Admission Testing 2019: What You Need to Know Matt Steiner (they, - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Admission Testing 2019: What You Need to Know Matt Steiner (they, them, theirs) Senior Director Compass Education Group

Stay Current, Stay Connected Application Bubble The Compass Guide to College Admission Testing : • Available for free download Ø compassprep.com/ guide • Subscribe to our newsletter !

Why Standardized Tests?

Standardized Tests Are Consistent But Score Gains Are Relative

“Good” Scores Are Relative The Competitive Landscape pp. 12-18

Test Requirements ACT in lieu of Test Optional/Flexible ≈50 (1000+) Subject Tests ≈7 Subject Tests ≈50 SAT or ACT Required ≈1,300

Comparing Test Structure PSAT 10 & NMSQT (320 – 1520) 4 Sections, 2 Hours and 45 Minutes SAT (400 – 1600) 4 Sections, 3 Hours

Comparing Test Structure PSAT 10 & NMSQT (320 – 1520) 4 Sections, 2 Hours and 45 Minutes SAT (400 – 1600) 4 Sections, 3 Hours

Comparing Test Structure PSAT 10 & NMSQT (320 – 1520) 4 Sections, 2 Hours and 45 Minutes SAT (400 – 1600) 4 Sections, 3 Hours

Comparing Test Structure PSAT 10 & NMSQT (320 – 1520) 4 Sections, 2 Hours and 45 Minutes SAT (400 – 1600) 4 Sections, 3 Hours

Comparing Test Structure PSAT 10 & NMSQT (320 – 1520) 4 Sections, 2 Hours and 45 Minutes SAT (400 – 1600) 4 Sections, 3 Hours w/ Experimental (no Essay) + 20 minutes w/ Essay (no Experimental) + 50 minutes Experimental ACT (1 – 36) w/ Experimental + 20 minutes w/ Essay + 40 minutes 4 Sections, 2 Hours and 55 Minutes Experimental

SAT/ACT Essay Required

SAT and/or ACT Essay

ACT or SAT?

SAT vs ACT: Making the Choice

Practice Tests & Score Reports

A Sensible Timeline: 11 th Grade Ø SAT or ACT Decision: Fall of 11 th grade at the latest Ø 1 st Official Test : SAT (March) or ACT (Feb) • Prep begins 4-5 months prior (Winter Break) Ø 2 nd Official Test: ACT (April) or SAT (May) Ø Refresher prep and practice tests Ø SAT Subject Tests (2) : May or June Ø Practice Subject Tests can gauge readiness Ø 3 rd Official Test (Optional) : ACT (July or Sept) or SAT (Aug or Oct)

PSAT Results – Sample Class Score Change Sophomore to Junior Year 1520 1400 1100 800 Ÿ Sophomore PSAT n Junior PSAT

How Test Prep Works Content Command of Knowledge Strategies Emotional Test Control Management

ACT Math: Structure & Pacing Structure: Pacing Concerns: • 60 questions in 60 minutes • Average 1 minute per question* • Content breakdown • Difficulty escalates steadily • 23% Pre-Algebra throughout • 17% Elementary Algebra • Problems at the end are • 15% Intermediate Algebra much harder but worth • 15% Coordinate Geometry same points • 23% Plane Geometry • Rushing and cherry- • 7% Trigonometry picking can be dangerous

ACT Math: Difficulty Distribution Data reflects performance of several thousand first-time ACT takers on eleven different tests. See Compass Guide page 45

ACT Math: Where to Invest Effort Student Accuracy Per Question 100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% 10 20 30 40 50 60 1 3 5 7 9 11 13 15 17 19 21 23 25 27 29 31 33 35 37 39 41 43 45 47 49 51 53 55 57 59

The Reality of College Admission Enrollment by Admission Rate 1% 3% > 50% 16% • Admit Rate: 70% 25-50% • Yield: 33% 10-25% 80% < 10% Stanford (<5%) denied 70% of applicants with perfect test scores

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