Presented by the KHS Counseling Department 2013-2014

1. Presented by the KHS Counseling Department 2013-2014 Entrance Exams

2. KHS Counselors • Jessica Miller • Students A-L • jessica.miller@krumisd.net • 940-482-2613 • Lindsey Roe • Students M-Z • lindsey.roe@krumisd.net • 940-482-2521

3. Check it OUT! www.krumisd.net/counselor • Test information • Request a transcript • Scholarships • Handouts and Resources • Dual Credit information • Much more!!!

4. What you need to know about going to college… College: an educational institution or establishment

5. What do colleges look at? • Academic Review: 7 factors colleges consider • Academic record • TEST SCORES • Extracurricular activities and community service • Recommendations • Children of alumni • Work experience and leadership • Interviews • Correspondence

6. College Entrance Exams ACT – College entrance exam • www.actstudent.org SAT – College entrance exam • www.collegeboard.com SAT II – Subject tests required by SOME universities. • www.collegeboard.com AP – Advanced Placement exams taken during high school. Ask your college or university about scores and transfer of grades. Colleges and universities accept grades and credits differently. • www.collegeboard.com TSI - Texas Success Initiative is required by state law to ensure students enrolled in Texas public colleges possess the academic skills needed to perform effectively in college-level coursework.

7. Why take the ACT/SAT? • Provide colleges with one common criteria that can be used to compare all applicants • Onefactor in the admissions • The weight placed on ACT and/or SAT scores varies from school to school • Test scores are good for up to 5 years!

8. School Example: Texas Tech University *ACT composite score; SAT sum of critical reading and math; writing portions of both tests are required, but not used in determining assured admission. We combine the highest SAT critical reading and math scores from multiple test dates. Assured Admission You are assured admission if you are graduating from an accredited high school and present the required combination of high school class rank and college entrance test scores indicated below. The required SAT scores for assured admission are based on the math and critical reading portions only. *ACT composite score; SAT sum of critical reading and math; writing portions of both tests are required, but not used in determining assured admission. We combine the highest SAT critical reading and math scores from multiple test dates.

9. What is TSI? • The Texas Success Initiative (TSI) was implemented to ensure that students enrolled in Texas public colleges and universities possess the necessary academic skills to succeed. • The state of Texas requires each student to complete the • TSI Pre-Assessment activity prior to taking the TSI Assessment test. • The TSI Assessment test is a diagnostic assessment used to determine college readiness in the areas of reading, mathematics, and writing and must be taken by all entering undergraduate students without exempt or waived statuses.

10. What is TSI? • TSI test scores are not used to determine admissions status; however, entering students must test before enrolling in college-level courses at any Texas public institution of higher education. • Students who have tested but have not attained the established minimum scores on one or more sections of the test are required by Texas Law to obtain TSI advising and to enroll in a formal program of skills development each semester until they have passed all sections of the test. Assigned skills development must be completed as a condition of enrollment.

11. School Example: Tarrant County College

12. All about the ACT

13. What is Tested • English • Math • Reading • Science • Writing • ALWAYStake the ACT plus Writing as opposed to just the ACT. If you do not take the writing portion and later apply to a school that requires it, you will have to re-take the entire test.

14. SCORING • 1-36point scale for the ACT whether or not you take the writing test. • Writing portion is on a 1-12scale but on the same score report form • There is NOdeduction for wrong answers (no penalty for guessing)

15. When to Take • The April, June, andDecembertests offer the Test Information Release (TIF) (an additional $19) • questions and answers from the test are provided

16. Future Test Dates

17. Test Fees Test fee per test option • ACT (No Writing) - $36.50 • ACT Plus Writing - $52.50 • Includes reports for you, your high school, and up to four college choices Additional registration fees and services • 5th and 6th college choices - add $12.00 each • Late registration fee (U.S. or Canada only) - add $23.00 • Test date change - $22.00 • Test center change - $22.00 • Viewing scores and score report online - FREE • Test Information Release (TIR) service - add $19.00 Students on free and reduced lunch may receive a fee waiver for the test fee!

18. All about the SAT

19. What is Tested • Criticalreading • reading passages • sentence completions • Writing • short essay • multiple-choice questions on identifying errors and improving grammar and usage • Mathematics • arithmetic operations • algebra, geometry • statistics and probability

20. SCORING • All section on 200-800 scale with a top score of 2400 • Many colleges just look at the Critical Writing and Mathparts which would have a top score of 1600 • There is a correction factor of ¼ a point for each wrong answer. (1/4 point deduction for wrong answers)

21. When to Take • The October, January, andMay tests offer the Test Information Release (TIF) (an additional $18) • questions and answers from the test are provided

22. Future Test Dates

23. Test Fees SAT- $51.00 Additional registration fees and services • Additional score reports- add $11.25 each • Late registration fee (U.S. or Canada only) - add $23.00 • Test date change - $27.50 • Test center change - $27.50 • Viewing scores and score report online - FREE • Test Information Release (TIR) service - $18.00

24. Suggested ACT/SAT Timeline • Junior Year • January – SAT • April – ACT • May – SAT (2nd attempt) • June – ACT (2nd attempt) • Fall Senior Year • ACT or SAT (3rd attempt), if needed to improve scores

25. Test Day Checklist

26. Report to assigned test center 1 hour – 30 minutes before the start time.You will NOTbe admitted to test if you are late. • Admission ticket • Acceptable photo identification - check requirements • Permitted calculator - you are responsible for knowing if your calculator is permitted and bringing it to the test center. • Testing staff will check your photo ID and ticket, admit you to your test room, direct you to a seat, and provide test materials.

27. DO NOT… • Engage in any prohibited behavior at the test center • Bring cell phones or any electronic devices • You may not eat or drink anything in test room

28. Ways to Prepare

29. MOCK ACT February 1st from 9:00-1:00 Garza’s classroom Sign up by Friday, January 31st

30. ·Attend review session – GARZA does this for FREE! • Every Tuesday and Wednesday for an hour afterschool • http://www.actstudent.org/testprep/ • ·http://sat.collegeboard.org/practice/ • Ask your school counselor for practice manuals • Hire a tutor for exams • Download FreeApps: simply search ACT and/or SAT

31. Benefits • Test scores are good for up to 5 years. • Automatic college admission is graduated for high test scores. (depending on the university) • Scholarshipsare awarded for high test scores, depending on the university.

32. Don’t Miss Out… Post-secondary presentation for parents and students at KHS! Wednesday, March 19th @ 6:00 p.m. KHS auditorium