High School: Guidance: Testing

Important ACT/SAT and Standardized Testing Dates & Information

by WHS Guidance Counselor Terry Kopish

March 03, 2008

Click HERE to view test preparation options for the ACT.

IMPORTANT TESTING DATES (Updated 11/12/07):

ACT:
ACT Registration Deadline for December 8 Test Date is: November 2, 2007
ACT Registration Deadline for February 9 Test Date is: January 4, 2008
ACT Registration Deadline for April 12 Test Date is: March 7, 2008
ACT Registration Deadline for June 14 Test Date is: May 9, 2008

Click HERE to access the March 2008 edition of ACT's News You Can Use.

SAT:
SAT Registration Deadline for January 26 Test Date is: December 26, 2007
SAT Registration Deadline for March 1 Test Date is: January 29, 2008
SAT Registration Deadline for May 3 Test Date is: April 1, 2008
SAT Registration Deadline for June 7 Test Date is: May 6, 2008

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My College QuickStart
My College QuickStart is an easy-to-use, online, personalized college and career planning kit available free of charge to all students who take the PSAT/NMSQT exam. The information and answers your child provided when they took the test are incorporated into this useful tool, and it presents their data back to them in four main parts:
    * My Online Score Report: an enhanced score report that allows students to review each test question, the student's answer, and the correct answer with answer explanations.
    * My SAT Study Plan: a customized SAT study plan based on student PSAT/NMSQT test performance, highlighting skills for review and practice.
    * My College Matches: a starter list of colleges based on the student's state and indicated choice of major.
    * My Major and Career Matches: major and career matches that are compatible with the student's general interests and personality type.
Access is available using the access code printed on the student's paper score report, and the tool can be utilized throughout high school. Using My College QuickStart together with your child is a great way to introduce and guide your child through important aspects of the college-going process.
CLICK HERE FOR A PARENT TUTORIAL FOR UNDERSTANDING THE 2007 PSAT/NMSQT RESULTS.
CLICK HERE FOR THE 2007 PSAT/NMSQT SCORE REPORT TUTORIAL (FOR 9TH & 10TH GRADE STUDENTS).

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THINK AHEAD TO RELIEVE TEST-TAKING STRESS

When you head off to take the ACT, don't let forgetfulness or inattention surprise you with something unexpected and affect your test-taking abilities. Here are some true stories of unexpected events.

One student bought a new calculator the night before the test. He didn't use it before entering the test room, only to find out it didn't work when he sat down to take the test.
One student didn't look at her test admission ticket until the day before the test, only to find out that she wasn't taking the test at her school but an hour away. She had to rethink how her test day would go and factor in time to drive to the test.
One student didn't look to see what type of calculator was allowed during testing. She came to the test with a banned calculator and had to take the test without a calculator.
One student arrived at the test center without a photo ID card. He had to run home before the test started to get his driver's license.
*One student left the lights on in a borrowed car he drove to the test. He worried throughout the test and found a dead battery when the test was over.

Obviously, unexpected events happen in our lives over which we have no control. But if you can take a few steps to prepare for test day, you'll be comfortable knowing you're prepared and you may even avoid an unwelcome surprise or two. Read your testing information from ACT early and visit www.actstudent.org/testprep to get familiar with test day procedures and what is allowed in the testing room. And don't forget to try out that new calculator before heading to the test.

USING YOUR EXPLORE®, PLAN® AND ACT® TEST SCORES

If you're like most students, you see tests as something to take, get over and move quickly past. But EXPLORE and PLAN give you information to help plan for your future—and they can help you prepare for the next test you take. If you're going to take the ACT, you'll want to know what these tests can tell you.

First, you should know that EXPLORE, PLAN and the ACT were designed to work together to help students make educational and career plans starting in 8th grade and through high school and beyond. Most students take EXPLORE in 8th grade or at the beginning of 9th grade. PLAN is for 10th graders and the ACT is for 11th and 12th graders.

Each of these programs includes a test with four parts—English, math, science and reading—and each offers an interest inventory. The inventory leads to career information for students based on their interests, abilities and work preferences.

You can use the test scores to find out how well you know the subject matter and what you need to learn next. This will help you prepare for college and do better on the ACT.

But here's the best-kept secret. When you get your EXPLORE results, you will get a predicted score range for PLAN. This predicted score range assumes that you will take additional coursework and have some academic growth. The same thing goes for the PLAN results. You will get a predicted ACT score range on your PLAN report, again assuming academic growth. (The EXPLORE scores, however, do not predict ACT scores. There's just too much of a spread in the content level and the expected amount of learning between the tests.)

Don't let the counselor and admissions officers be the only ones who use your score information.

Source: ACT's News You Can Use
Issue 48, November 2007
Copyright © 2007 by ACT

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For more information, please contact the Guidance Department of Wahoo High School at (402) 443-4332, ext. 3229, or email Ms. Kopish at tkopish@esu2.org.