Testing
- 1. January 2018 Course Selection Night College Admissions Testing
- 2. Testing, Testing, Testing—To Test or Not to Test ● Should I take the SAT or ACT? ● But what if I am doing the IB? ● Why do I need the subject tests if I’m taking the SAT? ● Do I need a English Proficiency test? ● I am not applying to the US. Do I need any standardized testing? ● Join us as we discuss what these tests mean, how they are used, and how to best navigate them.
- 3. What to expect today? ● SAT ● ACT ● SAT SUBJECT TEST ● Test-Flexible & Test-Optional Universities ● Test Prep ● TOEFL ● IELTS ● Other tests ● IB Diploma ● To AP or not?
- 4. Basics ● Meet with your counselor to create a testing plan that is right for YOU! ● When in doubt, ask your counselor ● It is the responsibility of the student to be aware of each specific universities requirements
- 5. HIGH SCHOOL CODES ACT www.actstudent.org/intl HS Code: 705720 Test Center Code: 867480 (through June 2018) SAT sat.collegeboard.org HS Code: 705720 Test Center Code: 74905
- 6. SAT Reasoning Test What? ∗ Evidence-Based Reading & Writing (EBRW) and Math with an optional essay ∗ 1600 is the highest score possible ∗ 3 hours plus 50 min for the optional essay Who? ∗ Students applying to US ∗ Some Asian universities also require ∗ Students without IB Diploma applying internationally How? ∗ Register at www.collegeboard.org
- 7. SAT Two Sections: ○ Math (80 minutes long including 25 min no calculator section) ○ Evidence Based Reading and Writing ( 1 hour and 40 minutes) ● Scoring 400-1600 (800 per section) ● No Penalty for guessing ● Optional Essay (Some require, some recommend) ● Fewer questions than ACT ● Fewer obscure words (more vocabulary in context) ● More advanced math ○ Math without Calculator section
- 8. ACT (through June 2018) ∗ What? ∗ College admission exam similar to the SAT, includes science section ∗ Who? ∗ Students applying to US universities ∗ Why? ∗ A few US colleges will accept the ACT in lieu of the entire SAT Reasoning and two SAT Subject Test requirement ∗ When and Where? ∗ Five times per year at ISM ∗ How? ∗ Register at www.actstudent.org
- 9. ACT beginning September 2018 ∗ What? ∗ ACT Computer Adaptive Test - same test, taken on a computer ∗ Why? ∗ New method to administer the test ∗ Increased security and test validity ∗ Students receive scores in less than one week ∗ When and Where? ∗ Six times per year at another site in Manila (tbd) ∗ Offered in September, October, December, February, April, June ∗ Saturday and Sunday, two times each day ∗ How? ∗ Register at www.actstudent.org
- 10. SAT Subject Tests What? ∗ 1 hour exams in English Literature, History, Languages, Math, Sciences Who? ∗ Generally those who are applying to selective US colleges ∗ Specific majors might require specific tests How Many? ∗ You can take up to 3 in one sitting ∗ 2 is often required (Ex. Georgetown & Johns Hopkins recommend 3) When? ∗ Cannot take them on the same test date as the SAT ∗ Language with Listening (preferred) is offered only in Nov ∗ June and November test dates are SAT Subject Test ONLY
- 11. Advice for Subject Tests ● Recommended to take June of IB1 or Fall IB2 ○ For students taking APUSH, take Subject Test the same year ● Study – you can learn the material for them! ● What is a good score? ○ 700 + is competitive at the most selective colleges ● What if it’s not required? ○ If you can score well, it can help your application ○ Do not take too many ● Take what you can score well on, play to strength and interest ● It is not recommended to take a language subject test in your first language.
- 12. TUFTS University- ACT vs. SAT + Subjects
- 14. Test-Flexible & Test-Optional ∗ FAIRTEST.ORG
- 15. Test Optional: All Applicants American University
- 16. Test Optional: International Students Loyola Marymount University
- 17. TEST Prep ● Choose what works best for you! ○ Class vs One-one-One vs Online vs Self-Study ○ How often? ○ Have I learned the content in class yet? Academic Records (i.e., grades, predicted grades and transcripts) have more weight in the application!
- 18. TEST Prep ● Free ACT and SAT prep for ISM students ● Modular lessons, which begin with a Skill Assessment, and creates a learning path based on the performance of the Skill Assessment. ● Videos and Practice Questions: Students must demonstrate their understanding of these questions in order to receive a completion rating (80%+). ● 3 free, full-length practice test per year.
- 19. English Language Proficiency Tests ● Passport holders of non-English speaking countries (including the Philippines) are often expected to meet English language proficiency requirements ● Each university and country will have its own requirements ○ Waivers can be requested for some universities ● Possible tests include: ○ TOEFL ○ IELTS ○ IB English A grades (sometimes IB English B HL) ○ SAT/ACT scores in English-related subjects
- 20. TOEFL & IELTS ● Typical MINIMUM Requirements ○ TOEFL: 90+ (https://www.ets.org/toefl/ibt/register) ○ IELTS: 6.0 (https://www.ielts.org/) Both are offered in Manila (not at ISM) SECTIONS TOEFL IELTS SPEAKING 0-30 1-9 LISTENING 0-30 1-9 READING 0-30 1-9 WRITING 0-30 1-9 Final Score Sum = 120 Average = 9
- 21. Other Exams ● Medical School Exams (Summer/Fall of IB2) ○ UKCAT ○ BMAT ○ ISAT ● Other UK exams (Fall IB2) ○ LNAT (Law) ○ MAT (Math) ○ Oxford & Cambridge tests needed for some courses (not just at Oxbridge) ● University-specific exams (before or during application process)
- 22. IB ∗ IB Diploma “generally” required in Europe and Australia ∗ IB Diploma students are exempted from the SAT requirement in Canada and at some universities in Asia ∗ ISM reports predicted scores for all IB Diploma candidates ∗ All university offers are conditional ∗ UK and Australia set strict IB score conditions ∗ North American universities expect you to achieve close to your predictions
- 23. Advanced Placement ∗ Myth: US colleges prefer AP to IB ∗ ISM offers AP US History and AP Human Geography ∗ US colleges do not expect ISM students to submit AP scores, unless the student has taken AP US History ∗ ISM courses do not line up with AP course material ∗ AP exams are offered at ISM for a wide scope of subjects ∗ If taken in junior year, you can submit AP scores as part of your application to US colleges ∗ Please don’t sacrifice grades and health by studying for a bunch of AP exams
- 24. Generic Timeline Junior Year: ∗ November-February: Take SAT/ACT for first time ∗ February-May: If needed take SAT/ACT again ∗ TOEFL/IELTS: end of Junior Year ∗ June: SAT subject tests (if needed) Senior Year: ∗ Last time for the SAT/ACT ∗ SAT Subject tests (if needed)
- 25. An Additional thought ● Junior Year Transcripts are important. ● Find a balance between testing and school work. ● You have to determine what is best for you - each student will have a different (or NO!) testing plan
- 26. Additional Resources ● College Board Sample Questions ● College Board: SAT Suite of Assessments ● New York Time: Everything you need to know about the New SAT ● https://www.khanacademy.org/ ● http://www.usnews.com/education/best- colleges/slideshows/10-top-ranked-colleges-that- are-flexible-with-test-scores
- 27. Questions?