 per section, added together for a combined score. A 2400 is the highest possible combined score.
Are all scores sent to schools?	Yes. If a student requests a score report be sent to specific colleges, the report will include the scores the student received on every SAT taken.
Are there other uses for the exams?	Scholarship purposes.
Best time to register?	At least six weeks before the test date

ACT Information

General Information

Test Dates

March to Success - a free online test preparation course sponsored by the U.S. Army

ACT	taken from the Princeton Review
When is it administered?	Six times per year
What is the test structure?	Four-section exam: English, Math, Reading, and Science Reasoning. An Experimental section is added to tests on certain dates only, and is clearly experimental.
What is the test content?	Math: up to trigonometry. Science: charts, experiments. Reading: four passages, one each of Prose Fiction, Social Science, Humanities, and Natural Science. English: stresses grammar.
Is there a penalty for wrong answers?	No
How is the test scored?	1-36 for each subject, averaged for a composite score. A 36 is the highest possible composite score.
Are all scores sent to schools?	No. There is a "Score Choice" option. Students can choose which schools will receive their scores AND which scores the schools will see.
Are there other uses for the exams?	Scholarship purposes. Certain statewide testing programs.
Best time to register?	At least four weeks before the test date

What is the difference between the SAT and the ACT?

Information provided by www.kaptest.com

You might wonder why you have to choose between the SAT and the ACT--maybe one of the two is favored by the students in your school. Ten or 20 years ago, choosing which test to take wasn't even an issue. Until recently, the ACT was traditionally required by colleges in the midwest, and the SAT was the test of choice in the northeast and on the east and west coasts. But now an increasing number of students are taking the ACT, and the majority of schools in the United States now accept both SAT and ACT test results.

How This Affects You

This increased acceptance of the ACT gives today's savvy students a strategic advantage. The SAT and ACT are significantly different tests, and in many ways, they measure different skills. So depending on your particular strengths and weaknesses, you may perform much better on one test than the other. As a result, many students embarking on the admissions process are now considering both the SAT and ACT--to figure out which test provides a better showcase for their abilities.

What's the Difference?

Admissions officers and educators often describe the difference between SAT and ACT in these terms: the ACT is a content-based test, whereas the SAT tests critical thinking and problem solving. This perception is one reason many educators (off the record) express a preference for the ACT--because they believe that the ACT is closer to testing the "core curriculum" taught in most school classrooms. In fact, this contrast isn't exactly watertight. Many questions on the ACT test critical thinking, and there is a predictable range of material that's tested on the SAT. But the SAT and ACT reward different attributes, so performing well on each test can boil down to what kind of test taker you are.

Here are some of the factors that make the SAT and ACT very different breeds:

• The ACT includes a science reasoning test; the SAT does not.
• The ACT math section includes trigonometry.
• The SAT tests vocabulary much more than the ACT.
• The SAT is not entirely multiple choice.
• The SAT has a guessing penalty; the ACT does not.
• The ACT tests English grammar; the SAT does not.

Remember, both the SAT and ACT are important parts of your application, but they're only one of several factors--from your courses and grades to recommendations and your personal statement--that colleges consider.

Test Snapshots

There are two major college entrance examinations administered in the United States today: the SAT and the ACT. Standardized tests like the SAT and ACT are designed to allow college admissions officers to judge all students by a common measurement. Scores on these tests can compensate for differences in high school curriculum, grade inflation, and quality of teaching. In addition, they serve as a reliable predictor of how you will perform academically in your freshman year of college.

Snapshot: SAT

The SAT is the most widely taken college entrance examination. It is designed to test your skill level in math, vocabulary, and reading comprehension. The test is divided into seven sections: 3 math, 3 verbal, and 1 experimental section. The math and verbal sections each have their own distinct question types, including quantitative comparisons, sentence completions, grid-ins, and more. The experimental section, used by the test developer to try out new questions, is not scored and can be either math or verbal. You will not know which section is experimental.

The SAT is scored on scale of 200-800 for both the math and verbal sections. The College Board sets the average for all test takers at 500 for each. A perfect score on the SAT is 1600. However, in recent years, fewer than 20% of all test takers achieve a math score of 600 or better. Fewer than 10% score higher than 600 on the verbal section.

Snapshot: ACT

The American College Testing Assessment (ACT) is designed to test your skill levels in English, math, reading, and science reasoning. On the test, you will have 2 hours and 55 minutes to complete a variety of multiple choice questions divided into four sections – one for each tested subject area. The English, reading, and science sections each include several reading passages with anywhere from 5 to 15 questions per passage. The math section includes 60 questions – each with 5 possible answer choices.

You will actually receive 12 separate scores on the ACT: 1 composite, 4 subject scores, and 7 subscores. However the composite – or scaled – score is the most important. It ranges from 1-36. Nearly half of all test takers fall in the 17-23 range.

SAT vs. ACT

Until recently, the ACT was required by colleges in the Midwest, while the SAT was the test of choice for schools in the Northeast and on both coasts. Now, however, most schools accept both. This increased acceptance of both exams gives students a strategic advantage. The ACT is a content-based test, whereas the SAT tests critical thinking and problem solving skills. Depending on your particular strengths and weaknesses, you may perform significantly better on one test than the other. Regardless, you should check with each of your target schools before taking either exam.

For more information on the SAT or ACT, visit www.kaptest.com/college

The Day Before the SAT

Before you know it, it'll be Saturday morning and you'll be sitting in the test center with an SAT test book in front of you. As your SAT test day draws near, be sure to review these last-minute tips to help you do your best.

The Day Before

• Gather up everything you're going to need for the next morning. You don't want to be stuck frantically searching for your admission ticket just before you rush out the door. You'll need the following items:
  • Acceptable Photo ID
  • Your SAT Admission Ticket
  • Two sharpened No. 2 pencils
  • A calculator with fresh batteries
• Write down the directions to the test center. Make sure you know how to get to your test center and how long it'll take you to get there.
• Check to see if your test center is open. Especially if there is bad weather in your area, tune into your local media (like you do for school closing announcements) or visit www.collegeboard.com on the Friday before the test to make sure your test center is open.
• Be well-rested and ready to go. Get a good night's sleep the night before the test.
• Set two alarms—one in your room and one in someone else's room, in case you hit the snooze button one time too many.

The Morning of the Test

• Eat breakfast. You'll be at the test center for four hours and you're likely going to get hungry.
• Bring snacks. You will get a short break at the end of each hour of testing time. You can eat or drink any snacks you have brought with you during these breaks. A healthy snack will go a long way toward keeping you alert during the entire test.
• Have your SAT Admission Ticket and acceptable Photo ID ready. You will need your admission ticket and photo ID for admission to the test center.
• Bring two No. 2 pencils and a soft eraser — a pencil is required for the multiple choice questions and the essay. Mechanical pencils are not allowed. Pens are not allowed.
• Arrive at your test center no later than 7:45 a.m. Don't risk getting locked out because you're 30 seconds late. Give yourself plenty of time to get to get there. Consider traffic, weather conditions, flat tires, and anything else that could slow you down.

During the test

• Use breaks to eat or drink any snacks you have brought with you. You will have several breaks during the test. Use them to relax and eat a snack so you can stay focused.
• Work only on the section you are supposed to be working on. You're not allowed to go back to a section once that section has ended. You also can't start the next section if you finish a section early.
• Do easier questions first. You earn just as many points for easy questions as you do for hard ones.
• Make sure you use a No. 2 pencil on the answer sheet. It is very important that you fill in the entire circle darkly and completely. If you change your response, erase it as completely as possible. It is very important that you follow these instructions when filling out your answer sheet.
• Use all of your time. Students around you may close up their test books and rest their heads on their desks, but you know better. Go back to review problems you weren't quite sure about the first time. Or, if you skipped any hard problems use the time to try to work them out.
• Stay positive and focused. Keep your mind on your work, not your score.
• Try not to worry about whether you "nailed it" or "blew it." It'll be a long couple of weeks if you do. Know you did your best—and celebrate. You deserve it.

Good Luck!

PSAT Information

1. Why should students take the PSAT/NMSQT?

The PSAT/NMSQT® is the best preparation for the SAT Reasoning Test™. Students in eleventh grade who take the test and meet other program entry requirements may enter National Merit Scholarship Corporation programs. Most important, the PSAT/NMSQT is a comprehensive tool that gives valuable feedback to both the student and the school.

Students will receive scores in critical reading, mathematics, and writing skills and will see how their scores compare to those of other students across the country. Through a question-by-question review of answers, students will be able to see which answers they got right or wrong. Using their original test booklet, students can access complete answer explanations for test questions at www.collegeboard.com/psatextra Best of all, with their Score Report, students receive a personalized statement of specific academic skills that need attention, suggested steps to improve those skills, and high school students receive a personalized SAT® study plan.

High school students who take the PSAT/NMSQT will also receive free access to MyRoad™, an online career, major, and college exploration tool to chart their path to college and beyond. Other special opportunities for students who take the PSAT/NMSQT in grade 11 include the National Hispanic Recognition Program. (See your student’s counselor for more information.)

2. Who should take the PSAT/NMSQT?

Typically, students take the PSAT/NMSQT in grade 11 of high school. It is also beneficial for younger students to take the test to get a head start on improving academic skills needed for success in college and beyond. Last year, more than half of all test-takers were in grade 10 or younger.

3. What should be done to prepare for this test?

Classroom learning is the basis for test questions, so the best way students can prepare is to involve themselves in rigorous courses and get familiar with the test and its format. Students should review the PSAT/NMSQT Official Student Guide, which is full of useful information, including a full-length Practice Test. The Guide and the Practice Test will help students understand all the directions and be familiar with the types of questions that will be asked.

4. If students don’t do well on this test, will it hurt their chances of getting into college?

Absolutely not. If anything, the PSAT/NMSQT will improve their chances, since it provides personalized information on the types of skills that the student needs to improve to prepare for the SAT and college. PSAT/NMSQT scores are not sent to colleges.

5. How many times may a student take this test?

Only once a year, but there is no limit to how many years a student may participate. It is important that eleventh-grade students take the test to enter National Merit Scholarship Corporation competitions, as well as to prepare for the SAT. For younger students, the main benefit is to gain valuable skills feedback and get a head start on improving their academic skills and planning for college.

6. What is Student Search Service® and should students check “Yes”?

When students take the PSAT/NMSQT, they are asked if they would like to participate in the College Board’s Student Search Service®, a free service that provides names of students to certified educational organizations. If students choose to participate, they allow colleges, universities, scholarship programs, educational opportunity organizations, and the College Board to send information via the mail and/or e-mail about the educational and financial aid opportunities they offer. Student information is strictly monitored and secure, and individual PSAT/NMSQT test scores are never shared with any outside entity.

7. When may we expect to see the results from the PSAT/NMSQT?

Schools will receive Score Reports in December and will notify students regarding when, where, and how to get their individual reports. Schools also receive an extra copy for the student’s file.

8. What else should students be doing to have college as an option after graduation?

At www.collegeboard.com/parents, you’ll find more information about the PSAT/NMSQT, MyRoad, planning and paying for college, as well as information on other College Board programs, such as the SAT and the Advanced Placement Program®.