ACT/Redesigned SAT
StartUp Scores Back Session
Presenter: Rachel Mead
Phone: 206-204-4924
Email: [email protected]
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Agenda
Understanding your Startup score reports
Who do the SAT changes affect and what are the
timelines?
SAT v. ACT: similarities, differences, myths and truths
Review sample questions from the StartUp
Testing Timeline
How can The Princeton Review help you?
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Your Score Report
Your score report shows the overall percentage of questions you answered
correctly for the ACT type questions and the new SAT type questions. It also
shows you the percentages correct for the particular sections of the tests.
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Your Score Report
We’ve also highlighted for you some of the particular areas where show
strength and some where you could focus your prep.
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Your Score Report
We’ve also highlighted for you some of the particular areas where show
strength and some where you could focus your prep.
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Your Score Report
Section 1: 1-9 are ACT Reading, 10-20 are ACT Science
Section 2: 1-12 are ACT Math, 13-20 are SAT Math
Section 3, all SAT Reading
Section 4: 1-3 are ACT Math, 4-14 are SAT Math
Section 5: 1-15 are SAT Writing & Language, 16-30 are ACT English
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New SAT
Who do the changes affect?
SAT
The changes do not affect students who are in the
Class of 2015 or 2016.
The changes only affect students in the Class of 2017
and beyond. Class of 2017 students will have the
option to take the ACT, the current SAT and/or the
redesigned SAT. The first administration of the
redesigned SAT will be in March
2016.
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New SAT
Who do the changes affect?
SAT
Many students in the Class of 2017 are assuming that
they must take the redesigned SAT. That is NOT
TRUE.
Let’s take a look at all of the test date options for the
Class of 2017.
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New SAT
Class of 2017 test date options in junior year (2015-2016)
Current SAT
•
•
•
•
October 2015
November 2015
December 2015
January 2016
Revised SAT
• March 2016
• May 2016
• June 2016
ACT
•
•
•
•
•
•
September 2015
October 2015
December 2015
February 2016
April 2016
June 2016
Option 1: Take current SAT only.
Option 2: Take redesigned SAT only.
Option 3. Take ACT only.
Option 4: Take a combination of the above.
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New PSAT
What about the PSAT?
October 2014:
Current PSAT
October 2015:
Redesigned PSAT
What does this mean for Class of 2017 students?
•
.•
If you take the current PSAT in October 2014 when you are in 10th grade, it
can be practice for the current SAT, but it will not be practice for the
redesigned SAT, nor will it qualify you for National Merit.
If you take the redesigned PSAT in October 2015 when you are in 11th grade,
it can be practice for the redesigned SAT and it will be the qualifying test for
National Merit.
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New PSAT
What about the PSAT?
October 2014:
Current PSAT
October 2015:
Redesigned PSAT
For a detailed discussion of all test date options for the Class of
2017, please visit www.PrincetonReview.com/SATChanges and
click on the Class of 2017 tab.
.
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ACT vs. New SAT
Let’s walk through the similarities and differences
between the ACT and the redesigned SAT.
.
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ACT vs. New SAT
How is the ACT scored?
English
Math
Reading
Science Reasoning
1-36
1-36
1-36
1-36
Composite
1-36
The Composite
is the average of
the English,
Math, Reading
and Science
Reasoning.
The Composite is the score colleges care about.
.
If you take the optional essay, you will get a separate English with Writing
score that is NOT factored into the Composite score.
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ACT vs. New SAT
How will the new SAT be scored?
Math
Evidence-Based Reading and Writing
Composite
200-800
200-800
400-1600
The Composite on the new SAT will be the total of the
Math and Evidence-Based Reading and Writing.
The Evidence-Based Reading and Writing includes:
• Reading Test
•. Writing & Language Test
If you take the optional essay, you will get a separate essay score that is
NOT factored into the Composite score.
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ACT vs. New SAT
There will be some additional scoring on the new
SAT as well as the ACT, but colleges will likely care
mostly about the Composite scores.
.
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ACT vs. New SAT
How are the ACT and the redesigned SAT similar?
•
•
•
•
No penalty for wrong answers
4 answer choices on multiple-choice questions
Essay is optional and comes at the end
Include advanced math topics in Algebra II and
Trigonometry
• Grammar questions look almost exactly the same and
include punctuation
.
• Without essays, both are about 3 hours
• Require interpretation of charts and graphs
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ACT vs. New SAT
How are the ACT and the redesigned SAT different?
They’re not!
Just kidding. They’re a little different, but not much.
.
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ACT vs. New SAT
How are the ACT and the redesigned SAT different?
Calculators
You can use a calculator throughout the one math section
on the ACT, but the new SAT will have 2 math sections and
you’ll be able to use a calculator on only one of those
sections.
. That’s why one section of the StartUp did not allow
calculators.
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ACT vs. New SAT
How are the ACT and the redesigned SAT different?
Multiple-Choice Math Questions
The ACT math questions are all multiple-choice, while the
new SAT will have some questions where you need to
come up with your own answer.
.
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ACT vs. New SAT
How are the ACT and the redesigned SAT different?
Vocabulary
Even though there won’t be sentence completion questions
on the new SAT, you will still need a higher command of
vocabulary on the new SAT than you will for the ACT. The
new SAT will test multiple-meanings of commonplace
words such as mad.
.
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ACT vs. New SAT
How are the ACT and the redesigned SAT different?
Charts and Graphs
Both the ACT and the new SAT will have charts and
graphs, but on the ACT, they will only appear in the math
and science reasoning sections. They may appear
throughout the test on the new SAT.
.
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ACT vs. New SAT
How are the ACT and the redesigned SAT different?
Historical Documents and Speeches
Only the new SAT will feature historical documents and
speeches throughout the test such as the Declaration of
Independence and the Gettysburg Address.
.
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ACT vs. New SAT
How are the ACT and the redesigned SAT different?
Scoring
The ACT Composite Score is an average of 4 scores
(English, Math, Reading and Science Reasoning).
The new SAT Composite Score is a total of 2 scores (Math
and Evidence-Based Reading and Writing).
.
They both score the optional essay separately.
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ACT vs. New SAT
How are the ACT and the redesigned SAT different?
Essay
The tasks will be different.
ACT: Write about perspectives on an issue relevant to high
school students.
.
New SAT: Explain how the author builds an argument to
persuade an audience.
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SAT & ACT True or False
The SAT and ACT measure your intelligence.
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SAT & ACT True or False
The SAT and ACT measure your intelligence.
FALSE
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SAT & ACT True or False
If you have a high GPA in school, that means
you will automatically do well on the SAT or
ACT.
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SAT & ACT True or False
If you have a high GPA in school, that means
you will automatically do well on the SAT or
ACT.
FALSE
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SAT & ACT True or False
Even if you don’t have a high GPA in school,
you can learn how to increase your scores on
the SAT and ACT.
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SAT & ACT True or False
Even if you don’t have a high GPA in school,
you can learn how to increase your scores on
the SAT and ACT.
TRUE!
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SAT & ACT True or False
All four-year colleges and universities accept
either SAT or ACT without preference. You
can take and submit both, but that’s not
required.
31
SAT & ACT True or False
All four-year colleges and universities accept
either SAT or ACT without preference. You
can take and submit both, but that’s not
required.
TRUE
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ACT v. New SAT: FAQ
Q: Will one test be easier than the other?
A: For most students, probably not, but some students may prefer one
over the other. Use your StartUp score report to see if you did better on
the ACT parts of the new SAT parts.
Q: Is preparing for one test the same as preparing for the other
test?
A: No. Although some of the techniques we teach will apply to both
tests, you will need to do some separate preparation if you plan to take
both tests.
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Let’s walk through some problems
In the next portion of this session, we’ll walk
you through some TPR techniques to attack
some of the problems that you saw on the
StartUp.
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ACT Math - Example Question
Read carefully and ask
yourself:
• What information do you need
to find?
 The distance between chords AD and
BC
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ACT Math - Example Question
Read carefully and ask
yourself:
• What information do you have?
 Circle O has a diameter of d
 Chords AD and BC are parallel
 Chords AD and BC are equal in length
 Chords AD and BC are each ¾ the
length of the diameter
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ACT Math - Example Question
BC=3
d=4
AD=3
Work the problem
• Plug In for diameter d
 d=4
• How long are chords AD and
BC?
 ¾ (4) = 3
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ACT Math - Example Question
BC=3
CD=???
d=4
AD=3
Use Formulas and Solve!
• With this information, what can
we do to find the distance
between chords?
 Think about different shapes
 What formula do we have to
solve for the side of a right
triangle?
• a2+b2=c2
• 32+b2=42
• b2=7, or √7
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ACT Math - Example Question
BC=3
CD=√7
d=4
AD=3
Use Process of
Elimination
• What answer choices can you
eliminate?
 Did you use a formula with π?
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ACT Math - Example Question
BC=3
CD=√7
d=4
AD=3
Use Process of
Elimination
• Between A and B, which is the
best answer?
 Remember d=4
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ACT Math
Strategies we used:
•
•
•
•
•
•
Figure out what you need to find
Write down what information you have
Write down any formulas you need
Use Process of Elimination
Always guess, but make it your best guess
Consider the answer choices and don’t
OVERcalculate
Let’s see if the same strategies work on SAT Math!
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SAT Math – Example Question
Read carefully and
ask yourself:
• What information do you need
to find?
 Samantha’s total cost
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SAT Math – Example Question
Read carefully and
ask yourself:
• What information do you need
to find?
 Samantha’s total cost
• Let’s take a closer look at a technique you
used on the last example question Plugging In!
 Plug In if:
•
there are variables in the
answer choices
•
there is a proportional
relationship between two
unknown numbers
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SAT Math – Example Question
Read carefully
and ask yourself:
• What information do you have?
 One time membership fee
of $129.99
 Additional $7 fee per session
 13% tax on membership,
but not added sessions
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SAT Math – Example Question
Work the problem
• Use Plugging In!
 n=2
• Then solve
$129.99
One-time membership fee
13% tax on membership
+
$129.99(.13)
$7 for the n=2 added sessions
+
$7(2)
$160.88
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SAT Math – Example Question
Use Process of
Elimination
• Plug in with your number in the
answer choices – eliminate
what doesn’t work
 n=2
 target answer = 160.88
A) (7 + 0.13)2 + 129.99
B) 1.13(2)(129.99 + 7)
=144.25
=309.59
C) 7(2) + (129.99 + 1.13)
=145.12
D) 129.99(1.13) + 7(2)
=160.88
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ACT Reading – Example Question
Read carefully and
ask yourself:
• What does the question
want to know?
 What is the narrator’s
reaction?
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ACT Reading – Example Question
Go Find the Answer
• Skim until you find
where the answer is
 What is the
narrator’s reaction?
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ACT Reading – Example Question
Answer in Your
Own Words
 How would you describe
the narrator’s reaction?
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ACT Reading – Example Question
Use Process of
Elimination
• Which answer choices
don’t match your
answer?
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ACT Reading
Strategies we used:
•
•
•
•
•
Read and understand the question
Go find the answer
Answer the question in our own words
Use Process of Elimination
Always guess, but make it your best guess
Let’s see if the same strategies work on
SAT Reading!
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SAT Reading – Example Question
Read carefully and
ask yourself:
• What does the question
want to know?
 What is the rhetorical
effect of the phrase?
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SAT Reading – Example Question
Go Find the Answer
 Read what you need to
answer the question
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SAT Reading – Example Question
Answer in Your
Own Words
• What do you think the
rhetorical effect is?
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SAT Reading – Example Question
Use Process of
Elimination
• Which answer choices don’t
match your answer?
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More Question Types
Let’s look at some other question types
and their strategies from each test
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ACT Science – Example Question
Try to get a feel
for the data first:
• Identify variables
• Identify trends
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ACT Science – Example Question
Pick a question
asking for data
•
Look for #s in the questions
of answer choices
•
Look for words like
increase or decrease in the
answer choices
•
Look for short questions
and answers
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ACT Science – Example Question
Read Carefully and
ask yourself:
• What does the
question want to
know?
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ACT Science – Example Question
Go Find the Answer
• What figure do
you need to use?
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ACT Science – Example Question
Use Process of
Elimination
• Don’t worry about
being too exact
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SAT Grammar – Example Question
Read
Carefully!
• Always read
entire sentences,
never just the
underlined
portion
• Read as much
as you need to
answer the
question
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SAT Grammar – Example Question
Go by Sight,
not by Sound
• Don’t pick an
answer because
it “sounds” good
• Pick an
answer choice
based on the
rules of
grammar
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SAT Grammar – Example Question
Use Process
of Elimination
• If you are stuck,
compare the
answer choices
• Eliminate
answers as
you are able to
• P.O.E with
what you have
left
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Admissions/Testing Timeline
9th and 10th Grades
• Focus on grades in school and
participating in activities
• Possible SAT Subject Test
• Try SAT and/or ACT practice test in
the spring of 10th grade
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Admissions/Testing Timeline
Summer after 10th Grade
• Great time to start preparing for
PSAT, SAT and/or ACT
• Continue activities you are
passionate about
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Admissions/Testing Timeline
11th Grade
•
•
•
•
Possibly PSAT in October
Prep for and take SAT and/or ACT at least once
Take one or more SAT Subject Tests if needed
Start researching colleges
(PrincetonReview.com)
• Visit college campuses
• Most important year for grades
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Testing Timeline
Summer after 11th Grade
•
•
•
•
•
Prep for fall test retakes if necessary
College visits
Application essays
Note application deadlines
Activities
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Testing Timeline
12th Grade
•
•
•
•
•
Take or retake SAT and/or ACT if necessary
Letters of Recommendation
Meet application deadlines (early or regular)
Keep up the grades
After January 1, file FAFSA
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Now What?
Last year, The Princeton Review helped 3.5 million
students on their journey to college.
The Princeton Review is America’s most popular
college preparation company.
70
Now What?
How can The Princeton Review
help you?
71
Now What?
 Remember that if you are in the class of 2017, you will have the
option to take:
 Current SAT
 Redesigned SAT
 ACT
 All colleges accept SAT or ACT without preference. It’s worth trying it out
both to see whether you might perform better on one over the other.
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Now What?
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Top 5 signs you might prefer the
current SAT
• You’re a quick thinker who loves the challenge of
puzzles and logic games
• You can rapidly define a plethora of onerous
vocabulary words
• You prefer to write about World War II and the
Great Gatsby rather than about school uniforms
• You have a shorter attention span and prefer to
complete an exam in smaller, more bite size
pieces
• You rocked the PSAT
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Top 5 signs you might prefer the ACT
• You pay close attention in math class and
understand basic trigonometry, logarithms, and
imaginary numbers
• You love the challenge of working swiftly and
beating the clock
• You’re good at reading graphs and tables and
identifying trends
• You’re a strong reader and would much rather
read a passage than solve a math problem
• You have a strong GPA but that did not reflect in
your PSAT score
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Now What?
 If you plan to take the Redesigned SAT, The Princeton Review will
have prep options ready for you by Spring 2015. We will have courses
and books specifically geared to the new exam. We can also help you
prep for the current SAT and/or the ACT.
 The Princeton Review helps students become prepared and confident
test takers. We’ve never met a test we couldn’t help students crack
and the Redesigned SAT will be no exception.
Your Goals. Our Expertise.
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Now What?
How will you prep?
On your own?
In a class or with a tutor?
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Q&A
More information:
www.PrincetonReview.com/SATChanges
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 800-2REVIEW (800-273-8439)
Free practice tests: www.PrincetonReview.com/Events
Seattle office: 206-204-4924, [email protected].
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