| TEST INFORMATION |
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STANDARDIZED TESTS FOR COLLEGE - Either an
ACT or SAT test is frequently requested by colleges
for admission purposes. With few exceptions, colleges that require this type of testing will accept either test. (Always check each college site to ensure that you understand all test requirements.) Most colleges will take a
student's highest SAT math and highest SAT verbal
score. For test hints, more information, and to register
online go to: http://www.act.org/ for the ACT
test and http://www.collegeboard.com/ for
the SAT test. Some colleges also require SAT Subject
tests. Most students take these tests the spring of
their Junior year. Check carefully to ensure you are
fully prepared. |
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NEW REGISTRATION PROCEDURES for 2012 - 2013 - Registration rules are changing for both ACT and SAT testing beginning with the Fall 2013 testing. The adult world of serious, fixed deadlines has reached the college testing world. There will be no stand-by testing, no last-minute changes in the type of test taken, and no the test center starting next year. You MUST register by the late registration date or you will not be able to take the test. Registration will only be online, and you will be required to send a digital photograph with your registration. Test centers will use your photograph when you check in to take the test. There are many more changes that you can discover. To discover more about SAT changes, go to http://press.collegeboard.org/releases/2012/enhanced-sat-security-measures-announced-2012-13-academic-year. To discover more about ACT changes, go to www.act.org/newsroom/announce/testprocedures.html. |
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ACT TESTING INFORMATION SUMMARY - Go to www.act.org for complete details, hints, sample tests, and practice options.
ACT reports scored in five sections:
- English
- Math
- Reading
- Science
- Writing (optional part of the test, often required by colleges)
- Score range is 1 - 36 for each section
- Single composite score of all sections but writing has a range of of 1 - 36.
- Average composite score is ~21.
- Only correct answers are scored. Always best to know the correct answer, but random guessing won't penalize.
- Difficult and easy questions are mixed. The first question could be the most difficult. Test-takers need to know how to skip questions that they can't answer and return to them once all of the easy questions are answered to receive the highest score.
- ACT only sends scores from test sittings chosen by the student. Few colleges select the highest individual score from multiple tests to create a "super score" for the ACT.
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PSAT TESTING INFORMATION SUMMARY - The PSAT is offered once a year in Octoer. This is an opportunity for students to practice in a real testing environment with no penalty should it be a bad testing day. The PSAT is not used in the college application process.
The PSAT is used as the National Merit Qualifying Test for high school Juniors. ALL Juniors are encouraged to take this test during the Junior year. If you have a good test-taking day, you could qualify for honors and bragging rights. If you don't have a good test-taking day, it won't enter into your college application process and can't hurt.
2012 PSAT test date is Wednesday, 17 October 2012.
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SAT TESTING INFORMATION SUMMARY - Go to www.collegeboard.com for complete details, hints, sample tests, and practice options. Should you need to call about testing, you can call toll-free at 866.756.7346.
Two types of SAT testing:
- Reasoning Test - called the SAT, is a common requirement option.
- Subject Tests - called SAT Subject tests,
- are achievements tests that demonstrate learned knowledge in a subject area.
- are required by a limited number of colleges. Must check with college to see if any are required and if there are specific test requirements.
SAT Reasoning Test reports scores in three categories:
- Critical Reading
- Math
- Writing
- Score range for each category is 200 - 800.
- The average score for any single section is ~500.
- Test takers are penalized for wrong answers as the test is scored [right minus a fraction of wrong answers]. Random guessing is not recommended.
- Each test section begins with the questions most students get correct and ends with the questions most students miss.
- Most colleges "superscore," using the highest score in an SAT category when the student reports all SAT testing scores. Give yourself every advantage. Don't choose "score choice" and all testing scores will be sent to colleges.
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SAT SCORE USE PRACTICES – The College Board has created a report showing how colleges view SAT test scores. Discover if they pick the highest subcategory score from multiple tests, or the best test sitting from multiple tests? Discover if they require all testing scores? Find a listing published by the College Board in September at http://professionals.collegeboard.com/profdownload/sat-score-use-practices-list.pdf |
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| TESTS & TEST DATES |
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Remaining test date options for the 2011 - 2012 year are:
Test
Date |
Test |
Reg
Registration Deadline |
Late
Registration Deadline |
1 Jun
at WTW |
SAT & Subject Tests |
Deadline Past |
17 May |
| 8 Jun |
ACT |
Deadline Past |
17 May |
NOTICE: There is NO testing during summer break!! |
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| TEST PRACTICE / TUTORIALS |
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FREE
ONLINE MATH TUTORIAL – Looking
for help with math, or want to prepare for the SOL?
This is anexcellent math tutorial link with worksheets
with answers to virtually every math component. Go
to :www.kutasoftware.com/freemain.html. |
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FAIRFAX
COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS – offers SAT
preparation, study skills, and other enrichment courses
for secondary school students at area schools. Visit www.fcps.edu/DIS/OACE/KidsandTeens.htm for more information. Current FCPS students may submit
registration and payment by mail, fax, or walk-in
at any Fairfax County Adult Education Registration
Center. For more information about the courses, call
703.227.8453 or 703.227.8472, Monday through Friday
during regular business hours. |
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FREE
- Eknowledge/NFL SAT & ACT TEST PREP – the
Department of Defense, eKnowledge and a group of NFL
players donate multimedia SAT/ACT Test Preparation
products to Service members and their families worldwide.
These programs can be used as a stand-alone instruction
tool, or as a supplement to other preparation materials.
Students can study at their own pace and the program
provides feedback on learning progress, rest readiness,
and more. Those military families interested in receiving
free eKnowledge products under this program can complete
an online request form at http://eknowledge.com/military,
or visit the Department of Defense at http://militaryhomefront.dod.mil for more details. Copies can also be requested by
calling 951.256.4076 or via e-mail at support@eknowledge.com. |
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FREE
- A.WORD.A.DAY – Prepare for those standardized tests by expanding
your vocabulary. Go to http://wordsmith.org/words/today.html and sign up to receive A.Word.A.Day in your mailbox
every day! The site provides pronunciation, definitions,
parts of speech, usage, quotations, language of origin,
etc. |
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FREE
ON-LINE MATH TUTORIAL – Looking
for help with math, or want to prepare for SOL? This
is an excellent math tutorial link with worksheets
with answers to virtually every math component: www.kutasoftware.com/freemain.html |
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FREE:
VOCABULARY BUILDER – RICE DONATION at www.freerice.com.
This is a cool vocabulary-building site that gives
free rice through the United Nations. The vocabulary
words are interesting and challenging, and each correct
answer donates 20 grains of rice through the UN World
Food Program to help end hunger. If you get the word
wrong, the word will be shown again so you will have
the chance to answer correctly from what you learned.
Check it out! |
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FREE
- ACT PRACTICE TEST – Go
to www.actstudent.org/index.html,
take the practice test and discover the correct answers,
as well as explanations for those answers. General
test preparation information is also available at
the site. |
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FREE
- SAT READINESS PROGRAM – Check
out the SAT Question of the Day! You can go to the
SAT Preparation Center section of http://www.collegeboard.com/ and
get access to test directions, sample questions, and
a full-length practice test. The SAT Preparation Center
is free. |
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FREE - ONLINE TEST PREP
- www.majortests.com - Prep by test section, including essay prompts;
get an explanation for answers.
- Princeton Review has created an online
test preparation site so thorough that just the
section on basic test taking skills can take 2
hours. Paid for by the U.S. Army and designed
to help students prepare for standardized tests
through basic math and English skills, you will
be asked if you would like a recruiter to contact
you. Your answer will be honored, yes or no. Users
need to be at least 13 years of age and will have
45 days to complete the course. Turn off pop-up
blockers and go to http://www.march2success.com/ to check it out.
- SAT Preparation Center section of http://www.collegeboard.com/ and offers access to test directions, sample questions,
and a full-length practice test.
- SAT Skills Insight - College Board has a new, FREE, testing study program. If you have taken the PSAT, SAT, or any practice test, you can study focused on specific areas and use your test scores to further focus your studies. Check out this free option at http://sat.collegeboard.org/practice/sat-skills-insight.
- http://www.number2.com/.
- Virginia Education Wizard provides test preparation for the ACT, SAT, COMPASS (required by Virginia community colleges), and the ASVAB. Go to www.vawizard.org, on the top of the window, find and click College Planner, then click Test Preparation.
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FREE
- PRACTICE TESTS are now available online from the Fairfax County Public
Library. There is a wide variety of interactive online
tests and tutorial courses designed to help students
and adults succeed on academic or licensing tests
including the ACT, SAT, and several AP tests. The
program provides immediate scoring, complete answer
explanations, and individualized analyses of your
results. Visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/library, click on Databases in left-hand
column; click on L-O (in the
"See a list of database companies" box; scroll down to Log On in the
Learning Express box. Some personal information will
be required including your public library card number. |
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FCPS PARENT RESOURCE CENTER TUTOR LIST 2010 - 2011 – Need a tutor? Check the extensive list provided by the FCPS Parent Resource Center at http://www.fcps.edu/cco/prc/documents/PRCTutorListSeptember2010-2011.pdf. |
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TOEFL
AND TSE TESTS - Registration
for the TOEFL iBT fills up very quickly, so register
as soon as possible. A new feature will enable you
to view which test dates and locations have availability.
Go to the Learners and Test Takers section at www.ets.org/toefl and select TOEFL Locations and Dates. The site is
updated every 24 hours. To register, visit the registration
section of the website. See a sample test at: www.ets.org/toefl/nextgen and
take a practice test at: http://toeflpractice.ets.org/ for free. Look for these publications online too: TOEFL iBT at a Glance, and TOEFL iBT
Tips. |
