Get Ready, Get Prepared, and'

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Get Ready, Get Prepared, and.

• TAKE THE LEAP INTO
• COLLEGE PREP TESTING

Guidance Activity UNF SOAR Program Cohort 8
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The Free PSAT/NMSQT

• Preliminary SAT and National Merit Scholarship
  Qualifying Test

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WHY TAKE THE PSAT?

• Its FREE to all Duval County Students!
• The state pays for all 10th graders, Duval County
  pays for 9th and 11th graders.
• Qualify for National Merit Scholarships
• to enter the competition for scholarships from
  the National Merit Scholarship Corporation
• PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE for the SAT
• Get to know the test and your strengths and
  weaknesses

SO...
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MORE REASONS WHY

• Indicates potential for success in an AP class.
• Access to the Student Search Service
• let colleges, universities, and scholarship
  programs know you are interested in hearing from
  them
• get educational and financial aid information
  from colleges, universities, and scholarship
  programs
• Oh and its FREE!

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WHAT STUDENTS NEED TO KNOW

• When to take it
• Wednesday, October 18, 2006
• Who should take it
• 9th grade students
• 10th grade students
• 11th grade students
• If you already took the test in 10th grade, take
  it again. Students have a chance to increase
  scores since they have had another year of
  study!
• Dont forget that it is FREE!

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WHAT TO EXPECT
Average scores for juniors is about 49 on each
section
Sample test questions can be found at
collegeboard.com
data found on collegeboard.com
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JUST REMEMBER THIS

• The test is FREE
• Its great practice for the SAT
• For test taking tips and sample questions go to
  www.collegeboard.com

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ACT

• Tests on subjects that have been learned in high
  school courses.
• Test academic achievement in
• English (45 minutes)
• Math (60 minutes)
• Reading (35 minutes)
• Science (35 minutes)
• Writing (30 minutes - optional)
• Accepted at virtually all colleges and
  universities and administered in all 50 states.
• 4 hours including instructions and breaks
• 2 hours and 55 minutes (without writing portion)
• 3 hours and 25 minutes (with writing portion)

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Registration and Cost

• Registration
• On-line at www.act.org
• Phone [phone] (additional fee of 10)
• Registration packets are available at your
  guidance office

• Cost
• Basic Fee 29.00 (no-writing)
• Basic Fee 43.00 (with writing)
• If you qualify for free/reduced lunch see your
  guidance counselor about a one time fee waiver.

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Scoring

• Scoring is based on the number correct with no
  penalty for guessing.
• Score Range 1 36
• A score is given for each subtest, but only the
  composite score will count for Florida Bright
  Futures.
• Bright Futures Florida Academic Scholars (100
  tuition)
• 28 on the composite score, 3.5 weighted Bright
  Futures GPA
• Bright Futures Florida Medallion (75 tuition)
• 20 on the composite score, 3.0 weighted Bright
  Futures GPA

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Scoring

• How soon are scores ready?
• Most scores available online within 2 ½ weeks
  after test (not
  reported any faster if viewed online).
• Where do score reports get sent?
• (within 4-7 weeks after testing)
• To your home
• To your high school
• To your college/university of choice
• What about writing scores?
• After other subscores are available due to
  difference in scoring process.

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Test Day Procedures

• On test day
• Arrive at least 15 minutes early
• Have a picture ID
• Have your registration form
• Bring pencils and a calculator
• Times
• 800 am 1215 pm (without writing)
• 800 am 100 pm (with writing)
• Breaks
• After first two tests

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SAT Reasoning Testand SAT Subject Tests

• 2 Different Tests!
• Be sure you know which one to register for!

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SAT FACTS

• The SAT Reasoning Test is a measure of the
  critical thinking skills you'll need for academic
  success in college. The SAT assesses how well you
  analyze and solve problemsskills you learned in
  school that you'll need in college. The SAT is
  typically taken by high school juniors and
  seniors.
• The SAT includes
• Critical Reading
• Mathematics
• Writing section.

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Expect the Unexpected.

• The test currently runs for 3 hours and 45
  minutes. Here is how it is broken down
• First Section Written Essay 25 min.
• SIX 25-minute sections and
• TWO 20-minute sections of questions
• Last Section Multiple Choice Writing 10 min

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It's how long?

• The test is now 45 minutes longer than previous
  SAT tests, but dont worry you are given an extra
  break for snacks, which must be consumed outside
  of the testing classroom.

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SAMPLE SAT QUESTION

• Each sentence below has one or two blanks each,
  each blank indicating that something has been
  omitted. Beneath the sentence are five words or
  sets of words labeled A through E. Choose the
  word or sets of words that, when inserted in the
  sentence, best fits the meaning of the sentence
  as a whole.
• Hoping to ______ the dispute, negotiators
  proposed a compromise that they felt would
  be_______ to both labor and management.
• (A) enforce. useful
• (B) end divisive
• (C) overcome unattractive
• (D) extend satisfactory
• (E) resolve acceptable

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CORRECT ANSWER

• Choice (E) is correct
• WHY?
• For further sample questions please refer to The
  Official SAT Question of the Day, The Official
  SAT Practice Questions and the Official SAT
  Practice Test at the website www.collegeboard.com
  

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What is the SAT Subject Test?

• A one hour, multiple choice test in a SPECIFIC
  SUBJECT AREA
• Colleges may require for admissions or course
  placement you should check your particular
  colleges policy!
• No public State University requires this type of
  test
• Students usually take one or two subject tests
• Scores are based on a 200-800 point scale

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SAT Subject Test Areas
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When should you take the SAT Subject Area Test?

• Towards the end of your Junior year or beginning
  of your Senior year
• - OR -
• As soon after completing the class in the subject
  as possible

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How much do the tests cost?

• SAT Reasoning Test - 41.50
• SAT Subject Test - 18 for first test
• Language Tests with Listening - add 19
• Each additional subject test - 8
• Late Registration Fee - 21.50
• www.collegeboard.com

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FEE WAIVERS

• If you qualify for free or reduced lunch, you may
  be able to get a waiver for the test fees!
• You may use this TWICE- once your junior year,
  and once your senior year.
• See your counselor for a fee waiver if you think
  you qualify.

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Test and RegistrationDates
Depending on your test date, you can take the
test at many local high schools or colleges.
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So now that you know the basics.
SAT
ACT

• Set your goal and get into your 1 school!
• Lets take a look at the average scores for
  Florida Universities and Colleges.

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• CLEP College Level Examination Program
• What is it?
• Earn college credit by taking and passing exams
  for corresponding courses
• Who is it for?
• High school Students
• End of Junior year take it as
• close to the completion of course
• as possible
• Senior year
• College Freshmen

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HOW DOES IT WORK?

• Contact your college advising office or the
  Florida Community College at Jacksonville for
• - info on what tests are available and
  passing scores
• - find out where to take them
• - find out how much
• Register and pay ONLINE for each test
• Show up at the testing site, take the test, find
  out your score

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• How much does it cost?
• Check your college advising website or the FCCJ
  website www.fccj.edu
• When do I take it?
• End of junior or senior year in high school or as
  a college freshman
• What tests are available?
• Check your colleges advising office website
• What about scoring?
• Passing scores are different for each test
  check with your college of choice
• Scores are sent to your school

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WHATS THE POINT

• Earn college credit less classes to take!
• Saves
• Information
• www.collegeboard.com
• www.unf.edu/dept/testing/testinfo.html
• www.fccj.edu/campuses/kent/assessment/clep.html

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Whats the buzz on AP Classes?
College level course Wide Ranging Subjects Test
paid for by the State of Florida In-School
Classes and Examinations
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GET A JUMP ON COLLEGE!

• AP offers a leg up on college admissions.
• AP means guaranteed credit in Florida public
  colleges with a passing score of 3 or more on the
  exam.
• AP provides excellent preparation for CLEP
  examinations.
• AP is accepted at most private institutions.

Learn more at www.collegeboard.com
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So remember..

• In High School
• Take the PSAT for practice!
• Consider AP classes for college credit!
• Take CLEP tests for college credit!
• Prepare and Practice, Practice, Practice for the
  SATs and ACTs
• Have confidence in yourself and.

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Conquer Your Education!