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Standardized Testing
With the exception of a few trail
blazers, listed at www.fairtest.org, all colleges require either an SAT 1 or ACT, and most also require two SAT subject tests. The ACT was traditionally administered in the mid-west, but it is now common on the east coast as well. Colleges
accept either test, without exception. Last year,
approximately 15% of BHSEC students took the ACT, and we anticipate that this will increase significantly every year. The mean SAT scores for the class of 2008 were 604 in critical reading and 575 in math. The national means that year were 502in critical
reading and 515 in math. Most students
take the SAT 1 or ACT in April or May of Year 1. Many retake the tests at least
one more time in the fall of Year 2.
This year and last, the CTO is coordinating with Kaplan to offer reduced
fee classes for BHSEC students (see below). In addition to attending Kaplan
courses, many of our students seek help at the Math Center for help with the Math subject tests and the math section of the SAT 1.
IMPORTANT TEST PREP INFO FOR YEAR 1 STUDENTS!
The CTO recommends
that BHSEC students take the SAT/ACT in March ( May is also an
option) of Year 1 (see registration below for test dates).
In order to prepare for these tests, Year 1 students
should consider the following three test prep options, the first two of which have September 29 registration deadlines!
OPTION 1: FREE SAT prep with Edgies Teen Center (REGISTRATION NOW!)
The Edgies Teen Center is an official Educational Alliance Boys and
Girls Club with many programs for teens, including a very strong
college preparatory program.
Edgies is located in lower Manhattan at 197 East Broadway.
The Edgies SAT course
is very comprehensive, running twice a week from October through May.
Students will go to Edgies every Thursday from 4:00 pm to 6:30
pm for SAT prep and also on Wednesdays or Fridays for accompanying (and
mandatory) college prep advisement. Again, the program will
start in October and will run through May of 2009.
How and when to register:
Limited places are available. Call Sonia Bhuta, College Prep
Director, at 212.780.2300 ext. 374 or sonia_bhuta@edalliance.org by Monday, September 29 2008!
OPTION 2: FREE SAT prep with Henry Street Settlement (REGISTRATION NOW!)
The Henry Street Settlement is located near BHSEC at 265 Henry Street.
SAT courses are
offered on Saturdays from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm, or from 2:00 pm to 5:00
pm beginning on November 8, 2008 and running through March, 2009.
How and when to register:
Limited places are available. Call Ritu Sen at 212.254.3100 ext. 203 by Monday, September 29 2008!
OPTION 3: Kaplan Test Prep - Half Price for BHSEC students: The
CTO coordinates with Kaplan to offer BHSEC students SAT and ACT prep
for $599 versus the usual $1,149. The course, and accompanying
benefits, are exactly the same for this price and include:
·
12 sessions to prepare for either the SAT or the ACT…your choice!
·
An expert
Kaplan teacher who has scored above the 90th percentile on the SAT/ACT
·
A
multimedia study program including flashcards and online questions
·
The ability
to make up a missed class online, in another live class or on video in our
Kaplan center
·
The Kaplan Higher Score Guarantee- If you feel unprepared for the exam or
dissatisfied with your score, repeat the program for free. If for any reason you don’t score higher,
repeat the program for free or get your money back.
·
Incredible
flexibility regarding schedule & location
How and when to register for Kaplan:
1. You do not need to
do anything in terms of Kaplan test prep this fall. (The
letter that was mailed in August was concerning optional PSAT prep
which is already in session.) In January, 2009, however you
should begin to look for a course to prepare for the March/April
SAT/ACT. Go to Kaplan's database of classes to find a course that
is close to you and fits your schedule: Find a Kaplan course near you!
2. Once you have found a course (in January or February), call BHSEC's Kaplan representative, Monique Goldberg at 212.590.2872
to register. You may also call her with questions about course
schedules and other issues.
3. Financial Aid: If your family cannot
afford the $600 cost, you may apply for financial aid from BHSEC. Bring a copy of your families' tax return to Ms. Cheikes in the CTO in January, 2009.
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PSAT:
The PSAT or Preliminary Standardized Assessment
Test is the same as the SAT but is offered for preparation
and will not be sent to colleges. By taking the
PSAT, students are eligible for the National Merit
Scholarship Program and other recognition programs
which may refer students with high scores to four-year
schools. 10th grade students are encouraged to take
the PSAT and Year 1 students are required to do
so.
SAT I:
As of March 2005, the SAT I includes three sections:
Verbal, Math and Writing. Each section is scored
from 200-800 points. The Writing component has a
student-written essay that is scored from 1-6 points.
The SAT I is offered 7 times per academic year.
Score reports include the results of all
SAT tests a student has taken. Most BHSEC students
take the SAT I in May or June of Year 1.
SAT
II Subject Tests:
These hour-long exams are offered in Writing, Literature, U.S. History,
World History, Math, Biology, Chemistry, Physics and a variety of
languages. SAT IIs are administered 6 times per academic year. Students
can take up to 3 tests in one day. Free SAT II subject test prep
booklets (which include sample tests) are available in the CTO. Sample
tests can also be downloaded here. With the exception of THE BELOW NOTE, most BHSEC students take the subject tests at the end of Year 1 and/or fall of Year 2.
* BHSEC recommends
that students strong in U.S. History consider taking the U.S. History
SAT II in June of grade 9 and students strong in Global/World History
consider taking the World History SAT II in June of grade 10. Students
should speak with their teachers about these options. All other subject
tests are typically taken by students in the spring of Year I and fall
of Year II.
Registration
for the SAT I AND SAT II: Students can
register online at www.collegeboard.com,
or pick up a registration booklet in the CTO. Online
registration provides immediate registration confirmation
and also allows students to choose a test center.
Click
here for a list of test dates and registration deadlines.
SAT I and II fee
waivers* are available for eligible students. Students
should bring a copy of their parents’ most
recent income tax return to Ms. Cheikes. *NOTE:
Fee waivers CANNOT be used for late registration.
The ACT:
The ACT, traditionally taken by students in Midwestern
states in lieu of the SAT I, is gaining popularity
on the East Coast. Unlike the SAT, which is designed
to measure reasoning and critical thinking skills,
the ACT is designed to measure academic achievement
in English, math, reading and science. Because of
this some students may feel more comfortable with
the ACT. The ACT has an optional writing component.
To be competitive with the new SAT I, students
should take the optional writing component of the
ACT. ACT practice test are available
in the CTO.
The ACT
versus the SAT:
Click
here for a complete comparison of two tests
and a breakdown of subjects covered on the ACT.
Following are a few key differences between the
ACT and the SAT:
- The ACT has a science component; the SAT
I does not.
- The ACT is scored from 1-36; the SAT has
three components, Math, Critical Reading and
Writing, each scored from 200-800.
- The ACT permits “score choice”
whereby students can choose the scores they
want to send to colleges; the SAT does not.
Registration
for the ACT
Students can register online at www.actstudent.org
or pick up a registration booklet in the CTO.
Click
here for a list of test dates and registration
deadlines.
ACT fee
waivers are available for eligible students.
Students should bring a copy of their parents’
most recent income tax return to Ms. Cheikes.
*Fee waivers cannot be used for late registration.
TOEFL:
The Test of English as a Foreign Language is recommended
for students with five years or less of English
language usage. Colleges substitute the TOEFL for
the Verbal and Critical Reading SAT I components.
Different
Standardized Test Requirements at Different Schools
Many schools require the SAT I, or the ACT (with
the optional writing component) plus two SAT II
subject tests, however some require fewer and some
more. The College Board has started a list
of subject test requirements of different schools.
For schools not included on this list, students
can quickly look up admission requirements of different
schools by using the “College Quickfinder”
at www.collegeboard.com.
Forwarding Standardized
Test Scores to Colleges
Year 2 students are responsible for having their
test scores forwarded to colleges. The CTO does
not send SAT scores to colleges. SAT scores can
be forwarded at:
http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/sat/about.html
ACT scores can be
forwarded at:
http://www.actstudent.org
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