The Scholastic Aptitude Test: SATPresenter:

Mrs. Gail PlattBethel High School

Counselor

The SAT Focuses on College Success™ Skills– Critical Reading– Mathematics – Writing

The SAT® tests students’ reasoning based on knowledge and skills developed through their course work.

It measures their ability to analyze and solve problems by applying what they have learned in school.

Time Specifications 3 hours 45 minutes

Critical Reading: 70 minutesTwo 25-minute sections 20-minute section

Math: 70 minutesTwo 25-minute sections 20-minute section

Writing: 60 minutesTwo multiple-choice sections

one 25-minute section and one 10-minute section one 25-minute essay

Variable Section: 25 minutes

Test Content and Question Types

The Test measures academic achievement in the areas of

• Critical Reading

• Math

• Writing

Test ScoresCritical Reading: 200–800Math: 200–800Writing: 200–800Will include 2 sub scores:

Essay 2–12 (1/3 of writing score)Multiple-choice 20–80 (2/3 of writing score)

SAT Scores for 2004-2005• 233 students at Bethel High School

took the Scholastic Aptitude Test.• The average scores for the SAT are

as follows:

Bethel VirginiaNation

Verbal 456 516 508Math 464 514 520

Critical Reading• Measures knowledge of genre (types of

literature), cause and effect, comparative arguments, and the ability to recognize relationships among parts of a text

• Long and short reading passages are taken from different fields:– Natural sciences– Humanities– Social science– Literary fiction

• Short reading passages now replace the formerly used analogy section.

Math Section Measures problem-solving

skills• Emphasis on math reasoning: SAT math

measures the ability to apply math content to real-life problems.

• SAT is unique in having some “grid-in” questions requiring student-produced responses. Student generates his/her own response to the problem.

Calculator Policy• A scientific or graphing calculator is

recommended for the current test.• Every question can be answered without

a calculator, calculators are definitely encouraged.

• Previously, a basic 4-function calculator was recommended, but now scientific is the base level recommendation.

• Students should bring a calculator with which they are comfortable and familiar.

The Math SectionExpanded Number and Operations

topics include:– Sequences involving exponential growth– Sets (union, intersection, elements)

Expanded Data Analysis, Statistics, and Probabilitytopics include:– Data interpretation, scatter plots, and

matrices– Geometric probability

Scoring Procedures for the Essay

• Essays are scored by trained high school English teachers and college professors with experience teaching writing.

• Each essay is scored independently by two readers according to the holistic Scoring Guide in conjunction with sample essays selected for training.

• Essays are scored on a scale of 1 to 6 by each reader (total score of 2 to 12).

• Essays are scanned and distributed to readers via the Web.

• Scoring and reader supervision take place online.

ACT

Time Specifications

• English 45 minutes• Reading 35 minutes• Mathematics 60 minutes• Science 35 minutes

ACT Content AreasThe test measures academic achievement in the areas of:– English– Mathematics– Reading– Science

Test Scores• Test sub-scores range from 1-36• The composite is the average of

the test sub-scores.

ACT Scores for 2004-2005

• 81 students at Bethel High School took the ACT.

• The composite (average) for the ACT are as follows:

BHS: 17.6Nation: 20.9

Calculator Policy• You may use a calculator on the math

section, however it is not required.• All problems can be solved without a

calculator. • To be certain your calculator is permitted

visit www.actstudent.org or call (800)-498-6481 for a recorded message.

Basics of Test Scoring• SAT: total of correct responses

with a penalty for guessing.• ACT: total of correct responses

without penalty for guessing.

How Students Can Prepare Students should:

– Challenge themselves throughout high school by taking rigorous courses, including at least 3 years of math

– Read and write as much as possible—both in and outside of school.

– Study Latin derivates (root words, suffixes, prefixes)

– Study vocabulary: antonyms (words of opposite meaning), synonyms (words of similar meaning), and homonyms (words which sound similarly, but are spelled differently)

– Comply with registration dates and fees.

How Students Can PrepareStudents should

– Explore resources on the internet: www.collegeboard.com www.act.org

– Familiarize themselves with the SAT and ACT so they know what to expect on test day

– Familiarize themselves with the different types of questions on the tests, the directions for each type of question, and how the test is scored.

– Take full length practice test in the SAT Preparation Booklet several times.

– TEST FREQUENTLY WELL BEFORE YOUR JUNIOR/SENIOR YEAR.

– Take the PSAT in October. It provides good preparation for the SAT

Additional Materials• Handouts are available in the lobby

area of the auditorium if you failed to pick them up as you entered. – Comparative features SAT/ACT 2004-05 – ACT Assessment at a Glance– SAT Reasoning Skills– Testing cost, calendars, dates for 2005-06Please complete the brief program

evaluation form and leave it on the table in the lobby.

SAT PREP CLASS BHS• We have 10 available slots • Reserve for seniors first come first served• Reserve for juniors first come first served• Information sheet available in lobby• Additional class will be organized for the

April SAT tentatively scheduled: 28 Feb, 7 & 9 March, 14 &16 March, Super Saturday 18 March, 21 &23 March

• SAT 1 April 2006

HIGH SCHOOL CODE

•The High School Code for Bethel High School is C471-020

Thank you for joining us this evening.

We are here to assist you and point you in the right direction.

Good luck with all of your future endeavors.