TESTING FOR TESTING FOR COLLEGECOLLEGEJanuary 14, 2014January 14, 2014

TSIATSIA Texas Success Initiative AssessmentTexas Success Initiative Assessment Designed to determine if student ready for college-Designed to determine if student ready for college-

level worklevel work College Admissions TestsCollege Admissions Tests

ACTACT SATSAT Designed to determine readiness and predict future Designed to determine readiness and predict future

success in college coursessuccess in college courses

TSI ASSESSMENTTSI ASSESSMENT

Replaces the old ACCUPLACER or THEAReplaces the old ACCUPLACER or THEA New – September 2013New – September 2013 Three core areas: Reading, Math, WritingThree core areas: Reading, Math, Writing Required for any incoming public college Required for any incoming public college

student in Texas, unless meet exemptionstudent in Texas, unless meet exemption Mandatory Pre-Assessment ActivityMandatory Pre-Assessment Activity Blinn College in Brenham is a testing facilityBlinn College in Brenham is a testing facility

PRE-ASSESSMENT PRE-ASSESSMENT ACTIVITYACTIVITY

Not scoredNot scored Designed to inform you about the Designed to inform you about the

importance of the TSIAimportance of the TSIA Sample test questionsSample test questions Upon completion, a Upon completion, a certificatecertificate will be will be

emailed. This certificate must be emailed. This certificate must be presented with payment when taking the presented with payment when taking the TSIA. No certificate, No testing.TSIA. No certificate, No testing.

TSI REGISTRATIONTSI REGISTRATION Complete online pre-assessment activityComplete online pre-assessment activity

www.blinn.edu/counseling/testing/htmlwww.blinn.edu/counseling/testing/html

Contact Blinn/Brenham to reserve a day Contact Blinn/Brenham to reserve a day for testing (Monday-Thursday only)for testing (Monday-Thursday only) 979-830-4196979-830-4196

Students are encouraged to prepare Students are encouraged to prepare academically before attempting to take academically before attempting to take any assessment. any assessment.

WEBSITES FORWEBSITES FORTSIA PREPARATIONTSIA PREPARATION While Blinn College does not endorse any one While Blinn College does not endorse any one

particular study agency, the following websites particular study agency, the following websites have proven to be valuable preparation tools:have proven to be valuable preparation tools: www.studytips.orgwww.studytips.org www.testpreview.comwww.testpreview.com www.studyguidezone.comwww.studyguidezone.com TSI Pre Assessment Activity Sample Questions found TSI Pre Assessment Activity Sample Questions found

at www.blinn.edu/counseling/testing/html at www.blinn.edu/counseling/testing/html www.varsitytutors.com/practice-tests www.varsitytutors.com/practice-tests

WHAT TO EXPECT ON WHAT TO EXPECT ON TEST DAYTEST DAY

Bring to test centerBring to test center Certificate of Pre-Assessment ActivityCertificate of Pre-Assessment Activity Payment for test - $45. Keep receipt for payment.Payment for test - $45. Keep receipt for payment. Photo IDPhoto ID

Do not bringDo not bring Food/DrinkFood/Drink Cell phonesCell phones Calculators or any other electronic devicesCalculators or any other electronic devices Backpacks, large bags or pursesBackpacks, large bags or purses Hats / capsHats / caps

Testing is untimedTesting is untimed Expect testing to take 4, 5 hoursExpect testing to take 4, 5 hours Some testing has taken as long as 8 hoursSome testing has taken as long as 8 hours

TSIA PASSING SCORESTSIA PASSING SCORES

To be declared “college ready”To be declared “college ready” ReadingReading

Scores of 351-390Scores of 351-390

WritingWriting Scores of 363-390Scores of 363-390

MathMath Scores of 350-390Scores of 350-390

EXEMPTIONS FOR EXEMPTIONS FOR TSI ASSESSMENTTSI ASSESSMENT

SATSAT Math = 500, Critical Reading = 500, Math = 500, Critical Reading = 500,

Combined Score = 1070Combined Score = 1070

ACTACT Exit Level TAKS (2013 grads only)Exit Level TAKS (2013 grads only)

Math = 2200Math = 2200 ELA = 2200 + Written Composition Score of 3 ELA = 2200 + Written Composition Score of 3

or aboveor above

HELPFUL WEBSITEHELPFUL WEBSITEwww.thecb.state.tx.uswww.thecb.state.tx.us

COLLEGE ADMISSIONS COLLEGE ADMISSIONS TESTINGTESTING

Standardized testsStandardized tests TimedTimed Measure academic abilitiesMeasure academic abilities Determine readiness for college-level workDetermine readiness for college-level work Used to predict future success in college coursesUsed to predict future success in college courses Registration takes place onlineRegistration takes place online

Students required to provide gender information and a photo of themselves Students required to provide gender information and a photo of themselves upon registeringupon registering

Photo is included on admission ticket, test center roster, and score report Photo is included on admission ticket, test center roster, and score report sent to schoolsent to school

No changes allowed day of testNo changes allowed day of test Students must provide high school codeStudents must provide high school code

Bellville High School Code 440575

SATSAT www.sat.collegeboard.orgwww.sat.collegeboard.org Cost - $50Cost - $50 Three subjectsThree subjects

Critical ReadingCritical Reading Two 25-minute sections, One 20-minute sectionTwo 25-minute sections, One 20-minute section

MathMath Two 25-minute sections, One 20-minute sectionTwo 25-minute sections, One 20-minute section

WritingWriting One 25-minute section, One 10-minute sectionOne 25-minute section, One 10-minute section Essay – 25 minute section Essay – 25 minute section REQUIREDREQUIRED

SATSAT ScoringScoring

Individual subjectsIndividual subjects Each subject score ranges from 200-800Each subject score ranges from 200-800 Essay has separate score 2-12Essay has separate score 2-12

Total Total Composite of all three individual subjects added togetherComposite of all three individual subjects added together Critical Reading + Math + WritingCritical Reading + Math + Writing Highest Score possible = 2400Highest Score possible = 2400

PenaltiesPenalties Typically ¼ point deducted for wrong answersTypically ¼ point deducted for wrong answers If you can narrow down choices to 2, make a guessIf you can narrow down choices to 2, make a guess Otherwise, leave blankOtherwise, leave blank

SAT TESTING DATESSAT TESTING DATES

March 8, 2014March 8, 2014 Registration deadline - February 7Registration deadline - February 7

May 3, 2014May 3, 2014 Registration deadline - April 4Registration deadline - April 4

June 7, 2014June 7, 2014 Registration deadline - May 9Registration deadline - May 9

ACTACT www.actstudent.orgwww.actstudent.org Cost - $35Cost - $35

With Writing added - $50.50With Writing added - $50.50 Four subjectsFour subjects

EnglishEnglish 45 minutes45 minutes

MathMath 60 minutes60 minutes

ReadingReading 35 minutes35 minutes

ScienceScience 35 minutes35 minutes

Writing Writing (OPTIONAL)(OPTIONAL) 30 minutes30 minutes

ACTACT ScoringScoring

Each subject score ranges 1-36Each subject score ranges 1-36 Composite or Total score – Average of the four sections Composite or Total score – Average of the four sections

togethertogether Optional Essay – scores from 1-12Optional Essay – scores from 1-12

PenaltiesPenalties No penalties for wrong answersNo penalties for wrong answers Since incorrect answers do not count against student, Since incorrect answers do not count against student,

always attempt to make an education guessalways attempt to make an education guess Always select an answerAlways select an answer

ACT TESTING DATESACT TESTING DATES

February 8, 2014February 8, 2014 Late RegistrationLate Registration deadline – January 24 deadline – January 24

April 12, 2014April 12, 2014 Registration deadline - March 7Registration deadline - March 7

June 14, 2014June 14, 2014 Registration deadline - May 9Registration deadline - May 9

WEBSITES TO PREPARE FOR WEBSITES TO PREPARE FOR COLLEGE ADMISSIONS COLLEGE ADMISSIONS TESTINGTESTING

www.collegeboard.orgwww.collegeboard.org www.actstudent.orgwww.actstudent.org www.march2success.comwww.march2success.com www.majortests.comwww.majortests.com www.sparknotes.com/testprep/newsatwww.sparknotes.com/testprep/newsat