Inside the PSAT ACT Revisions Welcome 1 PSAT

Inside the PSAT, & ACT Revisions

Welcome! 1 PSAT & SAT Overhaul 2 The Transition Year 3 Your Student ACT Updates Test Changes

Updated ACT Overview Category Features § No changes to 1 -36 scoring § New scores reported Scoring ü ü ELA STEM Career Readiness Text Complexity Math More probability & statistics Reading New paired passages Test Changes

Updated ACT Overview Category Essay Test Changes Features § Now requires analysis of 3 different perspectives § More scores provided ü Ideas and analysis ü Development and support ü Organization ü Language use

New SAT Overview Category Structure Timing Scoring Test Changes Features § Evidence-based Reading & Writing § Math § Optional Essay 3 hours + 50 minutes with Optional Essay § Now scored on a scale of 1600 § New optional Essay scored separately § No more guessing penalty

Scoring Details Composite Score § Sum of the two Area Scores § Range of 400 - 1600 Area Score § Math § Range of 200 - 800 Area Score § Evidence-Based Reading + Writing § Range of 200 - 800 Test & Cross-Test Scores § 3 Test Scores: Math, Reading, and Writing & Language § 2 Cross-Test Scores: Science, History/Social Studies § Range of 10 - 40 Test Changes

New SAT Overview Category Evidencebased Reading & Writing Features § Reading and Writing combined into new Evidence-Based Reading and Writing Area ü Passage topics include US and World Literature, History/Social Studies, and Sciences § Reading details: ü 500 - 750 word passages ü 65 minutes § Writing and Language details: ü 400 - 500 word passages ü 35 minutes Test Changes

New SAT Overview Category Features § Three areas of concentrated focus: ü Problem solving and data analysis ü “The Heart of Algebra” ü “Passport to Advanced Math” Math § New enhanced grid-in (Item sets) ü Multi-step student constructed response question § 80 minutes ü 25 minutes without a calculator ü 55 minutes with a calculator Test Changes

New SAT Overview Category Essay Features § § § Test Changes Optional 50 minutes Read & analyze a 650 -750 word document Write about how the author builds an argument Tests reading, analysis, and writing skills

PSAT/NMSQT Overview Category Structure Features Aligned with the New SAT, and almost the same length Timing 2 hours, 45 minutes Scoring § Now scored on a scale of 320 -1520 § No more guessing penalty Test Changes

PSAT & New SAT Scoring SAT: 400 -1600 PSAT/NMSQT: 320 -1520 300 600 900 1200 Composite Score Range Test Changes 1500

Current SAT Test Changes New SAT ACT Evidence-based Words in Context Reading Comprehension SAT Words in Context Reading Comprehension Reading Skills Tested

Current SAT Test Changes New SAT ACT Algebra Geometry Data Analysis/Problem Solving Trig Geometry Data Analysis/Problem Solving Algebra Number & Operations Geometry Data Analysis/Problem Solving Algebra Math Skills Tested

Current SAT Test Changes New SAT Rhetorical Skills Grammar/Usage/Mechanics Essay Rhetorical Skills Grammar/Usage/Mechanics Writing Skills Tested ACT

New SAT and ACT: 5 Key Differences 1. The New SAT has a greater focus on History & Social Studies passages ACT? New SAT? What’s the Difference? 2. Both focus on Algebra, but the New SAT has a greater emphasis on Data Analysis & Problem Solving 3. The ACT requires more Science reading 4. The New SAT requires more mental math 5. The New SAT has grid-in questions, and an extended thinking grid-in question Test Changes

The New SAT & College Admissions § First New SAT administration ü 21 days + up to 4 weeks for scores to be available § Concordance tables ü Released in December for the PSAT and May for the SAT § New and Old SAT scores ü Schools will accept both scores for a 3 -year transition period Test Changes

New SAT: To be Determined § Will schools “Superscore” the Old & New? Ø Probably not § Will schools require the optional Essay? Ø Likely at competitive schools § What impact will Test and Cross-Test Scores have on admissions? Ø Depends Test Changes

Test Change Timeline ACT: Enhanced Scoring + Writing Test SAT: New Test Launches PSAT: New Test Launches SAT: 2 nd to Last Current Test Mar 2015 June 2015 Test Changes Sept 2015 Oct 2015 SAT: Last Current Test Dec 2015 Jan 2016 Mar 2016

Test Options Class of 2017 Current SAT ACT New SAT Test Changes Class of 2018 and Younger

Test Paths Student Profile Test Path ü Early Decision ü APs and Subject Tests ü SAT or ACT ü Regular Decision ü New SAT or ACT ü Great Test Taker ü New SAT, ACT, & Current SAT ü Anxious test taker ü Obvious strengths with one test Test Changes ü Pick one

Thank you! Questions, or interested in a practice test? Contact me directly Emily. holland@kaplan. com, 201 -803 -1449 or call 1 -800 -kaptest For more information, visit kaptest. com/satchange Test Changes