New SAT vs ACT Prep smarter score higherguaranteed

New SAT vs. ACT Prep smarter, score higher—guaranteed or your money back! 1 -800 -KAP-TEST | kaptest. com/college

Agenda • Get to know the New SAT • Updated ACT Overview • Writing a Successful Essay • College Prep Timeline

SAT® and ACT® scores are one of the top 3 factors for getting into college. Source: 2011 NACAC State of College Admissions Report http: //www. nacacnet. org/research/Publications. Resources/Marketplace/research/Pages/Stateof. Coll ege. Admission. aspx.

A low SAT® or ACT® score is one of the top 3 college application killers. Source: Kaplan’s 2012 College Admissions Officers Survey. 350 admissions officers responded to Kaplan’s telephone polling between July and September 2012. Top 500 colleges and universities as compiled from U. S. News & World Report and Barron’s. http: //www. kaptest. com/assets/pdfs/Highlights-from-Kaplan-Test-Preps-2012 -College. Admissions-Officers. Survey. pdf.

The 2 greatest factors that determine merit-based aid are SAT® or ACT® scores and high school grades. There is $11 billion in merit-based aid to help pay for college. Source: Calculated using the average institutional no-need and merit grant figure in National Postsecondary Student Aid Study by the National Center for Education Statistics and the number of students receiving that type of aid, which was approximately 2. 1 million; 2008 NACAC Discussion Paper, Financial Aid and Admission: Tuition Discounting, Merit Aid and Need-aware Admission

Top Factors in College Admissions 1) Grades in College Prep Courses üAdvanced Placement üInternational Baccalaureate üDual-enrollment Courses Source: National Association of College Admissions Counseling, “ 2010 State of College Admission”

Top Factors in College Admissions 2) Strength of Curriculum üRigor üRelevance üQuantity Source: National Association of College Admissions Counseling, “ 2010 State of College Admission”

Top Factors in College Admissions 3) Admissions Test Scores üSAT üACT üAP & Subject Tests Source: National Association of College Admissions Counseling, “ 2010 State of College Admission”

Top Factors in College Admissions 4) High School GPA üOverall üDon’t fall behind üDon’t lose focus Source: National Association of College Admissions Counseling, “ 2010 State of College Admission”

Let’s Get to Know the SAT & ACT

The New SAT at-a-Glance Area TIMING Question Types SCORE Evidenced. Based Reading & Writing 2 Sections 100 Minutes Multiple Choice 200 -800 Math 2 Sections 80 Minutes Multiple Choice Grid-Ins 200 -800 Writing 50 Minutes Essay 0– 12 Multiple Choice Grid-Ins Optional Essay 400 -1600 Total 4 Sections 3 hours/ 3 hours 50 minutes

New SAT Overview Category Features § Reading and Writing combined Evidencebased Reading & Writing § Reading details: ü No sentence completions ü Passage topics include US and World Literature, History/Social Studies, and Sciences (500 - 750 words) ü 65 minutes § Writing and Language details: ü Focus on extended prose (400 - 500 words) ü 35 minutes

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 ü Multi-step student constructed response question § 80 minutes ü 25 minutes without a calculator ü 55 minutes with a calculator

New SAT Overview Category Essay Features § § Essay is optional 50 minutes Requires students to analyze a 650 -750 word document and explain how the author builds an argument 3 Scores (2 -8) ü Reading ü Analysis ü Writing

New SAT Overview Category Structure Timing Scoring 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

Score Choice • In effect for a little over a year. • Majority of students send all scores to all schools, but, wait to see their actual scores first. • Each test registration comes with 4 free score reports. • Most schools take the top score for each section from all of your scores.

Reading Your SAT Score Report

Reading Your SAT Score Report

The ACT at-a-Glance SECTION FORMAT/ TIME QUESTION TYPES SCORE Nat’l Averages English 1 Section Multiple Choice 1– 36 20. 6 Math 1 Section Multiple Choice 1– 36 21. 0 Reading 1 Section Multiple Choice FORMAT/ TIME 1– 36 21. 4 Science 1 Section Multiple Choice 1– 36 20. 9 Writing 1 Section Essay (Optional) 4– 5 Sections 2 hrs, 55 minutes 3 hrs, 25 minutes 1– 36 2– 12 20. 8 7. 2 Multiple Choice Essay 1– 36 20. 9 Total:

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

New SAT and ACT: Top 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 has a No Calculator Math section 5. The New SAT Math section has grid-in questions and Item Sets

Common Myths • The SAT is an IQ test. • The ACT is easier. • Only take the ACT if you’re good at science. • Competitive schools only accept the SAT.

The Essay Unraveled To get that high score you deserve… DO: ü Answer the assignment ü question ü ü Use detailed and ü relevant examples ü Construct a strong thesis ü Organize the essay well ü 6 5 4! Use smooth transitions Use vivid imagery Proofread! (Spelling, grammar, and punctuation) Be clear, coherent, and concise

The Essay Unraveled To get that high score you deserve… DON’T: Lose your central argument Use flowery and artificial language Use clichés 6 5 4! Repeat yourself Use slang or abbreviations

College Prep Timeline

College Prep Timeline 4 3 2 1 Freshman Year • Extracurricular activities • Prep for AP/Honors

College Prep Timeline 4 3 2 1 Sophomore Year • Summer prep for PSAT • PSAT in October • Take AP and SAT Subject Tests after completing courses

College Prep Timeline 4 2 1 3 Junior Year • PSAT in October for National Merit • Focus on academics—this is the critical year! • Research admissions requirements for chosen schools • Prepare for SAT and/or ACT • Take required SAT Subject Tests

College Prep Timeline 4 3 2 1 Senior Year • Take SAT and/or ACT for the last time • Take required SAT Subject Tests • Request letters of recommendation • Fill out FAFSA and research scholarships • Visit schools

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