2005 - 2006 SAT/ACT Readiness Program

Mark your calendars with the following dates for the 2005 – 2006 Readiness Program. 

Winter/Spring program information and registration forms are available now. 

Ø      ACT – Winter Mock Exam:  Exam day will be Saturday January 28, 2006 from 9:00 am – 1:00 pm in the I.H.S. Commons.  Feedback session TBD.

Ø      SAT – Winter Mock Exam:  Exam day will be Saturday February 11, 2006 from 9:00 am – 1:00 pm in the I.H.S. Commons.  Feedback session TBD.

Ø      SAT – Winter/Spring Readiness Course:  Classes will begin the week of February 27^th, 2006 and continue through the week of April 3^rd.  There will be afternoon and evening class sections for both math and verbal.  Classes for each section will be offered one night per week for 6 weeks.

Please refer to the registration forms for confirmed dates/times/locations.  Registration forms can be found by clicking on “Forms” from the PTSA Home page. 

The mock exams will be prepared, proctored, graded, and presented at the feedback sessions by KAPLAN test prep.  Find out more about KAPLAN at www.kaplan.com.

PSAT/NMSQT vs SAT vs ACT??

Are you totally confused by this alphabet soup??  You are not alone.  Let us try to help.

Ø      The PSAT or PreSAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test is a test offered one time each fall, primarily to high school Juniors, as a qualifying test for the National Merit Scholarship competition.  Yes, the PSAT can be taken by anyone, and the test makers tout the test as good practice for the actual SAT, but only Juniors can qualify for the National Merit Scholarship competition and therefore the majority of PSAT test takers are juniors.  Most importantly, the PSAT is not to be confused with the “mock” SAT that we offer each year or any other practice SAT you may hear about.  A “mock” PSAT exam will be offered by the PTSA this fall.

Ø      The SAT or Scholastic Aptitude Test is the college entrance exam that many of you will include with your college application.  The test is offered several times a year and can be taken more than once.  It is totally up to you to register and sit for the test to make timely application to your targeted schools.  Your PTSA will offer readiness classes in the fall and winter of this school year as well as a “mock” SAT exam in the winter of this school year.

Ø      The ACT or American College Test is also a widely recognized college entrance exam.  It differs from the SAT in several areas.  The ACT is often described as a “content based” test while the SAT tests “critical thinking”.  Specifically the ACT includes a science reasoning section, a trigonometry section and tests English grammar to a greater degree.  The SAT tests more vocabulary and is not entirely multiple choice.  Again, it is up to you to register and sit for the exam.  Your PTSA will offer a mock ACT in late January but will not offer any ACT readiness courses.

Make sense??  Also try these helpful links:  For info on the SAT go to www.collegeboard.com.  For info on the ACT try  www.act.org.  Or for a more impartial look at the two entrance exams try www.kaplan.com and/or www.princetonreview.com.