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Guidance Office |
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Testing Information |
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SOL etest.ncs.com/Customers/Virginia/pat_home.htm Www.pen.k12.va.us/VDOE/Instruction/sol.html General resources for all subject areas. SOL help can be found on this website, including: Standards of Learning, Curriculum Framework, Enhanced Scope and Sequence, Test Blueprints, Released Tests, Project Graduation, ePAT, and Online Tutorial.
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Testing An excellent testing practice website. All kinds of tests can be found here. |
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The SAT Story
The SAT Reasoning Test, or simply the SAT, has been around since 1948. Along with the ACT, it is one of two standardized tests most often used for college admissions. Most colleges will accept either the SAT or the ACT, although some have a preference for one test or the other.
What the SAT Includes The SAT is a three-hour-and-45-minute exam that includes three test sections: Mathematics, Critical Reading, and Writing. The College Board, which administers the SAT, made major changes to the test in March of 2005 after several years of research, feedback, and sometimes heated discussion about its content and ability to determine a college applicant's chances for academic success.
Mathematics. This test covers math concepts through Algebra II, including arithmetic, geometry, statistics, data analysis, probability, exponential growth, absolute value, and functional notation. It puts more emphasis on linear functions, exponents and tangent lines. You are allowed to use a four-function, scientific, or graphing calculator during the test. (70 minutes: two 25-minute sections, one 20-minute section)
Critical Reading. Divided into three subsections, this test concentrates on sentence completion, vocabulary, and reading comprehension. It includes both long and short reading passages. For the short passages, you'll be asked to choose the most correct explanation of a word, phrase, or idea. (70 minutes: two 25-minute sections, one 20-minute section)
Writing. The first part of the Writing Test consists of multiple-choice grammar, reading comprehension, and sentence construction questions. These involve finding errors or ways to improve a sentence or paragraph. (35 minutes: one 25-minute section, one 10-minute section) The second part is an original essay that you have to write on the spot. You will learn the essay topic at the exam. It may ask your opinion of something or why you agree or disagree with a statement. Your essay will be scored on whether or not it sticks to the topic, on how well it is organized, and on the use of examples to support your ideas. (25 minutes)
How the SAT Differs from the ACT The SAT Reasoning Test is designed to measure critical thinking skills you'll need for academic success in college. The test assesses how well you analyze and solve problems. The ACT, on the other hand, measures academic knowledge and skills you have acquired in your standard high school courses, covering material which you should have already studied and been tested on.
When to Take the SAT It's a good idea to take the SAT for the first time in the spring of your junior year. This will give you time to take the test again in the fall of your senior year. Many students take the test more than once because they hope to improve their scores. If you are applying Early Decision or Early Action, you may need to take the test by the early fall. For most other colleges, you can take the test as late as December of your senior year. Check with the colleges you are applying to about the last date you can take the test.
How to Prepare for the SAT You can study SAT sample questions and answer sheets online. The College Board offers testing tips and a free practice test, found on http://www.collegeboard.com/. There are many other inexpensive or free online resources and books to help you become more familiar with the test content. Many students take the test several times, if only to get familiar with the question formats and the actual test-taking environments.
How the SAT Is Scored Your SAT score report will include a Mathematics score of 200800, a Critical Reading score of 200800, and a Writing score of 200800. The highest combined score you can earn is 2400. The national average is 1500.
To arrive at your final scores, evaluators of the SAT first calculate a raw score for each test. Your raw score is the sum of points for correct answers minus points deducted for incorrect answers. You earn one point for each correct answer; you lose a quarter of a point for each incorrect answer. If you leave a question blank, no points are awarded or deducted. If your raw score contains a fraction, it will be rounded up to the nearest whole number. The raw scores are then converted into final scores on the 200800-point scale.
The Writing Test combines two raw subscores: one for the multiple-choice component (using a scale from 2080); and one for the essay (using a scale from 212). The essay is scored by two readers on a scale of one to six points, six being best. If the readers' scores differ by more than a point, a third reader scores the essay. You could get a 0 for the essay if you don't write on the assigned topic.
You can roughly estimate how your SAT score would translate to an ACT score by using the concordance tables published on the College Board website. For example, if you got a combined score of 1510 on the SAT Critical Reading and Math Tests, that would be the equivalent of 34 on the ACT.
Sending Your Scores to Colleges The College Board will automatically send all your score reports to the colleges you select. Beginning with the March 2009 SAT, colleges may give you the option to send only your best SAT scores from a single sitting of the test. This option, offered at no additional cost, is called Score Choice. If you do not choose to use it, the College Board will send colleges your entire SAT history, just as it has done in the past. Before making a decision about how you'd like your scores sent, make sure that you understand the preferences and admissions policies of the colleges you're applying to.
Bear in mind that Score Choice does not allow you to mix and match scores from different sittings. For example, you cannot send a college the reading and math scores from an October SAT and the writing score from a SAT you took a few months later.
Score Choice may present an advantage to students who plan to take the test multiple times, but it also has some drawbacks. First, it can be advantageous to let a college see your entire score history. Not only do some of the most selective colleges require it, but some combine the highest subscores from all of the score reports when qualifying applicants. On the other hand, some schools automatically reject students if they see a score below a certain threshold on any part of the SAT, regardless of whether or not the student improved the score later. Again, be sure you understand a college's policy before making a decision.
How Important is the SAT to Colleges? Your SAT scores can tell admission staff how you compare with other students who took the test, and by inference, how ready you are to attend their college compared to those students. In part because of concerns about validity, an increasing number of colleges do not require the SAT or ACT for admission. You can find a listing of all colleges and universities that do not require the tests at http://www.fairtest.org/.
One thing is certain: The SAT can't evaluate all your skills precisely, since your scores are only one part of what makes you a qualified applicant. Other factors colleges may consider are the strength of your high school academic program, high school grades, extracurricular activities, personal statement, recommendations, and personal interview. Colleges want well-rounded students who will excel academically but who will also make positive contributions to the student body and college.
You are not your test scores. Colleges know that. Doing well on the SAT does not guarantee that you'll get into the college of your choice, but it certainly won't hurt your chances either. |
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SAT
CollegeBoard is a terrific site to visit online to get answers to many questions students and their parents have at this time. Register for SAT tests on this website and many students find the practice tests very helpful in preparing themselves for the SAT tests.
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